The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-04
ny HOMER BAsSFORD,

Kansas city, Mo, July 3-lt was an
nornced at 3 O'Clock this afternoon that Mr.
Cookers choice for the vice presidential
nomination was Lewis Nixon Of New YORK.
City. Instantly there was great excitement
about the Croker floor, and there was a
fockins Of visitors who wanted a glimpse
OF the only man who had not been strongly
In the list of suspects.
MIR. Nixon became instantly coy. lie was
with Mr. Croker, Judge Van Wyck and a
host OF others 4 few minutes after
o'clock. but he was good enough To come
out OF the room and go to another one for
few words of conversation about himself
Mr.. Nixon Is liable TO be accused OF the
crime OF youth. He does not look n minute
over 80. but he says that he is all OF no. with
accent on tho all. The wonder Of it is that
he has lived in New York only six years.
He will be known for many, many years
as the man who designed the Oregon. He
was born in Virginia and was appointed 10
the Naval Academy by General Eppa Hun
ton, formerly Representative in Congress
from that State
When Mr.. Nixon came out o. Mr.. Croker ;
presence this afternoon he at once assumed
an air of shyness. A group of amateur
statesmen focked about him and wanted an
Introduction. Nr. Nixon got out Of the way
OF all Of them, and in the politest fashion
announced that he did not care TO be inter
viewed. or course. he had nothing TO say.
The decision Of the Tammany Executive
Committee TO the vice presidential NOM
ination was probably as much of a surprise
10 him as IL was TO the public that per-
spired about the Hobbies of many hotels all
over town. He was willing enough TO speak
Of his record as an officer of the United
States Navy and a business man since
he left the service but he had nothing 10
say In a political way.
This Is proper enough, for Mr. Nixon Ia
without political experience. The only pub
lie Office he ever held is one he now occu-
pies. Bridge Commissioner, as an appointee
Of the Mayor Of New York
BnttIeship Designer.
But I have always been a Democrat"
says Mr.. Nixon.
The young naval expert who has thus
suddenly slipped into the public mind made
the plans for three of the greatest ships
that ever fioated. The first of these is the
oregon. The other two are the Indiana
and the Massachusetts. After completing
this great work Mr.. Nixon resigned from
the navy Of the United States TO accept
position Of constructor for the Cramp ship
building firm OF Philadelphia.
only a few years ago lie concluded to go
into business for himself. Leaving the
Cramps. he went to Elizabeth. where he
founded the Nixon shipyard. There, as he
said this afternoon with evident and en-
tirely pardonable pride. he had built no less
than twenty ships already. Since going in
to business for himself Mr.. Nixon has lived
in New York.
He has a home in Thirty-eighth street. not
far from Fifth avenue. He has wife and
one child
.lA r..
look young a long time. He is very tail
and gives the impression Of being strong
ly built. He dresses after the fashion OF
busy men who do not allow themselves to
get too busy to watch their affrs
sartorial. His hair is black, cut short and
carefully brushed into something resem-
bling a pompadour. He had a thick. black
mustache, which is cropped OFF in brush
fashion.
Mr.. Nixon appears to be serious straight
through. His smile Is seemingly perfume
tory, but his gaze is honest, and mis- man.
ner direct. Looking him over for ten
minutes. one would come to the conclusion
that he Is forever bent upon the unfailing
pursuit Of definite objects. II he happens
TO be building a ship he will put all of his
energy into the work. II he Is planning a
political campaign he will set forth on the
task with nothing but the job getting there
I'm mind.
Should the nomination by any chance go
to Mr.. Nixon he will accept it a great
honor and will be immensely pleased with
the work cut out for him. There Will be
no pulling back.
Mr.. Nixon Is by no means 4 very wealthy
man, as wealth goes in these days, but he
has some wonderful connections in bust
ness way that would be glad TO see him In
the second place.
Although MIR. Nixon has never had any
thing to do with practical politics. he Is
quite familiar with official Washington and.
for that matter, with official Europe. When
he was yet a youngster just out Of the
Naval Academy at Annapolis he was sent
to Europe by the Government, and IL was
this that fitted him for the task of laying
out the Oregon's plans within few weeks.
This afternoon he was the center of many
important New York gatherings and was re-
garded with pride by all of the many
tables in the Croker rooms. a thin, spec
tacled gentleman stood guard at the Croker
door and when any one asked for Nixon he
laughed aloud and said. Somebody for you
again, Mr.. Nixon" Two hours before that
time no one had been talking about the
talented gentleman from New York and TO
have mentioned his name in the lobby be-
low would have developed nothing more i'm
portart than blank stare. At O'Clock
every one who had got seen the brief sketch
in this mornings Republic was anXiously
inouiring for details about the New Yorker.
Elliot Danforth of New DIRK, who has been
much on the public tongue to-day, is man
who does not look like his pictures.
IL don't know why it is said Mr.. Dan
forth this morning, but IL seems quite ont
of the question for masters of sun and
shade to do anything with me. Many a man
has told me what L have just heard, that
don't resemble my photos"
In very fact. Mr.. Danforth looks as much
like the picture of SulZer or of Croker as his
own. When you have once met him you
fall into a ready understanding of why he
has been strong with his party in New
York He has what is known to the read
ing public as winning personality" He
bubbles with IL. He has the glad hand for
every body. IL his bitterest enemy were to
confront him suddenly, Mr.. Danforth would
probably forget himself and offer that cor
dial handshake.
In locking about for a well-knOwn face
to offer'as an example to Western readers
who want to know who Mr.. Danforth looks
like, one hits upon Mr.. Kendall, the Eng
lish actor, who has been seen by most all
Of two generations. Mr.. DanfOrth Is prob
ably Il bit better looking.
He runs To decent fastidiOusncss. II he
has "A valet at home that functonary Is
probably the businest man on the place. In
the barber shop at the Midland Hotel here
this morning he spent all Of ten minutes
adjusting his necktie. When the adjusting
was at an end the tie was exactly right
not a shade too long. too much IL one
side, or too anything else. That was real
perfection.
Mr.. Danforth is tall. athletic looking.
well tailored in gray mustachad. sparely
and almost white 10 the crown of his
head He was born in the middle of the
century. HIS fifty years have been very