New-York tribune., 1901-01-08

CROKER IS BEING TEADUCED-
Lewis Nixon Of the Taulmany COMMITTEES OF
Five made an almost superhuman effort yester-
day to play the old trick Of drawing red her
ring across the trail OF that old fox Croker. in
the seeming hope OF confusing the hounds or
reform, who are close upon him. Unable any
longer TO keep up the pretence that, after weeks
of alleged investigation. he and his colleagues
could not discover that vice was systematically
protected in this city, Mr. Nixon comes out with
the brand new theory that those who levy the
tax for protection and collect IL do not repre-
sent Tammany at ALL but have all along been
deceiving the taxed gamblers and getting their
money upon the false pretence that II was
passed higher up" in Tammany Hail.
This disingenuous. not say childish. theory
Of Mr.. Nixon's fails to account for the one I'M
rOrtant and undeniable feature that the tax
does actually secure protection from the police.
and. up 20 the time OF the deposition Of Asa Bird
Gardiner. from the Observation-Disclosures. toos al
though Croker rules the police with a. nod Mr..
Nixon processes 70 think that the duped gam
blers viii rise in their wrath anS expose their
deceivers when they get this revelation II his
view is the true one it ought to be Tammany
Hall which would rise in it's wrath and direct the
police to crush both those who collect and those
who pay taxes which never. according TO Mr..
Nixon, find their way into the Golfers OF Tam
many Hall or the pockets of Mr.. Croker. Mr.
NixOn's statement was given out yesterday at
the close Of a meeting of the Committee OF Five
which wss held at No 100 Bowery. In it he
strenuously denied that any city official or mem
Der Of Tammany Hall is indicated in the dis
tribution even the collection Of money from
gamblers He also repudiates the charge that
the money collected from the gamblers is di-
vided with Richard Croker and others high
up in the Tammany organization He COM
pletely exonerates Richard Croker from receiv-
ing one cent Of extortion money. In fact. every
one connected with Tammany Hall who IS
charged with being a member Of the gambling
commission is declared innocent by Mr.. Nixon
On the other hand. Mr.. Nixon alleges that
men who have no connection with Tannulany
Hall have been pretending TO the gamblers that
they have. and they receive money from the
gamblers, falsely promising them protection In
case Of a gambler refusing TO pay money 90 this
combine as Mr.. Nixon calls these men, the
combine threatens to close their places. but
Mr.. Nixon emphaticaIly denies that the money
thus extOrted from gamblers gets any further
than the combine" Here is his statement in
full;
ST Statements made IN this mornings papers and as
some reply from me. In the first place I have
scE as Ses S ths ay
TAG 9ecome S possessed o. any PrGeI npnSaS,nS
to the Executive Committee We are in fair way
certain abuses. So far al that has been obtained
has been turned over to Mr. Platzsk TO be trans
shall not discuss II until he has passed upon Il
s statsa ln q IgIiller InelS - an =
organized for systematic bIackmail and they cloak
many Ha The p money thay coect fo the protee
tion they are supposed to furnish in its name For
years these men have been In this business and, no
matter what party is in power. the same brazen
disregard OF all laws has been apparent and i'm
have gone on the principle that when the men
have paid these men for protection learn that this
make the town too hot to hold them While what
they designate "squealer" is held in the greatest
they have been deliberately swindled. they win be
Of the opinion that punishment should be lnflcIed
practically all houses pay SO a week and $eo a
must pay an additional large percentage OF their
receipts. From the 1st to the 5'h Of each month
men may seen going to the house Of the man WHO
Fscexss this money to g9y their portions sthlogg5
In addition to this. and to still further protect
eoiected montbv mn 10 s91ssrs'. the ParShursF
Comstock and BSckie societies. while there nav
be one or two agents Of these societies who are
corrupt. practically the whole Of this money Is
societies are worthy Of the confidence Of the com
The men. who wish to open places know whom 20
see. and, having found shat certain men wno act
short shrft. they are naturally inclined TO believe
Tammsnv Hail and tSst II mates reach a Sims
This organization will protect them
the gamblers. who thought the money really went
higher up. and the instant obedienee Of those in
any consciences. knew that no protection could be
Mr.. Croker has not received cent Of this
blood money 3y JI JTdgs &c MI, 1ads s auFsa Sa me Ss
by him the treasurer OF Tan.many Hail. Learn
ing about 81 900 each. were levied upon the gam
bling houses and po%elrooms % under the gqiss, o.
take this occasion to say that this money vas
PSi pSd pid m were 20 sWndie by those Wh Ies % m s
make this statement uPon he authority Of the
urer Of TamHany Hail.
Chairman Nixon said later that the COMMITTEES
was working as industriously and as energsff-
caIIy as it had done in the past. ''I am posi-
tive he added ''that the boss of Tammany Hall
has not received one cent Of extortion money.
OF course. il is impossible to totally eradicate
vice, but we are doing our level best TO have
the city cleaned
Startling facts are said to be in the possession
of Mr. PIatzek but he absolutely refuses %
divuIge any until he has placed them in the
hands of the District Attorney. He said yester-
day:
crinsting any police oieiSl 81 any potraI
leader Il is one thing to feel morally certain that
into a position 70 prove who is rsesiyins ths
mittee I was confident that inside Of two weal5z
We should be able TO establish the guilt OF Certain
parties bsfore the law. We find that we can't gsf
that sort Of evidence at all The people who are
prOhting by granting immunity to vice have Kept
their tracks absolutely covered up from view We
know that vice has paid for protection. but we
don't know who has received the money,
Haven't you learned enough about Tim
Sullivan's business and Martin Ensel's business
TO compel them 20 resign as Tammany district
leaders," Mr. Platzek was asked
This committee has no such power" he an
swered.