The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18
WHY Mr.. NIXON RESIGNED
NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH TAMMANY'S
POLICY OF OFFICIAL LOOT.
Saw that Low Was Working a Great
Reform and that Nothing Could
BE Gained by Opposing Him.
sneoia1 to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Recent political
reports from New York are more favorable
than they have been at any time since the
installation of the Low administration. The
indications are that the Low government
is slowly finding itself and beginning to do
what it wants to do and not what circum-
stances force. In brief, it is becoming its
own master and if the same satisfactory
progress is made throughout the summer
and fall next winter will see it in control
of the situation.
Viewed at this distance, but through the
eyes Of practical men, the recent mman
upheaval seems to have been induced by a
lack of comprehension of the situation on
the part of the sachems 1t is reported that
there is less reform and m-ugwumpery and
more practical and effective administration
than characterized the work of the Low
subordinates some months ago.. The gam
bling houses are opening and the saloons
keep open after hours and Sunday too.
There is less police activity in the red light
districts and the big town is feeling it's old
freedom. This is not very satisfactory to
the fusionist who expected a great moral
movement under Low, but il is good news
TO those who hoped that he would be able
to establish himself politically. The admin
istratiOn is giving New York what ii wants
in the way of government, and, politically
speaking, that is much better than at
tempting 10 give 1t what it is thought il
should have.
Tammany boldly misunderstood the
breadth Of discretion being exercised i'm
the different police departments. II saw
some OF the old gambler bosses taking
charge IN certain districts, saw that the
clutch of Devery on the police department
had not been loOsened and, apparently.
could not be. Saw that even some of the
Low subordinates were not disinclined to be
thrifty. They misunderstood the situation
and took it for granted that things were
rapidly sliding back into the old mma
condition. The scant support Jerome is get
ting convinced them of this. They became
eager TO get into fighting condition TO re-
sumo their fight for spoils. They wanted TO
put the organization on its old basis. Nixon
thoroughly saw the mistake which was be-
ing made. He is a business man of unto
date methods. He saw the gathering
strength of the Low administration and
the Tammany saloon keepers could NOT.
They contemptuously declared him 'goody-
good and not nit 10 rule the cage Of tigers.
He pointed out that the rule of New York
was passing from the saloons TO the con-
troll OF business men for business purposes
and that the new conditions must be faced
by a proper organization. They would not
believe him and threw him out.
What Nixon saw was that the streets
OF New YORK are as clean as the floor Of q
parlor and Tammany had kept them as
dirty as a rubbish heap. The New Yorker
likes this change. 1t is worth "A lot to him.
Nixon saw that the street-cleanlng Organi-
Zauon was being placed in fine and sys-
tematic order. He saw that while Devery
still chung 10 the police department and
exercised a sort OF alien despOtism, that IL
was plain that Low was going about IL de-
~hberately 10 break finger after finger OF
the arch boodler and that slowly his grasp
wound fail.
Nixon further saw that the Merchants
Association had given $4,000 a year 10 Sc
cure q suitable man as the head Of the
water department. and that a complement
head had been secured. and that very soon
this vast system would nave the same
thorough. responsible and cOmparativeiy
close management as a great railroad.
He saw further that Worthington g. Ford
had been brought from Boston at a high
salary. part OF which was 10 Oe paid by a
business organization. for the purpose OF
systematizing the accounts Of the greater