The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-15
Lewis Nixon, the Ship Builder, Re-
signs the Leadership of the Or
ganfzation i'm Disgust.
SAYS HE is OUT OF POLITICS
WILL HAVE NOTHING MORE TO DO
WITH THE NEW YORK TRIBE.
Declines a Vote of Confidence, Jumps
Into n Cab and Is Driven Away
A Political Sensation.

NEW YORK, May 14.-Lewis Nixon, lead
er of Tammany Hall for nearly six months,
resigned that position to-day at a meeting
Of the district leaders, held In Tammany
Hall. While the resignation was not en-
tirely unexpected, it was not thought Mr..
Nixon would take such positive action until
a later date, awaiting the action of the
leaders to see If they would give him a
vote of confidence. Instead of this he re-
fused to allow any vote of confidence. and
went so far as to say that he could no
longer retain his self-respect If he remained
as leader.
The meeting Of the thirty-seven dis
trict leaders was called at the instance Of
Mr.. Nixon, who, on Tuesday night, sent
Geographic messages to all of them. This
action followed a deadlock at the meeting
of the sachems of the Tammany Hall So
ciety, Monday, when Mr.. Nixon's desire
to retain Thomas L. Feitner as grand
sachem was frustrated by a tie, there be-
ing six Of the sachems of the thirteen
for and six against the retention, the thir-
teenth, George c.. Clausen, being absent.
The action of that time caused a general
discussion of the possibilities of Mr.. Nixon
losing control of the organization and the
combination headed by John r. Carroll
ousting him, Mr.. Nixon, in an interview on
Tuesday. said if he could not have the con-
ndence OF the leaders he would get out
When MIR. Nixon arrived at Tammany
Hall to-day all the thirty-seven leaders
were present. AS soon as the meeting had
been called to order Mr.. Nixon said: Gen
tlemen, / have decided TO resign as the
leader of TammaLy Hall. This resignation
Is absolute and positive, and will not be
withdrawn. L wish it to take effect imme-
CiatelV- feel that cannot retain. nv
self-respect and still remain the leader of
Tammany Hall. My decision Is unalter-
able"
There was a moments silence when Mr..
Nixon had finished. Then Colonel Michael
&. Murphy made a very complimentary
speech in praise of Mr.. Nixon. He did not
say, however, that he wished him to re-
main as leader. He said that Mr.. Nixon
had lone splendid work as leader and had
the confidence of all his fellow-workers.
Mr.. Nixon jumped to his feet as soon as
Colonel Murphy had finished and said: II
do not desire any vote of confidence what
ever"
He Immediately left the room, followed
by an outburst of handclapping. Once out
side the meeting room Mr.. Nixon would
only say to the newspaper men: Il am out
as the leader of Tammany Hall. Shipbuild-
ing is my business. i am out of politics and
am glad OF it. l will devote my time to
my business of shipbuilding and will talk
about that by the hour, but 1 will not talk
about politics hereafter. The cause of my
1CSl6 10 pain Il COulO hdkG mOn OAN
and elected Mr.. Feitner grand sachem, but
l would not appeal TO Mr.. Croker"
Mr.. Nixon was then driven away from
the Tammany Hall in a cab. Following the
departure Of Mr.. Nixon, several of the
leaders remained for some time in groups
chatting about the resignation and the
possible developments. 1t was announced
that a meeting of the executive committee
of district leaders will be held Thursday,
at which time Mr.: Nixon's resignation will
be acted upon.
W. 49, -.A a.
hall regarding the future policy of the or
ganiZation. The most persistent one, aud
one that was Endorsed by several leaders,
was that there would be no actual leader of
Tammany Hall for some time TO come.
This was coupled with a rumor that the
finance m would be abolished, as
well as the craftsmanship of this commit
tee. The chairman, who is now Louis
Nixon and was Richard Croke has always
been the leader of Tammany Hall, and as
such had the handling of the funds Of the
organization IN the political campaigns.