Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-15
LEWIS NIXON RESIGNS
TAMNANY HALL Is NOW WITH
OUT A LEADER
Says He Could Not Remain in the Or
ganization and Keep His
Self Respect.

| dispatch from New York yesterday
| says: Lewis Nixon, leader Of Tammany
| Hall for nearly six months, resigned that
position today at meeting of the district
| leaders, held in Tammany Hall. While the
! resignation was not entirely unexpected, 1t
| was not thought that Mr.. Nixon would
| take such positive action until a later date,
| first awaiting the action Of the leaders, to
| see If they would give him vote Of conf
| dence. Instead Of this, he refused to al
| low any vote of confidence, and went SO
| far as to say that he could no longer re-
tain his self-respect If he remained as
| leader.
The meeting of the district leaders was
| called at the instance Of Mr.. Nixon. who
on Tuesday night sent telegraphic messages
to all Of the thirty-seven. This action fol-
! lowed a deadlock at the meeting of the
sachems of the Tammany Hall Society
Monday, when Mr. Nixons intention of re-
| tanning Thomas l.. Feitner as grand sachem
was frustrated by tie, there being six of
the sachems Of the thirteen for and six
against the retention, the thirteenth, Geo.
c. ClauSen, being absent.
The action of that time caused a general
discussion of the possibilities of Mr. Nixon
losing control of the organza ton, and the
combination headed by John F. Carroll
ousting him. Mr.. Nixon, in an interview
on Tuesday, said if he could not have the
out"
When Mr.. Nixon arrived at Tammany
Hall today all thirty-seven leaders were
present AS soon as the meeting had been
called to order Mr.. Nixon arose from q
front seat and said
Gentlemen, l have decided to resign as
the leader of Tammany Hail. This resig-
nation is absolute and positive and will
not be withdrawn. 1 wish it to take effect
Immediately. l feel that l cannot retain
my self-respect and still remain the leader
Of Tammany Hall. My decision is unal-
terable."
There was moments silence when Mr.
Nixon had finished. Then Col. Michael
=. Murphy made 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 done splendid work the leader and
he had the confidence of all the leaders.
MI Nixon Jumped to his feet as soon as
Col Murphy had finished and said
Il do not desire any vote Of confidence
whatever"
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:
am out as the leader Of Tammany
Hall Shipbuilding Is my business 1 am
out OF politics and am glad Of it, l will
devote my time to my business of ship
building, and will talk about that by the
hour, but l will not talk about politics
hereafter. The cause OF my resignation is
Mr. Feitner grand sachem, but 1 would
not appeal to Mr.. Croker"
Mr.. Nixon was then driven away from
Tammany Hall in cab.
FOLLOWING the departure Of Mr. Nixon
several of the leaders remained for some
tme IN groups, chatting about the resigna-
tlon and the possible developments. 1t was
announced that meeting of the executive
committee of district leaders will be held
lnursday at which time Mr.. Nixons resig-
nation will be acted upon
mere were numerous rumors about the
hall regarding the future policy of the or
eanlzauon The most persistent one and
one that was Endorsed by several leaders
was that there would be no actual leader of
Ia Hall for some time to come
ms was coupled with rumor that the
nnance committee would be abolished as
Well as the craftsmanship of this committee
Inc chairman, who is now Lewis Nixon
ana was richard Croker, has always been
the leader of Tammany Hail. and as such
mad the handling of the funds of the or
ganlzaton In the political campaign