The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-14
CROKER STEPS DOWN
suRRENpERs HIS POSITION As
 TA1rMANY's CHIEF.
Lewis Nixon Now. Leader-Hau Who Designed the Oregon is Made Supreme in Organisation
 of The Tiger.
New York Special.

of The Tiger.
 New York Special.
 Croker is out. The boss has been forced to step aside. and Tammany Hall has placed at its head young man whose friends say is above reproach. Lewis Nixon, the man who designed tho battleship oregon, is now the tigers trainer.
 Croker reigned supreme for nearly twenty years, He succeeded John Kelly, whose predecessor was William Marcy Tweed, the man who died in prison, friendless and disgraced. Croker is going to Vantage. and he will stay there in- definitely.
 Croker's retirement was necessary, Either he had to leave the throne or Tammany would go to pieces. It was admitted that one had to go under. Croker is the one.
 Naming of Successor,
 He was allowed to retire in his own way. The braves permitted him to name his succe ssor-as a matter of form ana courtesy. Today he named Mir. Nixon. He had to do SO. Mir. Nixon is not Croker's type of man. The Tim Sullivan stripe is the brand the deposed boss ad- mires The idealized ward heeler ts
  that the discredited leader of Tammany voluntarily selected a clean-cut, vigorous young business man as his successor the people smiled.
 As a part of the new harmony plan it Is told tonight how Croker, bowed be- meath the weight of responsibility. has stepped aside and permitted Mir. Nixon to assume the power that was his Sum- med up, 1t Is this way:
 t.Il h v&A useful and must get out. A man with a visible means of support was necessary to rehabilitate the organization. Croker acquiesced in the sentence for his decap- itation, and MT. Nixon is now chairman of the Finance Committee a position that carries with 1t absolute control of Tammany Hall and all its ramiications.
 Speech of Abdication.
 Croker's formal abdication took place at a meeting of the Executive Committee It was a subdued occasi ion, and the men who took part in the proceedings were in no mood for any exhibition of feeling. Croker himself, cold and unsympathetic as an icicle. sat quietly in his usual chair until minor matters had been disposed of, and then arose and announced his re- tirement.
 "The change made in the Finance Com mittee by the appointment of Lewis NIX on," he said, "has the approval and good will of every gentleman here. I know the gentleman well and I know him to be competent in every respect.
 "I think under the new change we will bring back that vast army of voters that we lost last election. I hope you will give to Mir Nixon the same confidence that you gave me.
 Tammany Out of Power.
 q receive letters every day from young men who want to join this organization, but they don't know how to go about 1t. Your earnest endeavor should be to get these men. You can never build up an organization on patronage. The greatest gain has been made by Tammany when out of power. This have learned in the thirty-fve years I have been connected with this organization"
 There was no actual, formal mention of a resignation. None was needed. The others had attended to that quietly.
 Not cheer greeted the address. Men ker resumed h;s seat. having handed to his successor in a few words the vast power he had yielded so arrogantiy and mercil 'ssly,
 speech accepting the vacan: chair, but Le was pleasant and perhaps perfunctory
 New Leaders Acceptance.
 "rt is with sincere regret" said he, 'that I learn that MT. Croker has de- ternined to retire from. the position ne must add that 1t was with supremC surprise that I heard from him, less than a half hour ago. that l was to take his place.
 II was willing to work in the ranks, but there is nothing in the post offered me that makes me fearful am not the sort of man to say offhand what my policy shall be, but 1 will not take an executive position and be a mere figure. head. What my policy shall be IS some thing. for me to determine after mature thought
 I may never have 1t, but I must have l shall exert every effort to develop, With that aim in view I accept the place you have rendered me-"
 "Tim" Sullivan Absent.
 When Daniel F. McMahon. the chair man, called the committee to oruer promptly at o'clock, every one or the ent with the exception of Timothy Sulli-- van and Patrick keenan. The absence or Senator Sullivan was freely commented on as indicative of his posi- ton in the regime which was about to be inausu- rated.
 As the members came in Croker nod ded pleasantly and murmured hearty How do you do?" to each but said nothing of his intentions. Grim and un- concerned as on the day, less than six weeks ago, when he detieI>the men about him to turn him down., he seemed to feel no extraordinary emotions on the day of his parting from his friends ana colleagues of years.
 Announcement of Crokers retirement was first made by George M. Van Hoe sen, the chairman of Tammany's general committee.
 Announcement of Change
 There is one change of importance to which I would call attention,r said he, and that Is Tn the Finance Committee. For reasons of his own, MT. Croker has declined to serve as chairman or this committee in 1902. l have named Lewis Nixon as his successor and believe my choice will meet with your approval I want to explain this remark by saying that it meets with MT. Croker's approval. and, in fact. that Mir. Croker himself suggested the selection of MT. Nixon. Then followed Croker's valedictory.
 Next to the retirement of Croker the most important change in the makeup of the committees was the relinquishment by John F. Carroll of the place he has so long held as second on the Finance Committee. This post, one of honor and inferentially carrying with 1t the deputy leadership. is an important one, as its holder. in the absence of the Chairman, becomes for the time being .t'-- Seader. Carroll would not say why he had left could have remained had he desired. Succeeds John Carroll.
 In his stead was appointed John Fox, Fox. however, will not be deputy leader, as Mir. Nixon expects to be in the city all CT nearly all the time
 Another change in the Finance Com mittee was the substitution of Lewis F. Haffen, President of the borough of Bronx and the only TammanV man