The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-09
TAMMANY'S NEW BOSS.
STUDY OF THE MAN WHO JUST
STEPPED INTO" THE LEAD
ERSHIP.

ntcfpal Politics, All over the nit
ed States-"PrincipIes Versus
spOiIs," His MOttO-The Man Who
Designed the BattIeship Oregon,
Planning "A straight Democratic
Organization Made Up of the old
Lumber OF Tammany Hall.
BY Pendennis.
Copyright. 1902, by S. S. Mcclure Co.
Lewis Nixon, the young man whom
Richard Croker appointed for his sue
cessor as leader of the Tammany Hall
organization of New York is an inter-
esting object lesson TO any political
municipal body in the United States.
He has had the amazing courage to
take up the defeated elements Of a
great city defeated under most violent
accusations Of dishonesty and demor-
alization) to rally the scattered forces
for future electioneering warfare. In
spite of fragrant proof against Tam
many Hall, showing the personal
audacity of many of its most prominent
members, Mr.. Nixon has stepped quiet
ly in front of these Crokerites, and
said: Il will be your leader: I'll take
the job" and shut his jaws tight to-
gether, committed to a most difficult
undertakings better or for worse.
How do you like it?" / asked him
during a talk at Tammany Hall.
Don't like it, but I'm in it, and I'll
stick to it to the end. I'll see 1t
through" he said crisply.
What made you take it," He was
amused at this blunt inquistion and
If a
sterling sincerity of the man.
They wanted a man for the place,
ana 1 just stepped in and said, I'd take
it."
They were glad to get you"
Don't know. they took me at any
rate,-and I'm going to stay"
What are you going to do with all
the old fellows. the trained henchmen
of Richard Croker?" / asked, for there
is that in Mr. Nixon's appearance. that
is not strictly political; he is built on
very square outlines.
Il have absolutely nothing to do with
selecting the officers and district lead
ers of this organization. The primary
laws govern all members in official
capacity. and nothing could put any
member out of the organization"
But you are enrolling new members
all the time?"
LAS fast as we can. and we look into
their private histories their political
affiliations. We propose to get the
three hundred thousand Democrats in
New York city on our list. for 1 con-
slider Tammany Hall is the Democratic
headquarters, as much as the Union
League Club is the Republican head
quarters. Every Democrat in this city
can come here, whether he be a MEM
Der or not, and receive any advice,
patronage, support or assistance the
Tammany Hall organization can furn-
ish''
"Tammanv Hall is to become a
straight Democratic organizations"
That's what we want. and that is
what we are bringing about
And Mr.. Croker has really and truly
and positively retired forever and
eVer2"
Positively; he is an old man, and he
has earned his holiday"
1t is remarkable thing to see the
Tammany men gather in the executive
room of the organization, to get a little
insDiration and confidence from this
self-reliant. cheerful, determined young
leader. They are listless. disinter-
ester. they lounge about with their
heads bowed. their eyes duh, a ghostly
crew of gioom.-then MIR. Nixon grasps
each one by the hand, pulls him into a
chair beside him. looks him straight in
the eye, infuses some of his own vitality
into them and they walk out, heads
erect, hopeful elastic, freshened up.
Nixon is the human symbol of sue
cess. he breaths il, looks it, is it,.
There is something in the confident
atmosphere of the man, in his business
reputation. that makes him an object
lesson for any political party.
municipal. or state, or national
He is the Jerome of the Democrats
in New York, with a good record for
conservative business habits, thrown in
He is not aggressive, and he has the
refreshment Of contrast in work, be-
tween his shipyard In the morning,
and Mr.. Cookers old desk in the after
noon. He is not the type of man one
would expect to, find in politics. He
graduated from the United States Ma
val Academy at Annapolis at the
head of his class, then went to Eu-
rope and took a course of naval archi-
lecture and marine engineering at
Royal Naval College in Greenwich,
England. Since his return, he de-
signed the greatest modern battleships,
the Oregon. the Indiana. the Massa-
chusetts. This he accomplished in
ninety days. Later he opened his
own shipyards, built the gunboats An
napolis, Josephine, Margreve and the
submarine torpedo boat Holland.
About tweleve years ago he joined
Tammany Hail. being a member OF
the Chamber of Commerce, the DEM
ocratic Club and the Army and Navy
Club in Washington. 1t does not seem
reasonable to suppose that the new
Tammany leader, in the face of an in
dependent standing as a business man.
with the cumulative interest in his
profession of shipbuilding, will be
hampered in his obligations by politi-
cal ambition.
And yet why has he assumed these
responsibilities, which involve a mass
of detailed labor? He said himself
that he does not like it. The reasons
are such as appeal to the most valu-
able prospects in the political future
of any American city-he is a patriotic
believer in the integrity of his party
a staunch Democrat. In this fact he
is an object lesson to the young man
who hesitates assuming political Of
flee, because he sees only the entan-
clements. and not the principle.
1T is perfectly wonderful to see the
number of young men who will de-
velop loyalty in their party, when the
principle is shown them. instead of
the spoils," said Mr.. Nixon warmly.
"All they need is a little advice, a
suggestion, and they will go into their
districts and work night and day to
accomplish results" he added.
without self-interest?" l asked.
What is a party principle but self
interest It acts upon every citizen
who votes"