New-York tribune., 1902-05-16
TAMuANY LEFT STAGGERING.
TRYING To RECOVER FROM NIXON'S
HARD BLOW-NAN WYCK LIKELY
TO DE GRAND SACHEM

Tammany Hall wabbIed through an erratic
day yesterday. trying to steady itself and look
respectable after the blow administered 10 it by
its late leader, Lewis Nixon. who, in emanci-
patng himself. said tnat he could not retain his
self-respect and the leadership at the same
time. His resignation as chairman Of the
finance committee was delivered yesterday to
George NJ. Van Hoesen. chairman of the gen
eral committee. Mr. Van Hoesen can appoint a
successor at any time, but the chairman
viii not necessarily succeed TO the leadership.
That designation will come from the executive
committee
The only real important news Of the day came
by Associated Press dispatches from Vantage
last night, bringing an interview with Richard
Croker, who said that ex-Mayor Van Wyck
ought to be elected grand sachem Of the Tam
many Society. It is expected that this opinion
. from Mr.. Croker viii settle the choice Mon
Aday night when the society meets.
VI John F. Carroll is fairly in the saddle the
new leader Of Tammany. but it is a question
TO how long he viii stay there. The prevailing
opinion is that if Croker should return at once
and make war on Carroll he could crush the
usurper, but that If he waits till next fall
next year Carroll and his friends will be so
strongly intrenched that they cannot be dis
lodged from the leadership.
Lewis Nixon seemed to be happy and abso-
the Waldorf-Astoria.
Il am sorry" said he. that I did not make
provision for the newspaper men at the meet
ing Of the district leaders yesterday afternoon.
All that 1 said ! was willing to say from the
housetops, and if the reporters had been in the
room l would not have been misuuoted. ! did
not say that I had been hampered by orders
from Vantage, or that Mr.. Croker had inter
fered with me. although doubtless some of those
present construed my remarks that way. l
did say that in crucial circumstances my orders
as leader Of Tammay Hall were not accepted
and obeyed without their being cabled Eng
land for Endorsement. Mr. Croker put at
tained all the way through, so far as /
know. l have not heard from him since l re-
signed. but ] believe that he would be for me
in any position I assumed.
I stated at the outset of my leadership that
I did not want the place and that l took il at
a considerable personal sacrifice. / wanted to
see the organization do better than II had been
doing, however, and that why l consented
90 take charge As soon as / discovered that
did not have the support and cooperation of
the district leaders. and that my orders
leader were not carried out without indorse-
ment from some one else. l decided 70 quit at
once.
Z don't consider that any one man IS essen
tial to the success Of the Organizatio in this
city. / shall remain in Tammany Hall as
private and shall not lead any faction in op-
poSitlon- feel hrst rate at being free from
the leadership. and my pride is not hurt l
tried to do the right thing while l was in
charge Of affairs. and ! have nothing 10 regret
did not know a thing about opposition TO my
plan for the retention Of Feitner as grand
sachem. / supposed that everything was all
fixed and that action would be unanimous
When the deadlock came 1 was utterly sur
Ex-Dock Commissioner Charles F. Murphy
told his friends yesterday that he would NOT
take the leadership Of Tammany Hall If n were
offered 10 him. Ex- Police Commissioner James
j. Martin said that he not a candidate
Carroll is following out the policy outlined I.v
himself in his formal statement He is shaping
things so that il viii not be necessary TO choose