Evening star., 1902-03-08
new B0ISI NIXON
A Character Study Of Tam
many'ss 8 Chief b
THEY WANTED A IMAM"
AN EXAMPLE IN MUNICIPAL
Politics.
o. Il
Old "Lumber" Used In Plans Of q
Straight Democratic organi-
zation.
THEY WANTED A MAN"
lCnpyrixht, 1902, Mcclure oo.1

Copyright. 1902. Mcclure Co)
! Written for The Evening Star BY Pendennis.
Lewis Nixon. the young man whom Rich
| ard Croker appointed for his successor os
| leader Of the Tammany Hall Organization
| 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 demoraliza-
tion), to rally the scattered forces for future
| eIectioneering warfare. In spite Of fragrant
| proof against Tammany Hall, showing the
personal audacity Of many Of its most
| prominent members, Mr.. Nixon has stepped
quietly In front OF these Crokerites. and
said: IT will be your leader. I'll take the
| job" and shut his jaws tight together.
| committed to a most difficult undertaking
| for better or for worse.
| "How do you like it?'' asked him during
a talk at Tammany Hall.
Don't like 1t, but I'm in 1t, and I'll stick
to It to the end. I'll see it through" he
What made you take it?"" He was
amused at this blunt inquisit:on, and in
| his answer was an Indication of the sterling
| sincerity of the man.
"They wanted man Tor the place, and l
| just stepped in and said I'd take it."
"They were glad to get your
! Don't know. They took me, at any rate,
| and I'm going to stay.
| what are you going to 10 with all the
| old fellows, the trained henchnen Of Rich
ard Croker?" 1 asked, for there is that In
| Mr.. Nixon's appearance that is not strictly
| political: he is built very square out
| lines.
| II have absolutely nothing to do with
| selecting the officers and district leaders Of
| this organization. The primary laws gov
| oil In official canacitv and
nothing could put any member out OF the
organization"
aBut you are enrolling new members all
| the timer
| "As fast as we can and we look into their
private histories, their political Affiliations.
1 We propose to get the three hundred thou
! sand democrats In New York city on our
| list, for I consider 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 member or not
and receive any advice. patronage, support
| or assistance the Tammany Hall organiza-
ton can furnish.
"Tammany Hall IS to become straight
democratic organizations?
! ''Thats what we want, and that Is what
| we are bringing about.
| "And Mr. Croker has really and truly and
positively retired forever and ever:.
| Positively; he Is an old man. and he has
earned his holiday"
Respect the New Man.
It is a remarkable thing to see the Tam
many men gather In theAexecutive room OF
the organization, to get a. little inspiration
and confidence from this self-reliant cheer
full, determined young leader. They are
listless. disinterested, they lounge about
with their heads bowed, their eyes dull a
| ghostly crew Of glonm-7Hhen Mr.. Nixon
erasps each one by the hand. pulls him into
| q 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, freghened up. Nixon Is the
human symbol Of success. he breathes 1t,
looks 1t, is It. There is something In the
confident atmosphere of the man, IN his
business reputation, that makes him an OBJ
ject lesson for any political party. munich
pal, or state, or national.
| He Is the Jerome of the democrats In
New York, with good record for conserva-
tive business habits. thrown In. He is not
| aggressive, and he has the refreshment OF
contrast in work. between his shipyard In
the morning. and Mr.. Croker's old desk In
the afternoon. He is not the type OF man
one would expect to find In politics. He
| graduated from the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis, at the head OF his
| class, then went to Europe and took
course OF naval architecture and marine en-
gineering at Royal Naval College in Green
| wich England. Since his return, he de-
signed the greatest modern battle ships, the
Oregon, the Indiana, the Massa chusetts
|
he opened his own shpyards. built the gun
boats Annapolis. Josephine, Margreve and
the submarine torpedo boat Holland
About twelve years ago he Joined Tam
many Hall, being member OF the cham
ber OF commerce. the Democratic Club and
the Army and Navy Club In Washington.
It does not seem reasonable to suppose
that the new Tammapy leader, In the face
Of an independent standing as business
| man, with the cumulative interest In his
profession Of ship building, Will be ham
pered in his obligations by political ambi-
tion.
Believes in His Party.
And yet. why has he assumed these re-
sponsibilities, which involve mass Of de-
tailed labor? He said himself that he does
not like 1t. The reasons are such as ap-
peal to the most valuable prospects In the
political future Of any American city-he is
| a patriotic believer In the integrity OF his
| party-a stanch democrat In this fact he
| Is an object lesson to the young man who
| hesitates assuming political office, because
| he sees only the entanglements. and not the
principle.
"It Is perfectly wonderful to see the num-
| ber Of young men who will develop loyalty
| to their party. when the principle Is shown
! them. instead OF the spoils!" said Mr.. Nixon
| warmly.
"Al they need is a little advice. a sug-
gestion. and they will go into their districts
| and work night and day to accomplish re-
| sulIs," he added.
without self-interest?" asked
What Is party principle. but self-inter-
est. 1t acts upon every citizen who votes.
Tammany Hall under Mr.. Nixon's leader
ship intends to re-establish It's standing
upon the pla .orm Of democracy, and, after
all, a clean democrat Is as much a reformer
| against dishonest conditions. as a clean re-
publican. and in expressing this fact by in
dustrious advice ans ciisee. perception Of
the agents of his Organization Mr.. Nixon
sets an example ash qpelitical leader. for
any municipal government.
How are you going to purify Tammany
| Hall?' asAed him.
well, certain men who have done the
organization no good. Will not be encour-
aged. cannot arbitrate the characters OF
our members. have no authority over
their morals. but when they come to see
me these men who are not wanted I make
my wishes quite clear to them. They seem
to understand me, too, for they don't come
around here very offen"i
You You do do !, not absolutely dictate. as Mr.
|. No Dictator Hell