The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-12
CROKER OUT OF 1T.
Announced His Retirement as Leader
of the Cohorts Of Tammany.
LEWIS NIXON SUCCEEDS.
Croker Dictated Succession and This
Was Announced by Committee.
WILL NOT BE A MERE FIGUREhEAD.
New Leader Made Speech and Made
That Statement in Plain Language.
NIXON IS A NATIVE OF VIRGINIA
Was Graduated from the United States
Naval Academy and Was the
Designer OF the Oregon.
WILL NOT Be A MERE FIGUREHEAD,
New Leader Made Speech and Made
That Statement in Plain Language.
NIXON IS A NATIVE OF VIRGINIA

New York. January It.--Richard Gro
ker announced his retirement from the for
NAL leadership of Tammany Hall this aft
crnoon at the meeting OF the executive
committee, at which the plan of organiza
ton for the year 1909 was agreed upon,
Lewis Nixon was chosen as Mr.. Croker s
successor as the chairman OF the finance
committee This position by long usage
carried with it the leadership Of the organ
ization
In announcing the name Of Mr.. Nixon
! for the Craftsmanship Of the finance com
nittee George NJ. Nanhocsen, president of
| the general committee. said that the step
was taken at the desire of Mr. Croker him
| self. Mr. Croker, however. did not express
| himself until all the business before the
meeting had been transacted, when he arose
and addressed the chair. His tone was
conversational but there was something
| like tremor in his voice as he walked
back and forth across the room.
In beginning, he said that the appoint
ment of Mr. Nixon TO the Craftsmanship Of
the finance committee had his full approval
| and he hoped that Mr.. Nixon would re-
ceive the same consideration and good will
which had been extended 10 himself He
added 81 know the young man we'll and
| believe that he will restore confidence in
the organization and bring back to its sup
port the army of democrats that we lost at
the last election. | am continually receiv-
ing letters from young men anxious to Join
this organization, and ! hope that means
will be found TO bring more young men in
The people who left us for reasons Of their
own can never build an organization up
against ours upon patronage received from
the republican party. ] think it is your
duty TO strengthen yourselves and TO stand
on principles, not on patronage. ] have
been in the organization thirty-fvc years,
and during that period il has polled a
larger vote proportionately in years when
it had no patronage. You need never fear
the efforts of men who leave us because
they wish 10 get positions. II you conduct
this organization honestly and comply with
the laws you can't be beaten at any time.
In conclusion ! want TO ask you again
10 have the same confidence in Mr.. Nixon
that you have had in me and ! have no
doubt of your success"
MIR Nixon. the new leader rose as soon
as Mr. Croker had sat down and very
briefly thanked the committee for the honor
done him.
He said 1T was with sincere regret
that ! learned that Mr.. Croker had deter
mined to retire. will not accept an cx-
ecutive position and be mere fgureheud
| promise 20 apply every effort and my ut
most strength 10 build up this organiza-
ton"
A vote Of thanks 10 Mr.. Croker for his
services TO the organization was voted by
the committee.
Mr., Nixon announced that he would re-
tain Thomas F. Smith, Mr.. Croker's sec
rotary for a number of years, as his secre-
tary.
Lewis Nixon, the nav Tammany leader,
was born in Leesburg. Va, April 7, 1901,
and received his early education in the
schools of that town, In 1873 he was APP
pointed a midshipman and in 1882 he grad
uated from the United States naval acad-
envy at the head Of his class. He was sent
by the navy department to the royal naval
college, Greenwich England and in 1884
he was transferred TO the construction corps
Of the navy. In 1900 he designed the bat
tleships Oregon, Indiana and Massachu-
sets and then resigned from the navy 10
become experimenting constructor Of the
Cramps ship yard in Philadelphia. In 1903
ed the Crescent ship yard at Elizabeth
port n J., where he has built roo vessels
in six years, among others the torpedo
boat Holland and the monitor Florida. He
is consulting engineer Of the Cramp Ship
Building company Philadelphia and is an
officer or director in number of large
corporations. He has written several books !
also essays on the military value Of the /
ship yard and the commercial value of the (
ship yard, both Of which appeared in the |
North American Review
Richard Croker was born In Black Rock, |
County Cork. Ireland, November 4, Is43. |
He was brought to this country when only
two years old and received his education |
in the public schools Of New York city. In
1868 he was elected alderman and served
in that capacity for two years. In 1873 he
was elected coroner, serving three years.
In 1888 he was made Are commissioner, and
in 1889 and 1890 he served as city cham
berlain. For years he had been recognized
as the leader of Tammany Hall.