New-York tribune., 1902-01-23
CROKER OFF FOR ENGLISH HOME
HE CONSOLES HIS FOLLOWERS BY ANNOUNCING THAT
HE WILL BE BURIED NEW.YORK
WHY CROKER CHOSE NIXON
LEADERS SAY THE BOSS KNEW WHAr
HE WAS DOING-HOW THE NEW
MAN is LOOKED UPON.

Lewis Nixon remains here to look after the po-
hucal fortunes of the organization intrusted to
MS care by Croker While the latter is speeding
toward his country home at Vantage England
with the sustaining hand of the old boss with
oraWn Nixon is left to fight his owe way with
the Iammany leaders. Croker's last plea was
'hat the leaders support Nixon. One OF the lead
ers-one OF the most powerful in the organiza-
IoH-''ihe downstairs at the Democratic Club
tuesday night after the dinner at which Mr.
croker had announced his final retirement from
Poiitics' said goodby to his friends and urged
every one 20 stand by Nixon
Are you going to support Nixon -, +b,s 1aadsr
was asked
nixon can go hang himself and be ID N
him." replied TIE leader sententiousI,,
Ihat expresses the sentiment of the old guard
IN the organization toward the new leader.
nixon can never gain their confidence. He Will
Always be regarded. they say. as an interIoper,
and viii be slighted and annoved and e1nhar-
rassed on every possible occasion. it is believed
The Tammany leaders have a genuine rasnect
Tor Croker, and when he laid down the law that
nixon was to be 1T" and stayed here and stood
Oehlnd Nixon, the leaders gave the young man
grudsing support. With Croker gone. however
the leaders are openly scornfuI and defiant. and
ready to ignore Nixon
What did Croker mean by making Nixon
leader" one Of MIR. Croker's personal and no.
ht1cal associates was asked yesterday. This
man replied slowly:
Croker is wonder. What will there be TO
do IN the organization for the next two years?
There will be nothing but 10 stand off the i'm
portunities OF a host Of Tamrnany men There
Is no patronage to deal out and there are vexa-
tlous questions to be met. II Croker stays here
the best he can expect is two years of hard
I-flrl-a
mics What does he do? He shifts the burden
to the shoulders Of a young sincere and un-
sophisticated enthusiast. He is going 10 allow
Nixon to have the trouble and make the enc
mles AT the end of two years the organiza-
ton viii be in such a tangle that there will be
WILD appeal 70 Croker 10 come back and he
Will come whenever there is anything TO be
made by il.
Not in this way alone has Croker shown his
wisdom. hut he has made good move in NAM
ing Nixon He has picked out a man whom the
leaders dlstrust. He has named man who can
never get next to the leaders He selected a
man who build UP no machine of his own
he mas named man who will have no power in
the organization aside from the power that
comes from Croker's support. Two years from
now, When Nixon gets in bad tangle he will
nave no one 20 help him in the Organization
me leaders viii want Croker and thew viii
ask MIN 70 come back Nixon will be able 10
iheke no hsht against his return such as Car
roI' sullivan or man OF that stamp might
nave made haa he been named leader Had
CarrolI sullivan or some such person been
paced IN charge he would have at once started
70 bulId up personal machine, and when
Sroker wanted TO come back he would have
I0unu ne could not get back without fight
WIN Nixon 1t will be easy. Croker shifts the
burdens and troubles for two years He will
enjoy the rural life of England and the race
tracks. and he has left the door wide open for
ms return. His chair is filed by one he can
wave aside with breath. Croker will be back
Every man In the organization knows il bur
ne won't be back until there is something in
sight" e- INNS III