The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
Makes a Feeling Speech Of
Farewell to His Old
Associates
NIXON NAMED AS HIS choice
He Hopes the Same Goodwill VIII Be
Extended to His Successor
Which He Has fiimseIf
Enjoyed.

New York January 11.-Richard Croker
announced his retirement from the formal
leadership of Tammany Hall this after
noon at the meeting of the executive COM
mittee at which the plan of organization
for the year 1902 was agreed upon. Lewis
Nixon was chosen Mr.. Croker's sue
cessor as the chairman of the finance
committee This position carries with it
the leadership of the organization.
In announcing the name of Mr.. Nixon
for the craftsmanship of the finance COM
mittee George M. Vanhoesen, president
of the general committee, said that the
step was taken at the desire of Mr..
Croker himself. 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
and he walked back and forth across
the room. In beginning he said that the
appointment of Mr.. Nixon to the chair
manship of the finance committee had his
full approval. and he hoped that Mr.
Nixon would receive the same considera-
tion and good will which had been ex-
tended to himself. He added:
Knows Him Well.
know the young man wen alio pe
feve that he VIII restore commence IN
the organization ana prlhg pack 10 i's
support the army OF Democrats that we
lost at the last election. am contlnuaiiy
receiving 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 rea-
sons of their own can never build an or
ganization up against yours upon patron
age received from the Republican party.
/ think 1t is your duty to strengthen
yourselves and to stand on principles, not
on patronage. | have been in the or
ganization thirty-nve years ana curing
that period 1t mas polied larger vote
proportionately IN years When II nao no
patronage. you need never leaI the ei-
forts OF men VINO ieave ana oistrust Oh
your leaders whlch VIII nurt you. IL you
conduct this organization honestly ana
comply with the laws you can't be beaten
at any time.
I'm conclusion I want to ask you again
to have the same confidence In Mr.. Nixon
you have had in me- and have no
doubt of your success.
Nixon Peturns Thanks
MI NiNOl. the ucW ltduei; iooO dS Sooh
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 determined
to retire. l will not accept an executive
position and be mere fgurehead. l
promise to apply every effort and my Ut
most strength to build up this organiza-
tion."
A vote of thanks to Mr.. Croker for his
services to the organization was voted
by the committee.
Mr.. Nixon announced that he would re-
tain Thomas Smith. Mr.. Croker's secre-
tary for a number of years as his sccre-
tary
Sketch of Nixon.
Y,a Nr;.,o,, tha ,,a,,, To n,,,,onx, laada,-
uas boyn in T,eeshure Va Anril I 1s6l
go re,eived y,ie early education in the
.ohoo,s of that town In 1878 he was an
,,o,nted midsbinman aud in 1899 he
sas,,stad sro,,, tha Irn;tsd states Naval
Ac.demv Of tho baad Of his class He
x,,as cent HI, tho Navy Department 70 IN.
Roval Naval College. Greenwish, Eng
land. ard in 1884 he was transferred to
the construction corps of the navy. In
1880 he designed the battleships Oregon.
Indiana and Massachusetts and then re-
signed from the navy to become snperin-
tendent of construction OF the Cramps
shipyards IN Phliadelphia. In 1888 ne
ieft there ana on MS own account starteo
the crescent shipyard at Eilzapethport,
n. j.. where ne mas pulit one hundred
vessels IN SIX years among otners the
torpedo poal iioi'hho anu the monitor
Florioa-
he Is CONSUMING ens'neer Vi ,he tramp
snlppuiioihs ooiiipahs' iniia"elphia anu
is an oHicer oF uifeJ,oi iu ~ nulnoer oi
large corpora.iols. ne nas . wrn.en ,' sew
erai DOCKS anu ESSAYS on - sne 's'.ue VI ms .nS
mintary snipyaru anu ss liz, so,ii'neic,a' i .,
vaiue' poth Vi ml'Sn "pp' =" '"e
Nvl., ~, an 1..l ~. torr, 1, D,o,,
Isieiiaru CioNei 1,"a Ma,,a,','ss
Nocn, couii's Soin' .e'.s, ,,,s sa,,.....
~, 1910 re was piousl " s - sn1'....,
WIFI oi'iy wv yvafo ,,,a,. - rs ~ - -.
ms soueauoi, III eeD ene popiie ,'Sna A,Se,
YORK elty. IN ion. D" was eiecse" A'uei a..