The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-12
ROYAL TIGERS
CLAWS ARE DULL
Age Causes Retirement of Rich
ard Croker From Tammany.
NIXON is THE NEW LEADER
FORMER CHIEFTAIN EXPORTS
MEMBERS TO CONFIDENCE

NJ EW YORK, Jan. 11.-Riohard Gro
N ker announced his retirement
from the formal leadership OF
Iammany Han this afternoon. The an
nouncement was made at the naat7ne.
OF the executive committee. al which
the plan Of organization for the vaa-
ISUz was agreed upon. Age is the chief
cause Of Cookers decision. Lewis Nix
on was chosen Mr.. Crokers successor
as chairman OF the finance conmf++ea,
ms position, by long usage. carries
ton. Vac VI Sd'l---'--
In announcing the name Of Mr.. Nixon
Tor the craftsmanship Of the finance
committee, George NJ. Van FToesa1
president Of the general Committee.
said that the step was taken at the
deSlre OF Mr. Croker himself. Mr.. Gro
ker. however, did not express himself
until all the business before the meet
ing mad been transacted, when be. rose
and addressed the chair.
Ihere was distinct rustic of ex-
pectancy in the crowded room as ha
did So He spoke in his habituaI quiet
manner, but such a stiffness prevailed
tnat every word he uttered was clear
~ heard by all. His tone was a con-
versatiOnal one, but there was some
thing like a tremCr in his voice and
ne walked back and forth across the
room in a way not entirely familiar 20
those who have often heard him speak.
Cookers Tones TremuIous.
In beginning, he said that the ap-
pOintment of Mr.. Nixon to the chair
manshlD Of the finance committee had
his full approval, and he hoped that
Mr.. Nixon would receive the same con-
slderatlon and good viii which had
been extended TO himself He added.
I know the young man well. and
believe that he will restore confidence
in the organization and bring back to
its support the army Of Democrats that
we lost at the last election. I hone
that you Will give him the same conf
dence that 1 have enjoyed. am con-
tinually receiving letters from young
men anxious to join this organization
who do not know how TO join, 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
yours upon patronage received from
the Republican party. I think il is
your duty ia. strengthen yourselves and
to stand on principles, not on patron
age.
A Word Fer Tammany.
You know this organization general
y polls the largest vote when it has no
patronage. 1 have been in the organ
iZatiOn thirty-fiVe years, and during
that period it has p0IIed a larger vote
prOpOrtiOnately in years when il had no
patronage. So you need never fear the
they wish to get positions 1t is neg
Iect Of yourselves and diSLrUst Of your
leaders which viii hurt you. If you
conduct this organization honestly and
comply with the laws you cannot be
beat at any time.
IN conclusion, want TO ask you
again TO have the same confidence in
MI Nixon that you have had in me,
and 1 have no doubt Of your success"
Mr.. Nixon, the new leader, rose as
| soon as Mr.. Croker had sat down, and
very briefly thanked the committee Tor
the honor done him. he said.
Z need not say that this great honor
was entirely unexpected and absolute
| " unsOught by me. 1t was with sin
/ cere regret that I learned that Mr..
| Croker had determined to retire. L was
willing to remains in the ranks. But
/ I viii not accept an executive position
and be a mere dgUrehead. / am not
so presumptuous as to imagine that
/ I can control in all things. But can
/ say that while L may not always have
your support, I shall have it if I keep
/ this position 1 promise to apply every
/ effort and my utmost strength to build
UP this organization
/ 4 vote of thanks to Mr.. Croker for
/ his service to the organization was
voted by the committee. Mr.. Nixon
! announced that he would retain ThOm+
| as F. Smith. Mr.. Cookers secretary for
/ a number of years. as his secretary.