New-York tribune., 1902-05-15
NIXON OUT, CARROLL USURPER.
LATTER PLANS TO IA We DISTRICT LEADERS CONTROL
CHAOS IN THE WTGWAM
CARROLL'S AUDACIOUS ACT
HE DAZES THE CROKERITES BY HIS
ASSUMPTION OF POWER. AND ISSUES
STARTLING STATEMENT

John F. Carroll, the famous "iceman" of Tam
many Hail. last night at the Democratic Club
rallied the anti-Croker district leaders, bullied
the weak kneed ones, ignored the thick and thin
friends of the old boss. and, as the would
be leader of Tammany, issued a formal state
ment, in which he belittled Croker and Nixon
and said that the district leaders would here
after run the organization.
Carroll's quick grasping of the reins of power
is the most audacious act ever witnessed in the
Wigwam. and completely dazed the Crokerites
His programme, TO which he has pledged ma
tority of the district leaders, is to elect ex-Mayor
Van Wyck grand sachem. and follow it up next
fall by nominating him for the Supreme Court
bench. Carroll and Van Wyck were in the Ice
Trust deal together. and the Sullivan Nagle-
Devery crowd saw no harm in their wealth get
ting. They all want more of the same thing
and Carroll has promised 10 get it for them.
His game is to keep the leadership question
open until next fall. and then have himself
elected chairman OF the Finance Committee and
leader of the organization.
Carroll is known the silent man of the or
ganization but under the stress of the occasion
his friends induced him to stand for" the fol-
lowing remarkable statement, prepared with The
assistance of John 3. Sexton, John ". Keller
and others:
For my part, l believe Mr. Crokor's with
drawal, followed by Mr. Nixon's resignation
from Iammany Hail. affords that organization
an opportunity once more TO equip itself as it
has always been equipped when il won its great
est victories. Tammany has never been beaten
except when she led by an individual. She
has always been invincible when her nomina-
uons were made and her campaigns managed
by the district leaders themselves This is an
excellent opportunity for the district leaders 10
resume control of the organization, and lead it
10 victory, and certainly do not aspire to lead
ership except that of my own district. I will
oppose any other leadership than that of the
district leaders.
The history of Tammany Hall under individ-
ual leaders. however worthy pure they may
have been individually, was the quick sacrifice
OF all the advantages gained by her under the
management and control of her district leaders
Even under the leadership of good. pure and
upright a man the late John Kelly the
ganizaton steadily declined in power in the
city and consequently, throughout the country
After his retirement through Illness, in 1880
Tammany won her first decisive victory in
many years, single-handed against all Comers
This was followed by unbroken success through
1886. 1887, 1888, 1899 1890 and 1891. During
all that period the district leaders were the real
and only authority in control. The course of
the organization was always decided by them
after the fullest discussion.
Mr.. Croker so far he led. was the exeru-
tive officer who carried out it's views. not the
boss who controlled them. After the election of
1871; during the years lS92 and 1873 and
until the spring Of 1894. when he re
tired, Mr. Croker was absolute leader, and
we all remember that in 1893 the reaction
began which eliminated in the disastrous
defeat of 1894 During the succeeding three
years the organization was again run by
its members. and in 1897 the city carried
triumphantIy. For the next four years there
was personal leadership, and the favorable pros
pect Of 1898 in the State was lost. 1t Is un-
necessary to recall the defeat of last year
In all this do not mean to criticise anybody.
II angel were to become individual - der or
boss of Tammany Hall il would be d misfortune
for the organization. Much would 1t be
evil to repeat the experiment of electing a
mortal to such responsible position. hope
the organization will never again be in the posi-
tion where the extravaganza Of speech or con-
duct the part of any individual can bring dis
aster upon the whole party. The only way
secure ourselves against this danger is to re-
frain from surrendering to any individual more
authority than is exercised by every district
leader
be excuse for opposition to Tammany Hall
within the Democratic party. The Greater New
York Democracy is organized against bossism
or individual leadership. The abolition of bosses
without any reason for existence, unless it's
leaders themselves wanted to become bosses.
As soon as CarrolIs programme was made
known there was sudden cessation of the talk
about James j. Martin. Charles F. Murphy and
w. Bourke Cochran for the leadership. Martin.
on account of fear of Croker whom he has re-
pudiated since the squire went back Eng
IL nd has got to do what Carroll SAYS or be
crushed. Murphy cannot win against the two.
Mr. Cockran's assistance is sought by Carroll
merely to give Il gloss of reSpeCtability to his
leadership. Carroll has got a grip on the lead
ership and he viii keep every else away
from il until he is ready to assume full RESPONSE
bjlitv himself. When Mr.. Carroll was asked by
n Tribune reporter last night as he was leav-
ing the Democratic Club If he really thought
that people would take seriously his inferential
statement that Tammany better off without
an individual leader. he grew sury and said:
II won't say word. The statement covers il
all"
LEAVES NEW YORK nan