The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-16
NIXON LEADS
NO LONGER
TAMMANY CHIEF. TENDERS HIS
RESIGNATION.
DISTRICT LEADERS MEET
Could Not Retain Man He Wanted az
Grand Sachem and So
Quit Himself.

New York, May 14.-Lewis Nixon,
leader of Tammany for nearly six
months, resigned that position today
at meeting Of the district leaders
held in Tammany hall. While the
resignation was not entirely unex-
pected, it was not thought that Mr..
Nixon would take such positive ac-
tion until later date, first waiting
the action of the leaders to see if they
would give him a vote Of confidence.
Instead of this, he refused to allow
any vote Of confidence and went so
far as to say that he could not longer
retain his self-respect if he remained
as leader.
The meeting of the district leaders
was called at the instance of Mr..
Nixon, who, on Tuesday night, sent
| telegraphic messages to all of the 81.
This action followed a deadlock at
the meeting of the sachems of Tam
many Hall society Monday, when Mr..
Nixon's intention of retaining Thomas
L. Feitnes as grand sachem was
| frustrated by tie, there being six
of the sachems of the 13 for and six
| ho ratn irfn
i George G. Clausen, being absent. The
action at that time caused general
discussion of the possibilities of Mr..
Nixon losing control of the organiza-
ton and the combination headed by
John F. Carroll ousting him. Mr.. Nix
on, in an interview on Tuesday, said
that if he could not have the conf
dence of the leaders he would get out.
When Mr.. Nixon arrived at Tam
many hall today all 81 leaders were
present. AS soon as the meeting was
called to order Mr.. Nixon arose and
said:
Mr.. Nixon's Speech.
Gentlemen, l have decided to re-
sign as leader of Tammany hall. This
resignation is positive and absolute
and will not be withdrawn. feel that
cannot retain my self-respect and
still remain the leader of Tammany
hall. My decision is unalterable."
There was moments silence when
Mr.. Nixon had finished. Then Michael
G. Murphy made very compliment
ary speech in praise of MIR. Nixon. He
did not say, however. that ne wished
him to remain as leader. He said
that Mr.. Nixon had done splendid
work as the leader and had the con-
fidence of all the leaders.
Mr.. Nixon jumped to his feet as
soon as Colonel Murphy had finished,
and said: 81 do not desire any vote
) of confidence whatever"
J He Immediately left the room, fol-
) lowed by an outburst of handicap
5 ping.
: Is Out of Politics.
, Once outside the meeting room, Mr..
c Nixon would only say to the newspa-
per men: 81 am out as leader of Tam
3 many hall. shipbuilding is my bus
: mess. l am out of politics, and ann
4 glad of it. l will devote my time to
8 my business of shipbuilding and will
e talk of that by the hour, but | will
not talk politics hereafter. The
$ cause of my resignation is plain. l
!. could have won out and elected MT.
O Feitner grand sachem, but | would
e not appeal to Mr.. Croker
nj Following the departure of Mr.. Nix
, on several leaders remained for some
It time in groups chatting about the
e resignation and the possible develop
h ments. It was announced that meet
4 ing of the executive committee of dis
n trict leaders will be held Thursday.
4 at which time Mr. Nixon's action will
$ be acted upon. There we're numerous
l. rumors about the hall regarding the
d future policy of the organization. The
+ most persistent one, and one that was
l. expressed by several leaders was that
l. there would be no actual leader Or
D. Tammany hall for some time to come.
Il This was coupled with the rumor
m that the finance committee would be
v. abolished, as well as the chairmanship
le of this committee. The chairman,
in who is now Lewis Nixon, and was
IS Richard Croker, has always been the
IS leader of Tammany hall, and as such
,e had the handling of the funds OF the
organization in the campaigns.