But by the time this occurred, it was useless for Tammany to rebel. Tammany men who had noticed the infiltration of Jews and were alarmed by it had consoled themselves with the thought that, at least, the higher offices were immune from Jewish occupation. This consolation served only to permit the filling of the lower offices by Jews, with less protest from the membership. By the time the Jews were ready to permit Croker to “abdicate,” they had permeated every part of the Wigwam and the assumption of supreme control was thus made a simple matter. Croker stepped aside; instantly into his place stepped the Jew, Freedman, operating through Nixon. It was too late for Tammany to remonstrate. Tammany could not protest against the Wigwam _becoming_ Jewish, because the Wigwam already _was_ Jewish. To remonstrate then was to ruin Tammany. Becoming reconciled to what seemed to be inevitable, Tammany leaders saw that their only hope of survival came through preserving Jewish support. Presently even Nixon was relegated to the background and Freedman issued his orders directly. The Jews, however, with great astuteness continued to make much of Nixon, because he was the last thin veil which concealed the change which had come over Tammany, and he was valuable to that extent. He was, unwillingly, perhaps, their puppet, but even puppets must be accorded their proper dignity. Nixon was tendered a great reception in 1902, but the influential men on the reception committee were mostly Jews: Andrew Freedman was chairman; then followed the names of Oliver H. P. Belmont, Max F. Ihmson, Samuel Untermeyer, Nathan Straus, Randolph Guggenheimer, Henry M. Goldfogle, Herman Joseph, and others. On the executive committee of Tammany Hall at this time were Randolph Guggenheimer, Isaac Fromme, Nathan Straus, Henry M. Goldfogle, O. H. P. Belmont, and other Jews. On the committee on law were Samuel Untermeyer, M. Warlet Platzek, Abraham Levy, Henry W. Unger, Morris Cukor and Fred B. House. Andrew Freedman had complete control of the committee on finance that was nominally headed by Lewis Nixon. Randolph Guggenheimer was president of the municipal council. Ferdinand Levy was on the committee on resolutions and correspondence. Jews had so spread themselves as to constitute a controlling group in all the assembly districts that were under tribute to Tammany. In the “Fighting Eighth” district, Martin Engel was leader. His chief aid was “Manny” Eichner, chairman of the Isidor Cohn Association and of the Young Men’s Democratic Association. His other assistants, Max J. Porges, Max Levein, and Moe Levy were floor managers of the dances and balls of the Florence Sullivan Association. In the Tenth district, Simon Steingutt, “Mayor of Second Avenue,” was one of the hardest workers in Tammany affairs. Edward Mandell was the active Jewish Tammany man in the Twelfth district.