National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-19
DANIEL S. MANNING cLuB.
How n Group OF Aspiring Department
Clerks Precipitated the Presidents

Clerks Precipitated the Presidents
Order.
philadelphia Times spoclall
Speculation has been busy for two or
three days to find some specific reason for
the issue Of the Presidents order against
political activity on the part Of Office
holders just at this time. Various sur
misses have been INDUCED in, the principal
Of which were the presence OF a number Of
officials at the convention which renomi-
mated Mr.. Holman, Of Indiana, and one or
two other congressional conventions held
In the west and south.
But from developments to-day II seems
that the cause is TO be found right here In
Washington. IL seems that certain bureau
and division officials, mainly In the Treas.
ury Department, conceived tho idea that
an association composed OF none but the
faithful and the true could do great deal
Of needed party work. so they proceeded
to organize such body. Several meetings
OF none but trusted leaders In the move
ment were held In a room Of the treasury
building, with the result that plan was
adopted by which 100 picked men from
every department, and distributed all over
the country, should be formed into an or
ganization TO be known as 1.-THE Daniel
Manning Social Club"
The strictest secrecy was observed, aud,
strange to say, none Of the movements Of
this chosen band were revealed 10 the news
papers. After several meetings plans were
perfected, a constitution and bylaws
adopted, and preparations made for thor
ough work. Among the principal objects
OF the club thus yelled under the name OF q
social organization was that OF supplying
information upon which removals were TO
be made by the heads OF departments and
bureaus. These bureau and division officials
como into very close relations with their
subordlDates and can easily secure great
deal Of information about their political
records. This was to be collected and kept
always In shape for presentation TO
the appointing officer in each department,
when, as one OF the men interested re-
marked to-day, 'the number of Republicans
who could have been put out In a year
would have been surprise to all con-
cerned."
Not only were all these preliminary
arrangements made. but officers were
elected and club building leased In an
arstocratic and fashionable section OF the
city. Chenowith, OF Texas, first auditor OF
the treasury, who will be recalled as having
been engaged in an alteration with the
civil service commission some time ago, was
elected president; ex-Representatlve Shell
| ley, OF Alabama, now fourth auditor OF the
treasury, was to be vice president; Flster, OF
| Kutztown, Berks county, now chief clerk
| In the office OF the supervising architect,
was chosen secretary, and q man named
Kritz, now OF Texas but formerly OF Penn
sylvania, had been elected treasurer. The
| admission fee, or assessment, had been
| fixed at sos, and all arrangements had been
| perfected for creating very comprehen-
sive club, with the purpose Of doing a great
deal Of effective work In politics.
Although the whole movement was
sedulously concealed from heads Of depart
ments and their assistants and from the
| public, knowledge Of II was brought to the
| President. He remembered the disreputable
character Of the work done by the old state
associations under Republican admins
trations and concluded that he would nip
the movement in the bud. The matter was
laid before the Cabinet at its meeting on
Tuesday. The Presidents order was issued
on Wednesday night and published In the
papers on Thursday morning. SO effective
was 1t that meeting Of the leading organ.
izers Of the "Daniel Manning Social Club
was held Thursday night, when resolution
was passed without dissent that the clul
should be disbanded without further delay
The members who had paid their S25 are
wondering when they will get their money
back and who will pay the rent OF the club
building for the remainder OF the year
while those who had not paid are congrat
ulating themselves upon their good luck
and laughing In their sleeves at their less
fortunate neighbors