New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
,rHE FORGED BALLOTS. I
rur MANHATTAN CLUB DISCUSSES THE
SUBJECT.

,rARGE ATTENDANCE AT THE sfhOAAn "Nh"
.,,-yur BOARD OF GOVERNORS ASKS FOB
~,ovr TINE TO INVESTIGATE THE
.pr.1a-rwo FACTIONS AT WORK.
>. ,,e,ial meeting Of the Manhattan Club was
"a AZ night, for the purpose Of hearing and
ss.;,o mon the report Of the Board OF managers
,he ,esult of its investigation OF the forgeries
s...overed 40 the recent club election. IL was an
s.,sr that will not be soon forgotten by the
~n.-s for various reasons. In the first place,
49,. one Of the most fully attended meetings
-, held st the clubhouse, and, secondly IL de-
s.,ored more clearly the fact that there are dis
..n,;ons within the club SO serious as to almost
Z .h,.aten revolution Then, 1t comes from excel
,snt authority, suspicion as to the authors Oh
A.. forged ballots was narrowed down 10 Tour OF
eve members, any one or all, OF wnom may De
formally accused OF any moment ana summary
punished. =,
Managers, special meeting OIL tne ciuo was c'ileu
Gov the purpose of considering the course to be
.,,,sr.a IN regard to the forged ballots. AT this
rn.s,ino which was not stormy, but painfully
..,.;ned the Board Of Managers was instructed
=. ,ryas.ioate the forgeries. The Board consists
=, tonr members. Frederic T. Coudert being chair
man.
The Investigation has been conducted quietly,
"a ,hs hoard has held several meetings but no
definite policy has been adopted. At the former
,a.etinp of the club last night was the date fixed
for the reception of the report Of the managers.
The board met at the clubhouse at o'clock yes
.eray afternoon, to consider the report TO be pre-
sented TO the full meeting in the evening. 1t re-
manned in session until after O'clock, the hour
cot for the gene raj meeting Of the club, and the
hour for the latter gathering was made o'clock
so as to give the board more time
During the interim the clubhouse began to fill
M rapidly Members arrived in groups OF threeS
and half-doxens, indicating that there had been
great deal Of canvassing in o small way at con-
yeuient meeting places By o'clock there were over
200 members present, including all of the promi
neut leaders of the clubs two factions, known
as the old" and young men. There was an
absence of the hilarity that usually forms a, feat
IRE Of general gatherings at the clubs, the mem.
bes lounging through the spacious rooms, earn
estly and quietly discussing the serious business
OF the evening II was noticeable that the younger
men maintained an exclusive "set," while the
older ones had a clique Of their own.
was almost 0 30 o'clock when the Board OF
Managers announced that they were ready to re-
port At that time the lower parlors were
crowded with members, while groups stood in the
dodways and adjacent corridors. Frederic X
Cmdert acting president of the club, called the
melting to order, and announced that the Board
ofsianagers had not been able to agree upon a re-
pot MS yet lie asked for further time in which
10 continue the investigation, and promised that
relcrt would soon be made that would be salts
faeory to the club. Expressions of astonshment
at Mr. Coudert's announcement arose from men,
bss in all parts Of the rooms Evidently every
hdy had expected that report would be made
tat would enable the club to take some positive
lction. The spirit of the club was aroused just
ther, and the old and young men were united in
icommca ard intense desire to make an example OF
somebody.
The poStponcment Of the report OF the Board
Of Managers was all the more eXasperating be-
cause of the fact that it had been understood in
the club for several days that the Board had such
evidence as would convict one or more culprits,
and scores of the members had come TO the meet
ing eager to take part in the expulsion of the
guilty person or persons When the murmurs fol-
lowing Mr.. Coudcrts remarks had Quoted some
what. a member arose and move@ that the club
should give the Board of Managers two weeks
more in which to ferret out the culprits and
report TO the club.
Mr. Coudert leaped to his feet and exclaimed
that he hoped the club had too much confidence
In the board to put time limit upon its investi.
cations The affair was one Of the most serious
with which the club had ever been concerned,
and il required delicate handling as we'll as alb.
solutely positive proof, before summary action
could be taken. Mr.. Coudert hoped that the club
would give the board as much time as might be
needed, leaving IL with the chairman to call
special meeting Of the club at such time as re-
port might be ready. motion TO this effect was
carried, although there was much opposition to 1t
on the part OF the younger men, who maintained
that the board had had time enough already.
An amendment TO the constitution of the club
was carried, providing that whenever q ballot x
not signed by an absent member himself 1t must
be accompanied by written authorization to be
presented By the proxy member who casts and
signs tho ballot This win prevent frauds similar
70 thoe attempted at the recent election.
IL was plainly developed at the meeting that the
dissensions In the club are becoming extremely
serious. The younger members, whose candidate
for membership on the Board OF Managers at the
election was James +. Pend leton, who was defeat
ed anxious to gain control of the club in order
10 give IL such a relation in the Democratic party
as the Union League holds in the Republican party
The older men are fighting to make the club
strictly social. Some Of the older men have init
mated that the forgeres were some OF the political
methods OF the younger members, and the latter
are highly indignant az this charge. They demand
full investigation and prompt report.
N Inc younger men are opposed to the present
Board OF managers, and the feeling against Mr..
Coudert on their part Is particularly unfriendly.
the older aemSe M oUdeft 5PS Sgpf
Of saying that the forged ballots cast in the
Interest OF Mr. Pendlcton, and that the httar was
defeated because the fraudulent votes were not
counted. Mr.. Pendetons friends resent this. and
declare that they VIII yet defeat the old board,
that the nance of the forgers would be withheld
from the public, even IL they had been dis
covered, and even II summary action should be
taken by the club.