New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-14
II. SELIGMAN BLACKBALLED.
A HOT FIGHT IN THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB
THE son OF THE BANKER REJECTED, 1877 VoTES
BEING CAST AGAINST HIM-HlS
FATHER RESIGNS

BEING CAST AGAINST HIM-HlS
FATHER RESIGNS
The0d re S,eman of Jesse Seligman was
backballed at the Union League Club last night
at meeting in which the feeling rose TO
white heat. Not in many day has there oe"n
so tompestuous a gathering in the clubhouse at
Thirty-ninth-st. and Fifth-avc. as that of last
night. After number of speeches for ana
AGAINST the candidate. some of them exceedingly
bitter the vote was taken. About SO mem-
bcrs cast ballots, and 1877 of these were against
Mr. Seligman. A. negative votes to the number
of one-thrd OF those cast exclude person, those
opposed to him mustered about seventeen moro
on their side than they actually ncodel.
Jesse Seligman at once sent in his resignation
as a member Of the club. This is the first time IN
years that an applicant has been blackpaiieo WI"
has been favorably reported on by the Commlrtee
On Admission. The last man 10 whom this hap
pencd was Russell Sage.
The excitement over the candidacy Of Young
Seligman was more intense than that over most
of the club elections II has men known ros
some time that tho Committee on Admissions had
passed his name favomby Then came an
organized fight to cause his rejection by
tie club I'm general the frsaucnters OF
the club were AGAINST the candidate. There
are about 200 of these. so they relied on
nearly that number of votes On the other hand,
Cornelius y. nl>s and number of other leading
Republicans worked with might and main TO get
ont "A full vote of those who did not Object 10 Nr.
Srgman. Personal letters were written TO many
of the members. and Others were visited at their
offices and homes.
The opposition employed the same tactics and
with equal vigor. Tie consequence was that the
meeting was one Of the big !c.t ever held by the
club. Sometimes only 200 or 300 votes are cast
at the election of Nominating Committee or ot
the officers Over 600 members went TO the club
house last niglt, a good many arriving after tho
meeting had adjourned
II was perhaps tie general expectation that MP.
| Seligman wou,l be- backbaled. bur the fight was
! hotly wa4od nevertheless on both sides. II was
| also known that Jesse Scigman would resign IN
case his son was rejected. He acted promptly
| in accordance with this belief. II is not known
whether other designations will follow.
There some feeling against the COMMITTEE
on Admissions for reporting favorably on Mr.. Sell
igman's name II was argued that the members
| Of il should have forese the trouble they were
causing and have prevented the bitter contention
| hv quietly dropping his name. II said yes.
| torday that the committee at first did intend 70
| pass Mr. Scligmans application over An
| official Of the Cuba weil-known citizen
however pleaded that the action should be favor.
| able He pointed out Jesse Seigman'. high posi-
ton in the club and his great services TO the
Republican party Give the young man
| chancr" he said Let his name 20 bcfor" the
whole club Ii hc is not considered desirable as
a member let the whole club say So
The committee was won over by these argu-
ments and pleas, and voted 70 reconment MN
70 the club Inc opposition of TWO men In tne
| committee would have been enough TO cause me
dropping Of his name. In general, 10 be iavorany
| reported on is the same a. an election. ne
| club considers the committee the guardians OF lts
doors and almost never questions It's con-
clusi0ns Hence the criticism that the committeo
was timid in not accepting the responsibility
OF rejecting Mr. Scgman. -
Jcssc -rllemar has been member 0t tnc l mon
League since 1865. For severa years he was
| one of the vice-prcsidents. lie was not re-
nominated for the ofic, fifteen months ago D.
c1lsr lie was abroad and expected 10 remain there
| for some time lie j. one of the leading R"pub-
| licans of the city, and last year was prominently
mentioned the partys candidate i1r MAYOR.
| In all the campaigns h" has been liberal con-
| tribu:or 20 the party funds. AS the head of tho
| yrcat house of J. 4 W. >eligman, he Is one Of
the strongest bankers in the country. He belongs
! to no other club. -
| Croad-st. and no one has mentioned any per-
sonal objections To him. He is already a member
| Of the Crocr Lawyers Lo'os and Harvard clubs
| I'd of th" Bar Association. Club men critcise
| him only because he did not withdraw his name
| when he saw how Widespread was the opposition
| TO him. They say that even if only l5o mem
| lowed himself to be elected lie. however, was
| unwilling to give in while under fire.
The following w"r" elected members Of tnc cup: r
Albert c. Pond stephen Palmer; William n.,n: u;
Sierhen nr,e r. ~ Tynq. ir Nbert " Palmer Homer :.
| ards Samuel T.. Kilner and Spencer Adrich