New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-15
A SENSATION FOR CLUB MEN.
DISCUSSING THE SELIGMAN CASE.
MANY REGRETS THAT THE YOUNG MAN wAS
BLACKDALLED BY THE UNION LEAGUE.

BLACKBALLED BY THE UNION LEAGUE.
General interest was manifested in the city over
the announcement that sufficient number OF votes
had been cast against Theodore Sellgman, soh
OF Jesse Seligman the well known banker I'd pre-
vent his admission TO the Union League Cip' i"e
facts, as published exclusively IN Tile Tribune "ere
news to only few members Of the club. because tho
J contest which ended in young Mr. SellghiaiiS |"
lection was so hot that 1t had drawn out an ex'
traordnarly large but the story made gossip l"
the members Of other clubs to discuss with reiis'.
The incident also furnished topic for geneai CON-
men discussion because of It's sensational fea'ueS
The talk every ywhere covered wide range because o'
the issue involved and the prominence both financially
and politically that the young mans father mas en-
joycd.
The name OF the seligmans is known wherever largo
banking and financial interests exist AS the head
| of the New York banking house of J. ". .ellgman
a. Co., Jesse >eligman stands high in the financial
community His firm was interested Ia the floating
CT Government bonds during the Civil War and In all
Of the great refunding operations carried out suise-
auent to It's close The European correspondents oi
the house were the foreign fiscal agents OF tho Navy
! Department OF the Gov eminent. handling immense
sums OF money In connection with the needs OF tie
Navy and its service abroad. Jesse Selgman has been
I'm sympathy with the Republican party tor years ara
his contributions TO campaign funds have been among
| the largest. lie has had number OF nominations
pressed upon him. and only in the last campaign no
WAS vainly solicited to take the party's nomination
| for Mayor More than this Mr.. selgmans services
hay. been esteemed at such high value that mor than
| "A year ago he commissioned In an unoihchi way
by President Harrison to visit the leading bankers OK
Europe and eDdeayor TO prepare the way Ior 'he
| conference OH international bimetallsm which was
held at Brussels last at the request or tue Uniteh
states Government In the affairs Of the Union League
cub Mr.. selIgman has always been prominent ana
has been held In esteem He has been a member
since $685. and for several years was one OF the Vce
presidents. lie not renominated for the position
fifteen months ago only because Of his absence 10
Furope his time then being engaged in the financial
mission lust referred That club OF such strong
and decided Republican proclvities should otend
man OF Mr.. Seigmans standing and political value by
refusing to admit his son 10 membership excited the
greatest surprise yesterday
II Is clearly evident that only one prejudice
.uaycd the action Of the who opposed the al
mission of young Theodore seigman lie Is a lawyer
in the Mills Building and has reputation among
MANY downtown people OF IA most favorable Mhi'
No one could be found Yesterday who could bring
oofs OF any uncubabc" characteristics OF the young
man unless the prejudice Of and religion be ad-
ni,td into club ethics. Mr. segmans friend, declare
that that is the sole ground OF Ms rejecuoh ana ms
father and uncle do not hesitate to say so' too
Jesse and Jane, Selignan were seen at their brast
banking house by Tribune reporter. Jesse Seigman
w,s calm and disnitied In lis remarks. but did not
carr, IN discuss the subject length. Il have no
comment, to make" he sad III reply 10 an INJURY
III is private club matter and make 1t rule never
TO discus, such questions IOu would better see what
General Horace Porter. Mr. Bliss, Mr. Choate ana other
Union League members may have TO say
There was only one objection urged against your
son 7" asked . .
There could be only one,' Mr. sellgman replied.
Il suppose II unfortunate religious pre!uace'
Mr.. sellgman was urged that. having resigned from
the club he might speak freely II he wished In con-
demnation of the Of the opposition members.
He shook his head adding: Il have nothing TO say.
Have you sent fo.mal letter OF resignation :"
the club ," .
resigned last night" Mr.. seligman replied OF
/ course i could not remain n mehoer vi 'Ho ~
nv son WAS unwelcomc'
Jane, seligman, who was sitting by "hiie 'nc ''"
ycrsation went on, here remarked lou "i"s WI"
them that this won't do the ReluDh'ah l'"'s my
good Jess. seligman shook his bead deprecatlngy
but his brother repeated his remark win eHPN.'s
what has religion To- do with clubl' he addea'
one would tn nix that didn't live III iree couuuy'
In fact | don't believe this i free country ""'.
such prejudice prevail and against 'he SUI VI
, man VINO has done the party such service as Nr'
scligman has. You VIII hhd 'hd' 'Ni' VIII " 'A'
Republican party
| Young Mr. seligman declined to discuss his cas-" at
length lie said :" | can Imagine no other reason 'or
the action Of the club than race do not thilh ("
WINS on personal grounds, for : far aS know have
M spccal enemies among the members oi the ciup'
Among the majority Of the members oi the oh'oh
c,pr,e th feeling /, one OF regret AT the attitIde OF
the min, rity whose "blachlas' were suilceht ~
| ,unr.r ,o reject Theodore seligman's candidacy.
II was felt by many that In view of the services
and po,i,ion OF Jesse seli-nan existing religious
nr.udice might well be laid aside in tie case OF
r who's. admission he ~ strongly urged. Mr..
s,licnlan had many strong and well known members
supporting him in his fight for admission \ p'oii'
nenr member OF the club. who wouli not permit MS
ramc to be used furnished to The Tribune TIE fol-
l,uinr Isl Of som, Of the men who voted and worked
-, -. voru, LAWYER: General Horace Porter.
president of the club; Le Grand Is. cannon Nor'
n,lIus N Bliss Thomas c. Acton sisourney W.
Fay, Elilu Root. JOSEPH IL. 'hoat'' "eors' nlHs.
loci H. Erharlt Emerson Foote, Thomas L. 'hhi'''
VI C. d. Borden, George II. sargent augustus We
I,ince f. b. uusiae. Rufus B. Cowng. George
vrt,r, J. Adrance Bush ana James OTIS.
,r,, cluhmon who furnished these names added:
Mr. scligman was defeated by IL combination OK
t.e .Nugwumps' and Of the cafe crowd VINO NUM-
her some 200 of total membership of l.'oo''
General Horace Porter did not get to his Office IN
tho NILS Building until late, and H. had mean
,ir u,,dc M his mind not talk about the selis-
man ,,isoie As an officer OF the club ne said.
81 cannot with propne,y discuss this subject. when
+ entirely a club matter" 1t Is believed however.
t,o General Porter deeply regrets the incident. but
| hope, that it is only an experience from which an
| ,lub, suffer that will have no unhappy results
III t. a grave misfortune the Union Lcagie
,1ub- said one Of its oldest and most prominent
members one whose services To RepuOli' AN party
have been extremely valuable that a gentleman
| If the character of Mr.. Theodore >eigman should
bov. been rejected tie ground. pure ana simple
! of RELIGION and race. He son OF one OF the
| honor.i members Of The club. and the acton OK
| last night was a great mistake. IL Is due 10 Mr'
s,licman that the grounis Of rejection be maoe
| clear even though club affairs not usually or
properly to be made plblic
| lin this case there not the slightest objection
| n Mr. Seligman as a man. was well acraint'd
, with him. and esteemed him, | did his father, AS
Il gentleman OF refinement lie l. n graduate OF
Harvard a gentleman Of high standing ani sue
c,ssfu lawyer. 4 rejection 10y club like the Union
League is likely to give a popular impression that
there WAS objection the character or standing