New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-27
DEMOCRATIC CLUB PLANS.
ITS HOUSE TO BE CONSIDERABLY EN-
LARGED
PROGRESS OF Mr. CRoKER's SCHEME 10 Bull
Up THE o'eANIzATIoN AND MAKE II

Up TIE u sANIZATION AND MAKE IL
HIS I,ILT1CAL HEADQUARTERS
oos manu- mon called at the Murray Hill
III ,,os,ardav to see Richard Croker but the
orlv ones who were able to secure lh'eI''e"
with him were Randolph Guggenheimer' preS'-
dent-e,ect Of the Council: Jefferson NJ Ao
Perry Re,o,ont and George c. Clauseh' ''
~rolar started at 3 o'clock IN the afternoon io'
S.a,ep leland TO attend the funeral services io'
his brother George s. Croker beio'e e"' ms
the hotel he told a Tribune reportei "'
should remain over night on Sta'e" i' ~
return to Lakewood tomorrow ,,.
Torua,v Democrats and non-Tarn'i'ans
Der,ocrats were discussing yesterday MI
Croker's denunciation of Mugwunpery DIS he "
ueves II 70 be exempli6ed in certain "eiii'.'
of the Manhattan Club. ana MS repoi'
cision TO take an active part in the hahas'
of tho Democratic Club. and make i's GU"
house in future his political headquarters "u0"
curiosity was expressed as to his exact o"'''
.,ar .. Democratic Mugwump. Perhaps the
best definition given by pronlne"' i"
ronv man. who said he knew that Mr. Croker
did not have in mind the men VINO reiu'V" W
s,,nnort Rrvan last year-for both the clubs con-
,o.,o ,,urher Of such Democrats-but the
"l,ickers" who exercise certain degree OF inoe-
q
that they were the sort OF Democrats
,,ho T., tho election Of last month refused to vote
o.. ,,dca Van Wvck FOR Mayor although he
noe tho only Democratic candidate. and there
,ros M reason why he should not have been
sunnorted Many of these men were TO ne
,ound IN the Manhattan Club. An additional
reoeon for complaint against that organization
uas that II refused at the outset to help hlli III
his fight for the G0vernorship in 1SSo. although
as the campaign advanced 1t did declare FOR
him.
MR. COt-DERT TALKS.
Ex-Governor Flower. preside mt OF the Demo-
cratic Club went to Watertown the other oay
10 spend Christmas. and is not expected nacK
until tomorrow A Tribune reporter however.
Yesterday saw Frederic r. Coudert, presioehl oi
the Manhattan Club. and asked him for MS
views upon the subject Of Mr.. Crokers hostility
to the club Mr. Coudert said
The first intimation that J had and my only
knowledge on the subject Of Mr.. Croker's taxing
up the Democratic Club as a purely Tanmahy
organization. is derived from the newspapers oi
this morning The Manhattan Club ana 'he
Democratic Club have both been representative
Democratic organizations ! have been q HeHi-
Der Of both for many years. and In tact Presi-
dent Of the Democratic Club at time when
II L
have contained what is probably intended to be
described as 'Mugwumps.' but can assert with
confidence that the Manhattan Club has always
been a loyal Democratic organization 1t sup
ported Mr.. Hill during his fierce fight for the
Governorship and has always. with practical
unanimity supported the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency During the last campaign.
II Is true that unanimity did not exist. Nor did
II in the Democratic Club. which under Gov
ernor Flowers presidency. was outspoken
against the free silver candidate do not see.
therefore that there is much 10 choose between
the two upon that point
How is the Manhattan Club doing. Mr.. Cou-
dert?" asked the reporter.
THE Manhattan Club has been very prosper
Gus during the last year The void made by
deaths and designations has been flied up. We
have admitted nearly three hundred mem
bers during the last year. and hope that the
club will continue to be in the future. as 1t has
been in the past. consistent and efficient
champion Of the Democracy"
How large a part OF the membership are
Tammany men,"
II have never sought" answered Mr.. Coudert.
"to calculate the numbers Of Tammany and nom
Tammany men. respectively. in the club. That
has given me no concern. Provided candidate
was a reputable man and Democrat, my asso-
ciates and generally ask nothing more. We
have always had Tammany men In the Board
Of Governors, and sometimes. think. probably
the majority of the managers belonged to that
organization and have had large share in dl
recting and controlling it,
EFFECT ON THE MANHATTAN.
Tribune reporter last night saw Jefferson
NJ Levy at the Manhattan Club, and asked him
If ne thought that the membership of the club
was likely be much diminished In conse-
ouence Of Mr.. Crokers declaration against it,
and in favor of ne Democratic Club. Mr. Levy
said he didn't think that that result would fol-
low He himself was not going TO resign his
membership In the Manhattan Club, although
he was deeply interested In the success OF the
Democratic Club of which he was of the
founders twelve or thirteen years ago. On
Christmas Day. he added. Mr.. Croker. accom-
panied by Theodore w. Myers. J. Sergeant Cra Il
and himself visited the Democratic Club. Mr..
Croker went all over the building inspected the
accounts, and finally announced his determina-
ton TO do all in his power to build up the club,
which has !anguishing for the last three
or four years. conference was held, and 1t
was decided TO make extensive improvements
on the building. adding three stories to It's
height which would give thirty more rooms,
and to increase the membership by one thou.
sand the added strength being drawn from all
divisions Of the greater city.
NATIONAL STATE AND CITY.
II ,s the intention OF the Tammany leaders
10 make the Democratic Club the headquarters
for the Democracy Of the city, State and Ma
ton and Mr. Levy confirmed the report that
Mr. Croker would make the club his personal
HEADQUARTERS after the beginning of the new
year. meeting Of the Board of Governors has
been called for tonight TO rescind the resolu-
ton passed six months ago appointing com
mttee with power to negotiate Inc sale OF the
club property which is valued at about S2Jo,DO.
There are mortgages aggregating S2ooUJ ana
steps are TO be taken soon TO eXtlngulsn tnlS
debt and place tho club upon sound hnanclal
basis The present membership is from SOD 10
400. Besides enlarging the building, 1t Is pur-
posed 10 renovate completely the present struct-
ure. and TO add popular features. among when
VIII be "Grsi- -class cusine % Mr.. law saws: