The sun., 1899-01-29
A Specimen Of Anti-Expansion.

The decision Of the governors Of the Man.
haitian Club to remove it from its present
home in the Fifth avenue to the quarters
ut the corner Of Twenty-sixth street and
Madison avenue, which are soon to be
abandoned by tho University Club, Is un-
doubtedly an immediate consequence Of the
rivalry and opposition which 1t has encoun-
tered from the Democratic Club. Mr..
CROKER used his powerful influence and
even his authority to build up this rival
club, on the ground that the Manhattan had
ceased to be representative Of genuine De-
mocracy, but had become rather an obsta-
Gle to its advancement in New York and
the older association, already tottering
under It's heavy expenditures was soon
reduced to q condition which made neces-
sary their sharp reduction to save the club
from speedy dissolution.
The Manhattan Club maintained a vigor-
ous existence and was powerful as politi-
cal centre while it inhabited it's old quarters
in the Bernhard mansion, at the corner Of
Fifth avenue and Fifteenth street. 1t had
the reputation Of being the headquarters
of the "silk stocking" variety Of Democ-
racy, or the "better element" to use the
Mugwump designation, but in those days
1t profited rather than lost by the distinc-
tion, for it contained in its membership and
included among it's most habtual attend
ants many men who were actually promi-
nent In the party management and In the
shaping Of Democratic policies. Moreover
the Manhattan Club was celebrated for its
good cookery, so that Democratic states
men could fortify themselves there with
triumphs Of the gastronomic art while they
discussed political strategy and made or
unmade the fortunes of aspirants for the
honors Of the party. Then, the Manhattan
Club was New York association Of real
distinction and extensive political influence
of one sort or another. 1t was the centre
to which the better dressed, the silk
stocking" Democratic leaders from other
States tended when visiting New York. OF
course, its power was practically shadow
as compared with that of Tammany Hall,
but as the two were generally on amicable
terms it managed indirectly to make itself
q power in Democratic politics.
When, however. 1t moved up Fifth avenue
to occupy the old Stewart house at the cor
ner Of Thirty-fourth street it assumed
vastly greater burden OF rent, and to bring
up its general state to correspond with the
magnifcence Of its surroundings it was
compelled also to increase proportionately
its other running expenses. The cost Of
belonging to 1t was greater than at the run
OF clubs, but looking on Manhattan men,
bership as an avenue to political advance
ment, many aspiring men were glad to pay
the price. Consequently, for time, the
club seemed to be going ahead swimmingly
In It's new quarters. Accessons to its men,
bership came from fashionable circles to
some extent for even into that sphere the
notion of playing with politics had entered.
and the only road to anything like a sue
cessful political career in New York was
supposed to be through the Democratic
party.
The campaign Of 1896, 80 disastrous to
the Democratic party generally, brought
disturbance to the Manhattan Club, for the
majority of it abominated Bryanism. Then
came Mr.. CRoKER's openly declared deter
mination to destroy even the little Of po-
litical influence that remained to it, on the
ground that 1t was an organization
only harmful to the Democratic party,
political nuisance, sham, a representative
Of the cheaper sort Of snobbishness. He
made the Democratic Club his seat and the
social centre of the party, and speedily from
feeble and insignificant concern it rose to
great consideration. Men looking for DEM
ocratic advancement transferred to it the
membership they had obtained in the Man
haitian. The reason for the existence OF
the older club was thus destroyed. It lost
all political consequence; Mr.. CROKER de-
tod it, ,i,xht 10 nnII t. H.,
any sense, and nothing remained to 1t ex-
cept competition with far superior clubs as
purely social organization.
Now. of late years, even the most success
full, the most fashionable of such social clubs
In New York have become of much less con-
sequence relatively than they used to be.
1t is true that they keep up their rolls of
membership and may have increased them
greatly, but proportlonatey their fire.
quenters are much fewer than they were
formerly. The competition Of outside So
cial attractions and obligations has become
vastly greater The whole social life of the
town has undergone a radical change dur
ing the time the Manhattan Club has been
vainly to make both ends meet
at its costly Fifth avenue establishment,
and it has suffered seriously by reason of. |
the revolution, more especially since Mr.. |
CROKER put upon it the ban of Democratic
disapproval. Having been destroyed DO |
litcally it has lost its only title to social
favor Instead of membership helping an
aspiring Democrat it rather puts him under |
suspicion as a Mugwumpish character.
Accordingly, the Manhattan Club soon
got into financial straits, which made neces-
sary the soverest possible tax on the en-
durance of such an association, or tho levy
ing Of an assessment on the members to
pay the accumulating and menacing debts. |