New-York tribune., 1901-09-29
THE INVINCIBLE CLUB.
IT'S INFLUENCE IN KINGS COUNTY POLL
TICS-WILL SUPPORT LOW
VIGOROUSLY.

With the single exception Of the Union League
Club, the Invincble Club, of Brooklyn. whose
clubhouse is at No. IS Herkimer-st., probably |
wields the greatest influence of any club in
Kings County Republican politics. The club
house is one of the handsomest in Brooklyn.
It's membership of 800 includes most OF the
prominent Republican politicians and office
holders in Brooklyn. and many well known
business
The club was organized in 1883, and was the
outcome of the Harrison and Morton campaign
committee of the Twenty-third Ward. 1t was
organized by the members of that committee
who rented and furnished quarters in Gates
ave near Bedford-aYe It started out with one
hundred members as an anti-machine organlza-
ton. The first officers were James K SKINNER
president: Horace E. Stearns secretary, ana
Sylvester l. Brinley, treasurer. In 1888 tne
club gave a dinner and reception which was at
tended by many Republicans prominent IN
county and State politics The machine of the
Twenty-third Ward gradually worked its mem
bers into the club until 1899, when il practi-
cally controlled the organization. In this year
| the anti-rachine faction in the club nominated
| William H. Reynolds for the Assembly, and sue
| ceeded in defeating the nominee of the ma
| chine, Arnold II. Wagner. The machine Repub-
| ucans then withdrew from the organization
| and Immediately thereafter the club became
for a time whether not it would survive. In
| 1893 it removed to a small frame house in
| Tompkins-ave.. near Hasey-st, and once more
| became prosperous. Many names were added 10
the membership rolls, and the club actively
| participated in the reorganization of the Repub-
| lican party in Kings County in the spring OF
| 1898 many of its leading members becoming
| district leaders. 1t largely due to the ef-
forts of the club and its members that the re-
| form Mayor, Charles A. Schieren. and the entire
| county and local tickets were elected. In the
| two wears in which the club remained in its
| Tompkins-ave. home its membership increased
| so rapidly and IL became prosperous that II
was able to obtain the large double house at No
1918 Fulton-st.. opposite Verona Place. here
| the club entered upon an of prosperity, made
large additions to its membership and accumu-
lated a comfortable surplus Of funds.
| In September 1899, the club purchased the
property and furniture of the old Irving Club,
| at No. IS Herkimer-st., between Nostrand and
Bedford aves. The membership increased from
975 to 700 within three months, and the club
| took on a wonderful boom, many OF the leading
| Republicans of the Seventh and Twenty fourth
| wards allying themselves with it. There is no
limit TO the membership, but as It increases the
| initiation fee is advanced.
Captain Frank C. Elliott. president of the
| club, declares that the sentiment of the mem
|
He said yesterday:
We propose to prosecute vigorous campaign
! for the anti -Tammany ticket. With Low, Grout
and Cantor the ticket 1t seems to me that we
ought TO have difficulty in winning out. Mr.
| Grout is well liked in Brooklyn, and will re-
ceive the support Of all Republicans and inde-
| pendent Democrats. He has proven himself TO
| be a thoroughly conscientious public official
and his record speaks for itself We shall not
confine efforts merely to the XVIIth As
sembly District, but expect TO do some telling
work throughout the county. We have many
! good campaign speakers in the club. and will
| press them into service. Social functions will
| be entirely ignored during the campaign, and
the clubhouse will be used for rallies and meet
| ings. There was little factional strife in the
club at the last primary. Among our members
are supporters Of both Walter b. Atterbury
| and Councilman Adam II. LEIGH. Their differ
! ences settled at the primary election, how
| ever and they now combined for the good
| Of the Republican ticket.
The Invincble clubhouse has many features
| calculated TO attract young men. In the base
ment there are three bowling alleys lockers
and shower baths; the first floor has billiard
room, with six pool and billiard tables;
library. reception room and office. On the sec
| ond floor the cafe a thoroughly equipped
| gymnasium, cardroon, restaurant az4d grillroom,
| and on the third floor are sleeping rooms and
| baths for the accommodation OF members The
house has frontage of A feet, and is 50 feet
deep. On side OF the house there is %
| foot lawn. and the other ID feet Of ground,
| 1t is proposed to add an extension the house
next year and to increase the size OF the billiard
| room and gymnasium by the expenditure of
about $1,000. The property is estimated to be
worth $4,000. and is owned by the club. Every
thing in the house is conducted on a cash basis.
At its annual dinners the club always enter
tains some distinguished statesman. AT the
| dinner last March Lieutenant Governor Tim
| othy l.. Woodruff occupied the seat of honor.
| Every effort will be made to induce Seth Low
to accept the hospitality of the club at a recep-
| tion soon In 1893, when President Roosevelt
! a candidate for Governor of this State he
| visited the lnvincible Club and made an address
| to its members. On another occasion General
! Benjamin +. Tracy paid a visit to the club
| Although 1t is mems club, the women are not
neglected. Indeed, they enjoy its privileges one
day in every week. On these occasions the gym
nasium is stripped of its gymnastic and athletic
r xal.1=x L. 1911