New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-22
DEMOCRATIC CLUB DECAY
-RoKER'S SEAT or POWER SCENE

The Democratic club, once thronged nightly
Tho scene Of many conferences of Importance
between Democratic leaders. headquarters OF
Richard croker and gathering place for every
Democratic officeholder and worker in the city,
presents ! scene Of gorgeous desoauon THESE
DAYS The club has fallen upon hard times
Few and far between are the visits Of its mem
bers The big dining room, once filed every
evening with diners. now stands empty at DIM
ne- time The funkeys move around the De
serted corridors and rooms in dull listless sort
of way. The staff has been reduced greatly on
account of lack of patronage The club is kept
up but few persons appear in its rooms.
The cause is perfectly plain. The power that
made the club and brought il to the zenith Of its
strength is no longer here to keep up interest in
the club When r7oler was here and TamrnanF
was in power every one knew that the place 10
see the boss" was at de club" District lead
ers. precinct captains. commissioners, deputIe9
and minor officeholders Of all kinds Hooked 10
the club nightly to show themselves, anu per
haps get nod Of recognition from me grta'
man. Men Joined the club who could haroiS
afford the initiation fees and the dues, IN nope
that attendance would bring forth future Poii'-
cal favors. Dress suits were the order for even
ing wear. and many Tammany men VINO never
owned a dress suit before. and had sneered al
ing clothes and shamefacedly appeared at the
club revealing in every move their uneaslness
and lack of familiarity with the clothes they
wore.
The Democratic Club might he said TO be the
creature Of Richard Croker. When he TOOK hoio
of il the club was deeply in debt and norloallu
Croker had quarrelled with the Manhattan olu''
and had declared that he would wipe IL OUT d
she headquarters for Democrats in this city ana
from over the country generally Onder MS
guidance the Democratic Club jumped into pros
perlty Applications for membership came III
bv the hundreds Prominent Democrats from All
over the country applied for nonresident mem
hership IIorgan & Slattery, the famous hrm o.
Tammany architects received no lliliit oIuei
10 remodel and redecorate the clubhouse 4hou-
sands of dollars were spent in making II lavish
and luxurious. Rare pictures were purchdSeu
and hung on the walls. The cellars were stocked
with fine wines Money was spent without stunt
hut the expenses did not eqpal ule lllop ,
Every Tammany officeholder became iheIhoei'
and hundreds Of others Joined Then there was
\ famous night the club when Jonn FOX
burned every certificate Of Indebtedness against
The club and announced u surplus.
The tide turned. however. when IammahF "as
defeated last wear. Several hundred members
former Tarnmany off1ceholders, deprived OF their
salaries, resigned The boss" had no patronage
80 parcel out. and the attendance began 10 OWN
die. Then Croker went away. ana the cum pt
gan TO settle back and become moribund WITH
in The last month the average attendance uali!
mas not reached q dozen persons The cafe ana
restaurant are practically empty. Even TIE prl-
mary fights did Tot cause leaders to go 10 the
club. In all its grandeur. the club stands prac-
tcally deserted.
Had John F. Carroll Won at the primaries
snd been elected leader of Tammany, IT would
have been good thing for the club. so il is SAID
Carroll is one of the few regular attendants
there. end his elevation to leadership might have
caused many TO go there and see him. Charles
T. Murphy never seldom goes TO the clun.
The club is out Of dent. and a year ago mao
= surplus II can stand long siege, but j
is said that it is running behind daily now,
owing 10 the wholesale designations. which cur
tailed the payment of dues. and the cafe ana
restaurant are not doing any business worth
mentioning. =,
Many persons are Specializing as to what VIII
he the future Of the club. The Manhattan Gun.
"a bich Croker out 10 ruin when ne revived
The Democratic Club. is growing IN StrensI n
dailv and is the recognized headquarters OF the
PARTY in city State and nation now Shouio
croker return and resume the leadership OF
Tsmmanv il is said the Democratic Club VIII De
the gamer. and may get back some of its former
means long period of depression for the club
and a continuance Of the present conditions,
which If they are maintained, means In due
course of time the utter failure Of the club ana
its RELOCATION from the proud position or me
source Of power in the party to discarded place
af