Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-28
TO VINDICATE CORBIN
Neutrality-suspicious. Angered at Action
of Metropolitan Club.
WILL START A NEW ORGANIZATION
Insult Offered to Ex-speaker Hender-
son During the Past Winter Caused
Considerable Excitement in High
Official Circles.
[BY FRANK j. sTILLMAN.l

[BY FRANK j. STILLMAN.l
Washington, D. c., April 27.-The
indications are that Washington is to
have another club" Secretaries Root
and Hay are said to be behind the
movement, and the President has ap-
proved the preliminaries. There seems
to be no doubt at this time but that
the club will be organized and in run.
ming order before next winter.
At the present time the leading club
IN Washington is the Metropolitan
There has been a growing dissatisfac-
ton with this club during the past few
months, and this dissatisfaction has in
creased greatly the past few weeks as
a result of the blackballing of Major
General Corbin, the adjutant general
OF the army. General Corbin has
sought membership upon at least two
occasions, and each time has been
black balled. The opposition to Gen.
Corbin's admission is known and is
inspired by personal dislike The turn
ing down of General Corbin by the
club under such conditions has made
the Metropolitan the subject of severe
criticism of late.
1t may be recalled that some months
ago ex-Speaker Henderson was insult
ed in the apartments of this club He
was at that time a member, and upon
the occasion in question had invited
a friend to dine with him at the Metro
politan. While sitting at table, pre-
paratory to receiving the attention of
the waiter, General Henderson was
brusquely informed by some employee
about the place that it was against the
rules of the Metropolitan for members
to entertain guests in the house
Speaker Henderson was furiously an
cry, and not only withdrew from the
apartments that evening, but rendered
his resignation as member of the
club at once.
The officials of the club are said to
have severely reprimanded the EN-
ploye who had publicly insulted the
speaker of the house of representatives
and made every effort to adjust the
matter to the satisfaction of the speak
err but it is not thought the latter was
ever fully satisfied with the explana.
ton.
The episode at that time created the
greatest excitement in high official cir
cles, and the Metropolitan lost caste
as a result of the affront offered to the
speaker of the house. This taken ir
connection with other incidents, oil
similar import, followed by the black
balling OF the adjutant general of the
United States army for reasons pure
lily personal, has served to disgust the
public generally as well as many lead
ing members of the club. In fact the
past month number of Influential
members of the Metropolitan club
have asked to have their names re
moved from the roll of members.
Secretaries Hay and Root propose
that the new club shall be organized
along broader lines than have thus
far been attained in Washington, anC
i provide such scheme of admitting
members that valid reason for OBJ
lection to membership must be pre-
scented in order that any gentleman
shall be barred from membership.
One of the rules of the metropolitan
club is, that all diplomats representing
foreign powers, having headquarter.
i they are members by reason of the of
| fee they hold.
Two years ago Senior Quesada, con
nected with the Cuban junta, will
| headquarters at Washington, applied
for membership in the Metropolitan
and it is said the black balls were in
adequate to supply the demand. No
| long after Cuba became an independ
ent nation and made Senior Quesad;
4 its minister to the United States. Thel
Senior Quesada became member o
| the Metropolitan club by right and i'm
mediately exercised his prerogative tt
the extreme disgust and annoyance o
number of the members of the club
! 1t was drastic pill the black baller
were compelled to swallow, but Their,
| was no way to sugar coat it.
There are also other clubs, the All
my and Navy, which is exclusivel,
military; the Washington Economic
club, of which Director of the Min
Geo. 3. Roberts is president, and tn
| Cosmos club, of which Mr.. Roberts i
also prominent and valued member
1t appears there will be no lack O
help to build the Panama canal. Hun
i dreds of applications have been re
ceived, among them several from
Iowa. Strange to say, the applicant
all have passion for choice berths a
good salaries where the deadly climat
cannot hit them. Few government off
Gals have failed to receive letters i'm
portuning them for situations, an,
even cabinet officers are not exemp
4 from requests for their influence Sue
misdirected mail is always forwarde
! to the office of the canal commission
i Three letters were received yester
day, in which certain inland town en-
gineers proposed to undertake tn
building of the entire canal. Proposal
of this kind have ceased to be object
of curiosity. Several applicants hav
begun their letters boldly in request
ing superintendencies of various kinds
but before closing they usually becom
more reasonable and announce tfei
satisfaction with the position of as
sistant steward or messenger.
The natural adventurous spirit @
, the American seems to be back of mos
, of the applications. The long letter
explain desire to visit Central Amer
lea, and much space is devoted to Gel
] tificates of good health. Others sa
they have been persistent readers @