The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-19
CLUB THAT TURNED
CORBIN DOWN
Something About the Semi Political Metropolitan
of WaShincton

courteSies to a foreigner than would be
extended to an American citizen, and
especially one occupying the high rank
of Gen. Corbin.
In club circles this subject has been
so generally discussed that it is said
that the club parlor is occupied almost
exclusively by the American members,
while the foreign and diplomatic con-
tingent usually frequent the "loggia"
just across the hall from the parlor.
OF course this may be mere coinci-
dence, but it has been frequently re-
marked by the daily habitues of the
club.
While it is generally conceded that
the Metropolitan Club is the most ex-
elusive of it's kind in Washington, its
rules and regulations are like many
other similar organizations-elasti site
and may be stretched to meet certain
contingencies. A striking incident of
recalled in the case of Senior Quesada,
at present the minister from Cuba. A
short time before he became the Off
cial representative to the national cap
ital he was denied membership. Now
he enjoys the eX-officio membership
given to ambassadors and foreign min
listers.
A contrary incident may be cited in
connection with a millionaire citizen Of
New York, who was elected to Con-
gress. Acting under the impression
that his official position as a member
of the House of Representatives enti-
tied him to membership in the club, he
telegraphed to Washington to have his
name proposed, and so confident was
he that he would be acceptable that he
ordered his mail to be addressed to
him care of the Metropolitan Club.
This display of assurance on his part,
unintentional perhaps, resulted in his
overwhelming rejection.
Numerous other incidents of sim
liar nature might be given to show
that the directors exercise their own
the credentials of American citizens
proposed for membership in this IA
nous organization.
The present board has distinguished
itself, recently by turning down no less
than twenty-one candidates for mem
bership. Among the latter were Gen.
Corbin, Harry Thaw, the Pittsburg
millionaire, who is soon to become the
brother-in-law of the Earl of Var
mouth; two prominent federal officials
and several well known society men.
The board is composed of Brig. Gen.
S. G. Kellogg, retired; Capt. w. S.
Cowles, U. S. NJ, brother-in-law to
President Roosevelt; j. NJ. Wright,
marshal Supreme Court, United States;
r. S. Chiffon, Jr., former chief con-
sular division State Department; Rear
Admiral J. G. Walker, retired, presi-
dent Canal Commission; Arnold Hague,
Geological Survey Bureau; w. A. Day,
assistant attorney general; Gen. G.. L.
Gillespie. chief of engineers, U. S. A;
j. K. McCammon, general attorney
for Cramp & Co., shipbuilders; Ralph
Jenkins, lawyer; F. E. Chaplin, law
yer; Archibald Hopkins, clerk Court
of Claims; Thomas Nelson Page, au-
thor; Nathaniel Wilson. lawyer; Pay
master General A. S. Kenny, U. S. N.
The officers are: Rear Admiral Walk
err, president; Messrs. Hopkins and
McCammon, vice presidents; Paymas-
ter General Kenny, treasurer, and Mr..
Chiffon, secretary.
The first president of the club was
W. w. Corcoran. He was followed by
Rear Admiral c. r. P. Rogers, u. S. N.
Then came Rear Admiral John L. Wor-
den, u. S. N The late Judge John
Davis was president from 1892 until
1899. He was succeeded by Admiral
George Dewey, who held the Office of
president until 1901, when he was sue
ceeded by Admiral Walker. The MEM
bership includes President Roosevelt,
Secretary Root, Secretary Hay, Secre-
tary Moody, Secretary Hitchcock At
torney General Knox, Gen. Miles, Gen.
Scofield, Rear Admiral Schley, and
many other officers of the army and
navy and also many senator's, repre-
sentatives and department officials.
some of the latter at present occupy
ing low grade clerkships. The MEM
bership also includes many distin-
guished men not in official life, who
by their wealth, social standing, or
good fellowship have enabled them to
receive membership in this exclusive
organization.