New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-09
No MCCLELLAN DINNER.
THE SCHEME VOTED DOWN
His Classmates Find Princeton Club
Opposed to Him.

Despite the efforts Of some of the old class
mates Of Mayor-eIect George B. Mcclellan. in
the Princeton Club, the council Of the club, by
a practically unanimous vote, at a recent meet
ing. decided against giving a dinner for Colonel
Mcclellan
The action Of the governing body of the club
has been jealousy guarded for week or more.
but the story leaked out yesterday at the Law
yers Club. and it was discussed with great 81
terest last night at the Waldorf Astoria where
Princeton men frequently gather in going to or
in leaving their clubhouse. at No. - East Thir-
ty-fourth-st.
Strange as it mLv seem to the friends of
Charles F. Murphy. who swear by the Mayor
elect, and who invariably find Mr.. Mcclellan in
a Democratic frame of mind, the principal rea-
son for the feeling inside the Princeton Club
against Colonel Mcclellan is that from the
Princeton point of view. he is undemocranc.
Immediately after Congressman Mcclellan was
nominated for Mayor by Tammany his friends
in the Princeton Club suggested a club reception
for him The argument was that Colonel Nc
CIeIlan had reached noteworthy political distinc-
ton after serving several terms in Congress, and
that it would reflect credit on the Princeton Club
TO honor him in that way. The suggestion was
chloroforned. It was put TO sleep by the con-
trolling sentiment in the club. and il was sup
posed that i would not soon develop or mani
fest itself again.
Last week q member of the club council, who
was not fully cognizaut of the earlier attempt,
proposed 70 the council that il would be a good
idea now that Congressman Mcclellan was soon
to become the chief magistrate Of the imperial
city of the United States. TO give club dinner
in his honor The mover Of the idea was sur
prised and overwhelmed by the hostile sentiment
he provoked.
off he
1icatio- last night II was learned that the de-
hate over honoring Congressman Mcclellan was
a spirited one. and that the Mayor-elects s
friends had 10 do lot Of defensive sparring in
standing up for their champion.
Colonel Mcclellan was graduated from Prince
ION in the class Of 's6. Two Of his classmat tes
were Assistant Corporation Counsel Matthew
c. Fleming and Tracy Harris. Of the law firm
OF Pryor & Harris of No 6S William-st.
Whether Messrs. Fleming and Harris made the
fight for their absent classmate could not be
learned definitely last night Mr. Harris is
president of the Princeton Club. He is under
stood to be on thoroughly cordial terms with
Nfavor-elect Mcclellan. The clubs attitude was
explained last night by one Of the members, as
follows:
u the Princeton Club is disposed to be some
vrhar chiliv toward Congressman Mcclellan, II
is wholly Nj. McClelan's own fault. and IS not
the result of any silly sudden piQue on the
I mart of the council Colonel Mcclellan never
n1ixad y,irb the great body Of Princeton students
while he was in coll, &c, and since his graduation
he mas not taken the trouble to identify himself
with the interests Of the university or its alumni
the club does not feel called OH to try 10 dis
cover Just why Mr.. Mcclellan does not show n
more decided interest in the welfare or ms anna
mater. H..
+ Il is enough that he does not. He may be too
busv or he may like Prtncetonians. The
simple fact is that he is not typical Prince
49,, MN and if the college or the Princeton
/ Club of this city made a special effort 10 honor
him bv giving a reception or dinner Tor nun II
r-o,Id he doing something that belied its feel
+ i1rs Honors OF that description are reserved for
men who work for Princeton early and late, and
u-bo have her interests constantly at heart Mr..
. Mcclellan perhaps unfortunately for the col
! iege and then again maybe unfortunately for
himself does not possess that KIND or enthu-
siasm for his alma mater