Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-07
FEATURE OF PARADE
Its First Representation in Inaugural
tion Day Ceremonies = President
Roosevelt a Member.

An interesting feature OF the great parade
last Saturday was the appearance. for the
first time in an inaugural procession. OF an
official delegation from the Republican Club
Of New York City. This organization is not
composed OF men who are accustomed to
participate In such demonstrations, and it
probably will not be again represented in an
inaugural procession until another of its
members is elected President Of the United
States.
President Roosevelt joined the Republican
Club of New York in 1884, and 1t has been
the one political organization with which
he has been more closely Identified than
with any other political club as it has al
republican politics. 1t was solely as COM
pliment to their fellow member of more
than twenty years standing that large
delegation was sent to Washington.
This organization was founded in 1879,
to fill what seemed to be an increasing want
at that time, of a republican club midway
between the district workers and what
was known as the exclusive and kid glove
element of the Union League. 1t was al
ways composed of substantial, earnest men,
who were not identified with any special
faction but were republicans first, last
and all the time, and who desired to see
the success of the party policies because
they believed them to be right, and who.
themselves, engaged in business or the
professions, were not merely seekers after
political office.
Continuous Prosperity.
The club has prospered from its begin
ming. 1t occupied quarters first upon 9Th
avenue, then upon East Goth street, then
upon Madison avenue, and then upon East
9th street. In 1886 club house was Sc
cured upon 2Sth street, and in 1888 large.
fashioned mansion was leased on 9th
o
posite the Union League, and there the
club maintained it's home until the elab-
crate and beautiful eleven-Story club house.
built by the club on West 10th street. was
ready for occupancy in February, 1903. The
present, and doubtless the permanent home
of the club has cost the organization lit
tie over $4,000.
It faces the square formerly known as
Bryant Park, upon which the new public
library Is being slowly erected. The build
ing contains accommodations for meetings
of all kinds, dining rooms, grill rooms, IL
brary committee rooms, billiard room ana
more than fifty sleeping rooms. It Is an
ideal club house, and is maintained with
the perfect equipment and organization 10
be found in the higher class OF New YORK
social organizations.
The membership of the club has been
steadily increasing and has now reached
the limit, 1000 resident members and more
than 600 nonresident members.
This large list embraces so many names
of prominence that the club is now close
second in wealth and dignity to the Union
League, but Is far more democratic and en-
ergetic in political matters. so that 1t is
doubtless the wealthiest most important
and most substantial active political organ
ization in the United States. The present
mem bership of the club includes scores of
names well known in all the walks of life,
not only in New York and vicinity. but all
over the country-congressme state Off
Gals, bankers and business and profess
sional men of the highest standings that
ton which it's leaders have been striving
for, Of the foremost exponent of the repub-
lican principles in the country.
Representative of Large Wealth.
The character of the organization was
shown by the appearance and bearing of
the 40 men who swung past the Presidents
stand on Saturday last. and If the poor but
popular standard of judging individuals. by
their financial responsibility should be
adopted 1t Is probable that that small
company represented not less than $50 OeO,-
900 of aggregate wealth. Tramping along
in the ranks Were a dozen or more million
aires, who came over to Washington as
cheerfully and with much enthusiasm
and interest as the youngest members par
ticpating.
The president of the club and the COM
mander of the detachment of Saturday last
is Mp. Louis Stern, the head of the great
New York dry goods house of Stern Bros.
President Roosevelt is not the first oc-
crpant of the White House who has be-
longed to the organization. President Har-
rison was a member for many years. Ex-
Vice President Morton became a member
in 1887; Senator Depew Joined the club in
1880. and was president from 1898 to 1900.
Ex-Secretary Ehhu Root became a member
in 1856 and was president of the club in
1895
A large proportion of the republican dele
cations in Congress from New York and
the surrounding states are members of this
organization.
The delegation came over from New York
on a special train Friday afternoon, arriv-
ing here in the evening, and gave recep-
ton to the governor of New York at the
Hotel Gordon that evening. They returned
by the same special train Sunday afternoon
and reached New York al 23O in the morn
ing, tired but feeling well repaid for their
participation in the inauguration Of their
fellow member.