Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-03
OUR NETWORK LETTER
Rivalry of Chicago and New
York Democratic Dinners
JEFFERSON'S BIRTHDAY
CAMPAIGN FOR MAYoRSHIP OF
GREATER NEW YORK.
A Spiritualistic Tangle and Its Denoue-
ment-Vanderbilt Real Estate and
Standard Oil Wealth.

Special Correspondence of The Sunday Star.
NEW YORK, April I, 1905.
There Is considerable interest here in the
dinner to be given by the Democratic Club
on April 13, Jefferson's birthday, owing to
the rivalry which is reported to be going on
between the Democratic Club and the Iro-
auois Club of Chicago, which gives dinner
on the same night The offer of ex-Mayor
Van Wyck to bet S., 600 that the Demo-
cratic Club dinner attracts more attention
throughout the country than the Iroquots
Club which offer has been accepted, 1t is
said. by the Chicago people, adds to the
political fun in democratic circles. Some
one is said to have inquired of Leader
Charles F. Murphy of Tammany Hall
whether he intended to attend the Demo-
cratic Club dinner, and Mr.. Murphy is al
legged to have replied: Yes, If they don't
make a circus out of it,
The Democratic Club, it will be remem-
bered. was Richard Cookers favorite club
here in the city, and in the old Van Wyck
days Mr.. Croker was accused of making
that place the first seat of government of
Greater New York. 1t was alleged that all
the important nominations were dictated at
the Democratic Club, and that many of the
most important contracts were put through
there. Before Mr.. Croker returned from
Europe, dethroned John c. Sheehan as
leader, forced the nomination of Judge
Robert A. Van Wyck for the first mayor of
Greater New York. the Democratic Club
had fallen into disfavor. 1t was at one
time powerful organization, with ex-Gov.
Roswell P. Flower at it's head. When
William Jennings Bryan was nominated for
President in 1896 the Democratic Club led
the revolt of democratic big-wigs here In
the east. After that time 1t came into
prominence when Perry Belmont engineered
the famous ten-dollar dinner, and William
j. Bryan retaliated by attending the dollar
dinner given by his followers and admirers
under the leadership of an unknown lawyer
named Brewster of Brooklyn. The Bryan
dollar dinner was, however, a more popular
success than the Perry Belmont ten-dollar
dinner Inasmuch as Mr.. Bryan is slated
as the top-liner speaker at the Iroquois
Club dinner, while Judge Alton B. Parker
is regarded as the bright and shining star
of the Democratic Club Jefferson day cele-
bration, it will be seen that once again does
Mr. Bryan clash with the Democratic Club
plans. Perhaps 1t was largely unintentionaI
in each instance, but the clashing GER
tainly adds to the popular interest in the
event, just as it did in the war between
the ten-dollar diners and the dollar diners
d few years ago.
The entire incident might have passed al
most unnoticed If it had not been for Judge
Van Wycks wager, the prompt flinging of
Ine Det TO the puDllC Dy the Judges press
agent and the press agent of the club,
Harry Walker, and the equally prompt ac-
ceptance of the wager by the representa-
tives of the IroquOis Club of Chicago.
1t is difficult to determine how the bet
could be settled anyway. unless space
were measured on the 10000 newspapers of
the United States. and 1t would probably
cost 5000 to get the newspaper clippings.
Hence it is safe to say the bet will be de-
clared off sooner or later.
Leader Murphy's Tenacity.
A ripple of excitement was caused by the
announcement in the New York Tribune
this week that Leader Murphy intended to
drop George B. Mcclellan as the demo-
cratic candidate for mayor and take up
Francis Burton Harrison. who married into
the Crocker family of California, who ran
for Congress in an aristocratic republican
district and was elected to the surprise of
republicans and democrats alike, who ran
for lieutenant governor on the state ticket
with Judge d. Cady Herrick last fall and
who was defeated to the surprise of many
democrats, who parted with their money
on the Herrick and Harrison ticket. These
democrats did not believe that Judge Parker
could be elected, but they manifested their
enthusiasm and patriotism by betting on
what they regarded sure thing state
ticket only to find that the Roosevelt tidal
wave had carried Higgins, the republican
nominee into the governors chair by an
immense majority. Francis Burton Harri-
SON is social and political favorite is a
graduate of Yale and yet he lacks the
political experience possessed by Mcclellan,
who has held Tammany offices from his
boyhood. Even IL Leader Murphy should
listen to the disappointed and disaffected
element. 1t Is hardly likely that Mr.. Harri-
son will be selected to step into his Shoes
The nomination is more likely to go to
some judge on the bench who has not been
tainted with gas scandals. and against
whom little or nothing can be said.
But will Leader Murphy switch from Nc
Clellan and nominate some one else at the
last moment? Not IL Mcclellan viii stand
Charles F. Murphy is a peculiar type of a
leader. Men who have talked about Cieve-
lands nerve have discovered a new kind OF
backbone in Murphy.
Mcclellan Has Had Enough Of It.
1t is probable that If Mr.. Mcclellan is not
renominated for mayor it viii be Mcclellan
who will weaken-not Murphy. Mayor Me-
Clellan is said to fear that he cannot be
reelected. He has everything to lose; lit
tie to gain in the coming campaign. He