The Washington herald., 1906-12-29
OPEN HOTEL TO MEN
StOckhOlderSOfM ash
ingtOn Take Action.
CAUsTIC COMMENT IS HEARD
Guests at WomRn'S Hotel Blamed for
Causing DiscOrd-''CrOssed in Love
and Poor Livers" Is Reason As
signed by Assistant Manager-NOw
I'd 10 Board of Directors.

New York. Dec. 2S-The Martha Wash
ington Hotel has proven a failure, and
many are the reasons assigned therefor
by its occupants One of the guests de-
clares she heard the assistant manager
say that every woman there has been
crossed in love, and as a result her liver
was out Of order. One complained Of the
food; another of the class of books that
are in the hotel library, while the general
sweeping statement is made that the ma
JOrtty of the patrons lodged complaints
because they had nothing else to do.
The stockholders, at a special meeting
to-day, voted to lease the property. This
proposition will have to be submitted for
final approval to the board of directors.
It is predicted that when the board meets
the wagging Of tongues will exceed that
at the stockholders meeting yesterday
and to-day The hotel may be thrown
open TO men.
Trouble Over the Chef.
The storm center of the whole trouble
seems TO be the French chef The Mar
tha Washington's occupants have lodged
many objections 10 having the restau-
rants dishes served in French style. They
declare they want simpler food. Manager
Mark a. Caldwell retorts that he is en-
deavOring TO conduct the Martha Wash
ington as strictly frst-class hotel, and
that he cannot be expected 10 turn il into
an old ladies' home, as some of the Mar
tina Washington's patrons seem to wish
It is further asserted by the present
management that some women are only
TO
plain about, and that the chief secret Of
the fault-hnding is to be found in the dis
ordered livers Of the fauIt-fnders.
How would you like to have to cater to
400 women most of whose livers are out of
Order?' asked one of Manager CadwelTs
assistants this afternoon.
I tell you some of the women here
wouldn't be happy in heaven They are
soured. Perhaps they have been crossed
in love. For their sakes I hope they have
been, for that at least would give them
something 10 think about. They have to
complain to keep themselves amused
They have nothing else to do. Principally
they are kicking about the restaurant and
the cooking Of our French chef.
THE chefs all right, but some old
maids whom we have as guests want the
old maid style of grub. Well. we can't
run a combination of first-class hotel and
old ladies' home. It's got TO be either one
or the other. And We're trying to run it
as a hotel
we find it's the women who kick often
est and hardest who stay with US longest
or who, if they leave, always come back.
No Bar, of Course.
This talk about the guests Directing
because they can't get wine jelly is
ridiculous OF course we have no bar in
connection with the hotel, nor do we al
low wine or beer or any intoxicating
liquor TO be served in the restaurant; but
there is no restriction placed upon wine
sauces"
How about cigarette smoking?" was
asked.
AT one time We had a smOking-room
in which the men who dined here might
smoke their after-dinner cigars. but it
was so little used that we have now
diverted the room to other uses. ! never
remember the smoldng-room to have been
made use of by any women who lived
here. except just once. She was an
actress She went into the smoking-room
and lighted a cigarette and smoked il
where every one who passed the door
could see her. Next day she was asked
10 leave. Her conduct had been lust n
little bit too brazen. Now, if she had
chosen to smoke the cigarette in the
seclusion Of her own room no one would
have minded, for no one would have been
any the wiser
High-cIass Hotel.
The Martha Washington Hotel is twelve
stories in height and contains 40 rooms.
The rooms cost from 81 to s. a day. The
restaurant is both a la carte and table
d'hote, a table dhote dinner costing Isl
cents.
Secretary kellogg asserted this morning
that the notion that the Martha Washing
ton was intended mainly for working
women was erroneous. He cOntended
that the phrase was misleading, and that
the hotel was meant for self-supporting
women who could afford something better
than lodging house.
Secretary Kellogg's Office is on the
twelfth floor Of the hotel, and to reach ii
is FOR man a perilous and embarrassing
undertaking. pass has first to be OBJ
tanned from the room clerk. 10 get which
II IS necessary TO give your pedigree and
satisfy the grantor Of the pass that YOU
are perfectly moral. The pass must then
be presented 10 the elevator boy before he
VIII permit an ascent to be made 10 the
twelfth floor.
Among the principal holders of Martha
Washington stock are John d. Rookie
feller, Mrs. Russell Sage, and Helen
Gould.
Several Wreck Victims Dead.