The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-05
BELMONT is PIQUED
Cast Slur at Gen. Randolph
at Club Table.
WHAT SOCIETY Is SAYING
White House Is Not Alone in Frown-
ing ON the Social Aspirations of
the wealthy New Ssrker,-The
Chevy Chase Club Episode as II
Is Viewed by Both Sides.

4 do not care to sit at a table with
that man''-meaning Gen. Randolph
who is reported TO have once been
soldier"
This remark, OF it's equivalent, made
by Mr.. Perry Belmont to group OF gem
tlemen, Gen. Wallace Randolph included,
at the Metropolitan Club few days ago.
came as a sequel to the withdrawal OF
Mr.. Belmonts name as candidate for
membership in the Chevy Chase Club.
Gen. Randolph, formerly chief of artil-
lery and a gentleman with a me MILF
tar, record. is commonly understood 10
have been one of those who objected 10
Mr.. Belmont's becoming a member of the
Chevy Chase. The contemptuous. not to
say insulting, remark made by the New
Yorker at the Metropolitan was not
openly resented at the moment Gen.
Randolph presently withdrew and there
was no alteration. as has been reported
Yesterday. however, it was said that the
incident had been, or would be, formally
presented to the board of governors OF
the Metropolitan Club and that. in the
absence of apology, Mr.. Belmonts eX-
pulsion might possibly follow. Much feel
ing has been engendered, but the mem
beers, true 10 club etiquette, decline to
discuss the subject or comment upon 1t
in any way outside their own circle.
Topic of Clubs and Society.
The failure of Mr. Belmont to obtain
membership in the Chevy Chase Club is
the most discussed topic in social and club
circles Of Washington. 1t is undeniable
that since coming to the Capital the Bel
monts have succeeded in a somewhat
marked degree in capturing the ultra
smart set The functions which they
have given at the Morgan mansion. which
they are now occupying. pending the COM
pletiOn of the palace on New Hampshire
avenue. have been most elaborate. High
class vaudeville artists have been brought
over from New York. and even Caruso
was on one occasion the magnet to draw
the social set. Naturally, with such en-
tertainments the Belmonts have cut a
conspicuous figure during the seasons. But
these functions, old Washingtonians say.
have appealed to the nouveau riches. the
climbers. and political friends rather than
10 representative Washington society. In
deed. earnest protest was entered yester-
day in high quarter against these state
mcnts which appeared in The Washing
ton Herald:
There is not a house closed 10 them
with the sole exception of the Executive
Mansion. They have become popular
with officials and diplomats and the old
Washington set
Altogether, they have attained a posi-
ton which is enviable in this city. where
society is becoming equal in Importance
10 the official circle"
Closed to the New Workers.
\ gentleman of the highest social stand
ing, representative of the best Washing
ton society. said that the foregoing state
ments were far from correct. Not onlv
the White House, but hundreds of
homes as this gentleman expressed
it. have been closed to the Belmonts
Ambassadors have declined their invita-
tions-notably the British-and this is
true, also, Of not a few of the social
leaders who are most prominent as din
aer-giyers and participants in the really
important functions OF the the season.
No secret is made OF the basis Of this
objection TO the Belmonts Il all comes
OF the somewhat notorious divorce pro-
ceedings of only a few years ago.
Their experience here has been much the
same-if not carried to the same ex-
tent-as their experience in New York
and Newport. where the old and represen- /
tative families refused TO forgive or
forget the episode in question
As showing the feeling here on the sub
ject 1t Is worth mentioning that the gen
tlemen whose names We're published Ia
connection with the withdrawal Of Mr.
Beimonts name from the Chevy Chase
Club have been warmly commended for
their course in the matter.
Not the FIRST Snch Episode.
It is recalled that Mr.. Belmont failed /
two. years in succession TO be admitted /
to membership IN the Bachelors German. |
which Organization follows the club plan /
OF electIonv and it is reported that the |
limited and exclusive Country Club is /
also closed TO him. The recent incident. /
therefore. was not the first OF its kind. /
His election TO membership in the New |
York clubs, as well as the Metropolitan 4
Club here, dates back many years. |
Especial emphasis is put upon the fact |
that the Chevy Chase and Bachelors Ger
man are purely social in character.
1t is and long has been an open secret /
that the White House has frowned upon /
the social aspira tons of the Belmonts /
No pretense of concealment of the fact /
has been made. The New Workers are /
distinctively and decidedly persona non
grata, not only at the White House. but !
in administration society in its general /
sense. The barrier is too strcng to be !
overcome But. as already indicated, the
opposition is by no means confined 10
ofticiaidom or to those In society who
follow the White House lead Old Wash
ngtonians are markedly conservative, and
in the case of the Belmonts this con-
has to a certain extent taken
the form of exclusion.
View of Mr.. BeImonts Friends.
Mr. Belmont was out of the city yester-
lay. Those who spoke for him scoffed at
he suggestion that the Chevy Chase affair
night prompt him to give up his residence
n Washington. They said that he had
very reason 10 be satisfied with his social