The Washington herald., 1907-04-04

Washington society has been agiLated
to learn that the exclusive Chevy Chase
Club has rejected the nomination for
membership OF Mr. and Mrs. Perry Bel
mont. Because Of the rejection, Mr. Bel
mont met Ia the Metropolitan Club. OF
which he is a member some OF the men
who had protested against the admission
Of himself and his wife in tie Chevy
Chase organization. a sharp alteration
! followed, and there are rumors that the
matter may be brought before the board
Of governors Of the Metropolitan or
ganizatioH.
Altogether Washington has not had
such tid-bit to roll under its tongue for
long time. Mr.. and Mrs. Belmont have
been here for nearly two years. They
have succeeded in a social way to a
marked degree, and there is not house
closed TO them. with the sole exception
Of the Executive Mansion. They have
become popular with officials and dipIo-
mats and with the old Washington set.
Their functions have been OF the most
recherche character and have passed OF
with an eelat which has pleased even the
most fastidious of their European guests.
Altogether. they have attained a position
which is enviable in this city. where So
ciety is becoming equal in Importance to
the official circle.
1t is as necessary to belong TO the
Chevy Chase Club as it IS to have money.
in social Washington.
scene OF Outdoor Festivities.
The organization is located a few miles
OUTSIDE of the city proper. It is the out
of-door club Of the Capital. There dinners
and luncheons, bridge parties and lawn
! fetes occur as soon as the weather be-
comes warm and pleasant enough 10 per-
nit Aside from being the scene of So
eial functions. the club is a hunting and
golf club. Annually open-air horse shows
are held. and there is always a golf tour
nament. in which participate noted golf
ers from all sections Of the country. AIr.
Belmont is an enthusiastic horse lover,
though he cares little about golf. He is
an active member Of nearly all the sport
/ ing organizations of the United States.
and his brother, August Belmont, Is one OF
/ the foremost American race men, and
owns a stud Of horses known throughout
the world
1t was natural, therefore. that Mr.. and
| Alrs. Belmont should be proposed for
membership in this club after they had
established a residence here. They made
many friends, and these friends urged
them 10 permit their names 10 be filed
/ for membership. Backed by influential
supporters. the application was presented
Mr.. and Mrs. Belmont believed their ap-
I plication would be approved without ques-
ton
Mr.. Belmont is member of nearly
every large and wel-hmOWn club in the
4 United States, and is also "a member OF
fexcluslve English and continental organi-
cations He Is one ofsthe only two Amer
/ leans who have ever been elected To nsul-
bership i'm the Paris Jockey Club. Among
his clubs are the Union. in New York, tie
/ Somerset. of Boston, and the Reading
/ Room, of Newport r J. A strong reason
/ why he anticipated acceptance of his APP
1 Iplication was the fact that he Is president
of the Turf and Hunt Club. which is the
Iparent club Of the allied hunting clubs. in
cluding the Chevy Chase.
| Moreover, the social connections Of the
/ Belmonts are such as to lead 10 respect
/ ful treatment from persons who have
| aspirations in society in other centers-
Opposition Is Net.
( But in spite Of the aspirations and con-
nections of the BeImonts. there were
members OF the Chevy Chase Club who
/ old not approve of them. As soon as the
nomination was fled the fact was made
/ public. and there was talk among the
/ opposition as to the steps TO be taken to
/ exclude the Belmonts.
/ The three leaders in this movement are
said to have been a. S. Worthington. the
| well-known lawyer of this city; William
/ J. Boardman. the father-in-law OF Senator
Murray Crane whose wife is one of the
| social leaders of the Capital. and Brig.
/ Gen. Wallace Randolph, L. s. A. retired.
who was formerly chief Of the Artillery
/ Corps just how far these men went or
exactly what they did, cannot be estab-
/ lished, for club etiquette fOrbids members
| from discussing club affairs outside the
walls of the institution. Indeed. 8fr.
/ WOrthington last night declined 10 discuss
/ the matter saying that his interviewer
/ knew more about il than he did himself.
Nevertheless. q protest was fled against
the Belmonts' admission, and as only two
/ blackballs are necessary 70 reject, the
hackers of the Belmonts were advised 10
withdEaw the nomination, which, after
consultation with their principals they
did The application was voted upon last
Friday. Many members Of the club. who
are most friendly TO the Belmonts. hear
] ing OF what would be done. stayed
away. They concluded that they would
not countenance rejection by their pres
| ence, and they did not believe It would
/ be worth while, as the protestants had
refused to reconsider their action before
I the meeting. although the strongest kind
Of pressure was applied TO them.
Seeks His Enemies.
AIr. Belmont visited the Metropolitan
Club every day until he saw the men re-
sponsibie for the action taken upon his
wife and himself It is apparent to every
one that Mr.. Belmont cared nothing about
/ himself. He eXcoriated his opponents in
Language that City years ago would have
caused duel the next morning.
| The man who is said to have been the
victim cf Belmont's stored-up wrath is
Gen. Randolph. Gen. Randolph is IN bed.
suffering from rheumatism. az present
Just what Cen Randolph and Messrs.
Boardman and Worthington wifi do to
lanswer Belmont attacks Is a question.
1t may be they will take the matter be-
fore the board Of governors Of the Metro
poIitan Club. a course which would De
Thoroughly satisfactory to Mt Belmont
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