New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-18
RESERVATIONS FOLLOW
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
Three Officers Quit Exclusive
Metropolitan Club, of
Washington.
CAPITALS SOCIETY STIRRED
Racetrack Men Threaten to
Blaokball Justice Hughes
Mr.. Taft's Slap at Small
Headed Men"

MIR. TAFT S Slap at Small
Headed Men"
Washington. May 1.-THE designations
Of two members of the board Of gov
ernors and the secretary Of the Metro
politan Club in this city. made known
to-day following a speech by President
Taft last night in which he denounced
small headed men" who in clubs at
tempt to manifest their greatness by
blackballing men Of prominence pro-
posed for membership. have stirred off,
cial and social Washington to the core.
Associate Justice Hughes. of the United
states Supreme Court. has incurred the
cnmity Of three members Of the Metro
poltan Club. who informed friend re-
Gently that they would take pleasure in
hlackballing Mr.. Hughes if az any time
his name was proposed for membership
to the club" Their opposition was based
IN the fight made against the racetrac cks
Of New York While the justice was Gov
ernor Of that state The three members
are interested in horses. This plan de-
veloped to-day. Justice Hughes's name.
however. has not been proposed to the
club.
President Taft. who IS a member Of the
exclusive Metropolitan. was reported
several weeks ago to have felt some re
sentiment over the exclusion from the or
eanization of several newly elected Rep
resentatives and Senators proposed for
membership by some Of the most inf1u-
men excluded was one Of whom the
President was said to be particularly
fond.
Mr.. Taft's Friends Kept Out.
The furry caused by the clubs action
AT the time had partly died down. when
President Taft last night. in an address
at the Jewish Temple. revived the sub
ject by saying that he had had friends
-Genties-kept out Of clubs "by people
who were not worthy to button up their
shoes"
This was followed by the announce
ment to-day that Brigadier General
Clarence r. Edwards. chief Of the Bu-
reau Of Insular Affairs in the War De
partment. an intimate friend Of Presi-
dent Taft. Lieutenant Colonel Charles
L, McCawley. Of the marine corps, for
merly a White House aid, and Captain
Templin NJ Potts. Of the navy, had re-
signed their Offices in the Metropolitan
Club. General Edwards and Captain
Potts were members of the board Of gov
ernors and Colonel McCawley was sec
retary Of the clJb. All three Of these
officers had asked that their designations
take effect at once but Captain Potts
and Colonel McCawley later agreed to
serve until next October on account Of
the difficulty Of filing their places at
this time OF the year. General Ed
wards. however. insisted that his resig-
nation should be accepted Immediately
Army and Navy Officers ResentfuL
II is said that the designations Of
Messrs. Edwards. McCawley and Potts
means that in future no officer in the ac-
tive service Of the army. navy or marine
CORPS will hold Office in the Metropolitan
club. Friction created by the exclusion
Of Senators. Representatives and other
men prominent in official life has been
more or less frequent. and it is believed
has not worked TO the best interest Of
the various branches Of the military SER
vice.
The Presidents words were taken TO
annlv directly to the recent exclusion
from club in this city Of Representa-
tive Martin w. Littleton, Of New York
ard several newly elected Senators. Mr..
,+t,o,on IS a particular friend of the
President.
"t be1ieve." the President said in his
eneecb. "and ] an proud of the fact. that
the Jews in America enjoy an equality
tho, ,hev have in only few other coun-
,rios ~ the world. ! don't mean 10 say
tho, ,bere are not racial prejudices here
don't mean 10 say that there are nov
social clubs and other places where the
small headed men who occasionally get
into directory manifest their greatness
bv using blackball and shutting ou'
men Of importance in the community
but. my friends. while it rs aggtavaune
and exasperatine. still il is not the worst
thing that .ould happen. nave had u
happen TO friends of mine -Gentlles
who have been kept out Of clubs To- pe"-
ule who are not worthy 90 button uI
their shoes. and who have no standing
save I'm clubs. j. Is aggrayatins, J agree
but man is what he is by reason Of his
respect for himself. and if he knows that
some one who affects to snub him and
look down upon him is not worthy-ii
he knows that that person IS not his
equal. and he cultivates any Of the
philosophy that he ought 10 call to his
aid-he will have the advantage over his
small Drained and narrow minded critic
always"
r,-e..on Woods Hotels White Hts. ~ "