The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-05-19
RESERVATIONS OF
MILITARY MEMBERS
Action Follows Address of President
Taft on 6IackbaIIing Prominent
Men From Club.

Washington, d. c., May 1S.-The res
ignations of two members of the board
of governors and the secretary of the
Metropolitan Club here, made known
yesterday following speech my Pres
ident Taft Tuesday night in which he
denounced Small headed men," who,
in clubs, attempted to manifest their
greatness by blackballing leading men
proposed for membership, have stirred
official and social Washington to the
core.
President Taft, who is a member of
the exclusive Metropolitan, was re-
ported several weeks ago to have felt
some resentment over the exclusion
from the organization of severely new
ly elected congressman and senators
proposed for membership by some of
the most influential men in the club.
Among the men excluded was one
with whom the president was said to
be particularly friendly.
The furry caused by the clubs ac-
tion at that time had partially died
down when President Taft Tuesday
night, in an address at the Jewish
temple, revived the subject by Saying
that some of his friends-gentiles--
had been kept out of clubs ''by people
who were not worthy to button nm
their Shoes"
| This was followed by the announce
ment that Brigadier General Clarence
T.. Edwards of the bureau of insular
affairs, an intimate friend of President
Taft; Lieutenant Colonel Charles L.
McCawley of the marine corps, for
merly a White House aide. and Cap
tain I. M. Potts of the navy had re-
signed their official positions at the
Metropolitan Club General Edwards
and Captain Potts were members of
the board of governors, end Colonel
McCawley was secretary of the club
All had asked that their resigna-
tions take effect at once. but Captain
Potts and Colonel McCawley later
agreed to serve until October because
of the difficulty of filling their places
at this time of the year. General Ed
wards, however, insisted that his resig-
nation is accepted Immediately
1t is said that the designations of
Edwards, McCawley and Potts un-
doubtedly mean that in the future no
officer In the active service of the
army navy or marine corps will hold
office in the Metropolitan Club Fric-
ton created by the exclusion of SEN
ators. representatives and other men
in official life has been more or less
frequent and it is believed has not
worked to the best interests of the
various branches of the military serv-
ice.
In his speech, the president said:
Il believe, and | am proud of the
fact, that the Jews in America enjoy
an equality that they have in only a
few other countries of the world.
don't mean to say that there are not
racial prejudices here; don't mean to
say that there are no social clubs and
other places where the small-headsdl
men who occasionally get into a direc-
tory manifest their greatness by using
a black ball and shutting out men of
Importance in the community. But,
my friends, while it is aggravating and
exasperating, still it is not the worst
thing that could happen. I have had
it happen to friends of mine-gentiles
who have been kept out Of clubs by
people who are not worthy to button
their shoes and who have no standing
save in clubs.
| 1T is aggravating, agree, but man
lis what he is by the reason Of his re-
spect for himself, and if he knows that
some one who affects to snub him and
look down on him is not worthy--if he
knows that person is not his equal and
If he cultivates any of the philosophy
tnat ne ought to call TO his aid-he viii
have the advantage over his small
Drained and narrow-minded critic al
ways"
| Associate Justice Hughes of the SUI
preme court has incurred the enmity.
of three members of the Metropolitans
Club who informed friend recently
that they would take pleasure in
blackballing Mr. Hughes if at any
time his name was proposed Tor mem
bership."
Their opposition was based on the
fight made against the race tracks Of
New York while the justice was gov
ernor of that state. The three mem
bers are interested in horses. This
plan developed today. Justice Hughes
name, however, has not been proposed
to the club.