Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-05-20
TAFT RAPS CLUBS
THAT BAR FRIENDS
President Declares Men Are Kept Out
Of Club by persons Not Worthy
to Button Their Shoes

washington, March IL. -- Social
Washington is stirred as II has not
been in years by the Metropolitan
club refusing membership to many
prominent men. Following President
Taft's speech. two members OF the
board OF governors and the secretary
has resigned. The president denounc-
cd the "smallheaded' men who show
their greatness by black-balling men
OF prominence proposed for member
ship.
President Taft, who is member OF
the exclusive Metropolitan, was re-
ported, several weeks ago, to have
felt some resentment over the exclnr
sion from the organization Of several
newly-elected congressman and sen&
tors. proposed for membership by
some OF the most influential men In
the club. Among the men excluded was
one of whom the president was said to
be particularly fond.
GentiIcs Also Barred
The furry caused by the clubs nc
ton at that time had partially died
down, when President Taft In an ad.
dress at the Jewish temple. revived
the subjec' by saying that he had
riends-Gentiles--kept out OF clubs
by people who were not worthy to
button up their shoes"
This was followed by the announce
ment that Brigadier General Clarence
II. Edwards. of the bureau OF insular
affairs, an intimate friend OF President
Taft; Lieutenant Colonel Charles l..
McCawley. OF the Marine Corps. for.
marly White F-wse aide, ana Cap
tain r. M. Potts, !. the navy. had re-
signed their offlcial positions with the
Metropolitan club.
General Edwards and Captain Potts
were members of the board OF gov.
ernors, and Colonel McCawley. secre-
tary OF the club. All three OF these Of
fcers had asked that their resigna-
lions take effect at once. but Captain
Potts and Colonel Cawley later agreed
to serve until next October on account
of the difficulty of filling their places
at this time OF the year. General Ed
wards, however, insisted that his re-
signation should be accepted immev
diately.
The Presidents Speech.
In his speech the president said:
II believe, and | am proud Of the
fact, that the Jews In America enjoy
an equality that they have in only .
few other countries of the world.
don't mean to say that they are not
racial prejudices here; | don't mean
to say that there are not social clubs
and other places where the small
headed men who occasionally get into
a directory manifest their greatness b"
using a black ball and shutting out
men OF Importance In the community.
But my friends, while 1t Is aggravat-
ing and exasperating, still 1t Is not the
worst thing that could happen.
II have had 1t happen to friends Of
mine Gentiles--who have been kept
out of clubs by people who are not
worthy to button up their shoes, and
who have no standing save In clubs.
1t Is aggravating, | agree, but a man
is what he Is by reason OF his respect
for himself. and ii he knows that some
one who affects to snub him and look
down upon him Is not worthy--if he
knows that that person Is not his
equal and he cultivates any OF the
philosophy that he ought to call to
his aid--he will have the advantage
over his small-brained and narrow
minded critic always"