Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-07-31
WILSON'S NAME
IS WITHDRAWN TO
AVOID BLACKBALL
He Had Been Propos-
ed in the Manhat-
tan Club
INCORRECT STATEMENT
IS MADE IN NEW YORK
Former United States Senator
James Smith, Jr., Did Not
Oppose Application.


an article declaring that Governor
Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, re-
Gently was proposed for membership
in the Manhattan Club and that
subsequently his sponsors withdrew
the proposal, having heard that the
name probably would be blackballed.
The Manhattan Club includes
among its members many Democrats
of national reputation. Judge Alton
B. Parker, who was chairman of the
Baltimore convention, is president.
The article in the Herald declares
that 'either with or without their
approval friends of Colonel Henry
Watterson, who lives at the club
while in the city, and James Smith,
ljr., one time senator from New Jersey.
and political foe of the New Jersey
Governor, informed the membership
committee of the club that they were
opposed to the election of Governor
Wilson. This meant that they would
vote against him, and, as Is the GUS
tom of clubs, the sponsors were noti-
fled and the application withdrawn"
Sorry Of the Opposition.
When former United States SEN
ator James Smith, jr., was asked by
a Star representative regarding the
| story which appeared in the New
York Herald, in which it was stated
| that Governor Wilson's name was
withdrawn from the Manhattan Club
| on account of opposition to the Gov
ernor by Senator Smith and several
! of his friends who are members of
| this club, Senator Smith replied that
he had heard Of the matter for the
| first time only a few minutes before
the Star representative called on him.
"It was not until them Senator
| Smith continued, that / even knew
that Governors Wilson had been pro-
posed for membership in the Man
haitian Club. While I have had diff
~ferences with Governor Wilson about
politics, those who know me best
know tina 1 do not bring politics into
social and personal affairs"
He then was asked whether he APP
| proved this opposition to the Gov
ernor, and replied: I am very sorry
| that there should be any opposition to
! Governor Wilson for membership"
Was Proposed July Q.
The Herald article goes OF to say
that men in the New York delegation
have not recovered from the bitter
ness aroused by the attack made on
some of them by Mr.. Bryan, who
| fought Judge Parker in Baltimore,
and that while they still are for the
| ticket, in the words of the late
David B. Hill, they are very still"
1t is declared further in the Her.
AIDS statement that Major James
Otis woodward, at n time COM
mander of the Albany Burgess Corps,
who lives at the Manhattan Club and
is a member of the Lotos and other
clubs in the city and is a director In
several corporations, proposed the
name Of Governor Wilson for mem
bership on July 6. This was the Sat
urday of the. week the nomination
was made at Baltimore, and as Major
/ Woodward had seen Governor Wilson
at Sea Girt, it is assumed at the
club that the application was made
with his consent. William F. Nc
Combs, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee and manager of
the Wilson prediction campaign,
seconded the proposal.
Recalls Watterson Interview.
1t was in a room at the Manhattan
Club, the Herald continues, that the
famous interview between Governor
Wilson and Colonel George Harvey
| took place. Colonel Watterson was
present, and 1t marked the end OF his
support of the New Jersey Governor.
There was no gainsaying that after
the incident there was a feeling or
hostility against Governor Wilson, for
Colonel Watterson is a great favorite
with the members of the club. 1t Is
really his New York home, and part
| of the anti Wilson campaign was ar
ranged in conferences there in which
he participated.
But Major Woodward and Mr.. Nc
| Combs both thought that whatever
pre-convention bitterness existed had
been dissipated by Governor Will
sons nomination, according to the
Herald, which adds that Colonel
Watterson had come out in his pa
per in support of the Democratic
ticket. 1t is for this reason that
| they were a%stonished when they were
informed it would be well to with
draw the application for member
ship.
Says 1t Meant Blsckbali.
This request, says the article,
meant only one thing-that if the
name of Governor Wilson was not
withdrawn he would be b~lackballed.
The Herald continues:
"No one in the club believes that
the action OF his friends would meet
the approval of Colonel Watterson.
| Some of the members are not SO SURE
but the incident is pleasing to Mr..
Smith. 1t was recalled at the Man
haitian Club last night that Mr..
| Smith, In the Maryland Club, in Bal
timore, had declared he would spend
every sent he had to prevent the
nominee for President, whom he
dubbed the prince Of liars from
getting the electoral vote of New
Jersey. Those who heard that re-
mark are not under any illusions
about the support MI. Smith is Civ
ing to the candidate of his party"
Thomas f. Ryan and August Bel
mont are members OF the club, which
always has bee more or less the
home of conservative Democrats. 1t
has been a favorite meeting place Of
Supreme Court Justices.