New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-15
A NEW YORK CLUB
With GIimpses Backward at the
Good Old Days.

HISTORY OF iii MANbAIlAt Ill A
I NAERATiVE or TIE ACTIVITIES OF HALF
4 CENTURY BY Hemp wafe,'oa h,yl. svo
i Z, c' ~ ''' A'' ''''' ''''. .'''' '
II is hard 10 write the history Of q
club. The essence of club lie u pri-
vacy. Wha: takes place within club
house what gives peculiar value 10
the intercourse there OF friendly and
congenial spirits-is not TO be unrc-
servedly communicated to the outside
world What such an organization
means TO those who compose it can
not be conveyed in a bare chronicle
Of its outward activities. It's real his
tory must remain for the most par;
unwritten-an intimate tradition hand
ed down within an inner circle.
These limitations are recognized IN
this story of the Manhattan Club. as
told by Colonel Henry Watterson, with
generous assistance from Mr.. AleXaa-
der Konta. The Manhattan Club has
been for years a New York institution.
politically as well "a socially. In ~
earlier years ii bulked large IN the
politics Of the state and city. It also
set standard Of its own IN the club
life Of q period when clubs were few
er in number and more representative
in character than they are to-day, were
moro freQuented, and enjoyed FAR
larger measure Of social prestige.
OF the public activities Of the club
we have in this sumptuous volume
clear and ample record. For an uE-
tt
,raditions-of the completeness OF ITS
response to the requirements Of con-
fort, companionship and agreeable So
cial intercourse-we must depend OIL
/ impressions gathered here and there
throughout the book, chiefly in The
closing chapter. containing Colonel
/ Watterson's "reminiscences, and IN the
Gle on the club published by Mr.. Ed
ward G.. Rigg. in "Thc New York
Sum- Of April %, 1892
The club started out in 1865 with a
political mission. II was TO serve as
rallyng point for Democrats in one OF
/ the darkest eras Of the Democratic
party's history. Il was able 20 muster
at the outset many members Of dis
| tinction. John Van Buren, ("Prince'
john, the son of President Martin Van
Buren,. wss its first president. Among
/ its charter and early members were
Samuel J. Tiden, Horstio Seymour
August Belmont, George Ticknor Cur
tbs, Msnton Marble, John T. Hoffman.
Augustus Schell, Charles O'Conor.
Edward Cooper. James T. Brady, Com
modore Vanderbilt, Andrew II. Green.
Dean Richmond and Henry Hilton. Its
first political undertaking was its most
venturesome bring President An
drew johnson over into the Democratic
PARTY at a time (early in March. 1901
when he was strenuously engaged IN
demonstrating. with the aid OF Seward
Thurlow Weed and others, that he was
still a Republican and still national
leader. johnson did not profess con
version then, and little later his IN
fuence was not worth angling after
even by the bankrupt Democratic party
Of that period. All that came OF the
episode was a permit from Johnson to
| have his portrait painted at the CLUBS
/ expense, that work of art still taking
precedence in its gallery of post-bellum
| Democratic Presidents.
Horatio Seymour made the club hi:
/ Headquarters during the campaign OF
! 1868. He lived there IN small top
| story room. when Horace Greeley ran
/ for President IN 1872 the club gave MN
formal breakfast But he was almost
as much out Of place in that company
a. he would have been in Tammany
! Hall. Few os the members liked him
or could get up a lively interest IN his
oandidacy. Samuel J. Tilden was ono
| OF the clubs standbys, both politically
and socially. His candidacy for the
/ Presidency in 1876 doomed its fortunes,
/ although it was already beginning 30
/ be recognized that politics and accept
cd club standards would not mix. John
Kelly. the Tammany leader, though
elected three times, declined 10 become
member Subsequently Richard
/ Croker followed the same course. lie
organized the Democratic CLUB and tnen
challenged the Manhattan's ancient
claim TO priority as national Demo
/ cratic institution by calling his own
organization the National Democratic
Club.
After 1877. in fact, the Manhattan
modified its policy. 1t laid less stress
on its political activities and admitted
/ members without strict regard TO poll
I tics. L. was against Bryan in 1896 and
very lukewarm in his behalf in 1900 and
/ 1908 Grover Cleveland was an active
member for many years. But the Ke-
/ form Club was o much more energetic
centre Of Cleveland enthusiasm. The last
notable political incident in which the
club figured (it Is not alluded 10 for
/ obvious reasons in Colonel Watterson's
history was the famous Interview in
one Of It's rooms between Woodrow Will
son. then Governor Of New Jersey;
I Colonel George Harvey and Colonel
Wa.terson himself. On that oceasion
/ 1T was in December, l9lD NJ Wilson
suggested more or less tactiessly that
il would relieve him Of much ombar-
rassment II Colonel Harvey should