History: A Brief History
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»A Brief History »Memorabilia
[ »Click Here To View McManus Postcards From The Early
1900's ]
In 1892, great-uncle Thomas J. McManus (affectionately titled "The"
McManus was elected NYS Assemblyman and then State Senator. In 1905 "The" defeated
George Washington Plunkitt as District Leader.
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George
Washington Plunkitt
Senator and District Leader
[First edition in 1905] |
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"The" served in that post until 1926. The torch passed to great-uncle
Charles A. McManus, the Vice President of the Board of Alderman (predecessor
of the City Council), who served as Leader from 1926-29. Family members served
until 1941, when Eugene McManus, Jim's father, became District Leader.
The McManus Midtown Democratic Association has always been a stepping-stone
for people of the working class, helping them to break out of the grip of poverty
by giving them political clout. For more than one hundred years, the Club has
assisted people to find jobs, housing, educational opportunities, and medical
resources. The Club's proud history shows the power of individual voices coming
together to accomplish what they could not achieve separately.
In the tradition of the Democratic Party, the McManus Club continues to assist
the working class and the poor, welcoming immigrants to the district, helping
them integrate into the life of the City. Immigrants, intimidated by government,
are reluctant to seek assistance from designated agencies.
The Club acts as an intermediary, helping them obtain their rights, Irish,
Germans, Italians, Greeks, Jews, Arabs, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians -
all have found "family" in the Club. In turn, the newcomers have become
active community members and volunteers: each group contributing to the welfare
of the community. The Club has become a "melting pot within the melting
pot."
Members are involved in every aspect of community life. Among its accomplishments,
the Club brought subsidized housing to the neighborhood, including homes for
thousands of senior citizens. The McManus Club is unique in the city, providing
training for young people who learn by participating in the political process
and government service. It is also unique in providing aid to any neighbor who
comes to the Club requesting assistance.
But the McManus Midtown Democratic Association is more than a resource for
solving problems. It is a major arm of the Democratic Party. Every year in every
campaign, the Club helps register new voters, recruits volunteers, distributes
literature and brings out the vote. The Hell's Kitchen District, now called "Clinton",
consistently, in all elections, votes in favor of the Democratic Party. This
result is not by chance. It is a reaction to Jim McManus' underlying philosophy
of life - of his day by day assumption of responsibility to his constituents.
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