, 1875-09-26

I character.
THE "JEFFS" AND THE "PE0pLE."
The Jeffersonian Democratic Club Of Chi
cago is in trouble. 1t is attempting t,
g1apple with the most difficult problem o
| political science, and that is how to hav,
honest primary elections. Tho JefTersonia1
Club is Democratic, including in its confes
sion Of faith all the great Fundamental
principles of the Republican pnrty. It wal
organized for the purpose of cultivating pure
Democracy. The JeGs find that this com.
nunity, instead Of being divided, as all othe,
communities are, into two parties,-Demo.
Gratis and Republicans,-havea Republican
party on the eone side and sort of nondcscript
agslomeration Of spoil On the other.
This nondescript assemblage is composed in
the proportion Of seven parts Democrats and
one part Of such Republicans rs have sought
this alliance to get profitable Offices.
These e1-Republicans, like Buffalo MILLER
aid 4 G. HEsNo, are willing to work with
the Democrats in consideration of holding
| offices yielding from $40, 600 to SEQ, 900 for a
| term Of two years, but they distinctly and
emphatlca1ly declare that even at that price
they spurn the disgrace of being called DEM
ocrats. They offer their contingent of bench
men to work with the seven-times-ercater
body Of dyed-in-tne-wool Democrats, but in
sist that there shall be no Democratic party
in the matter, and TINT the allies shall be
called the {. '.Oppositon, whatever that may
mean.
This is especially rksome to the high
minded, intelligent, and respectable gentle
men who are Jefersonians and not candi-
dates for Office, and who are Democrats be-
cause they believe in the Democratic party.
Nevertheless, majority even of the Jeffs are
candidates for some Office, and they are not
disposed to quarrel with the comparatively
few others who repudiate the Democratic
party as thing of evil and opprobrium. The
result IS that the Democratic Jefersonians
have to pocke: the insult, have to fold up the
Democratic flag and put it out Of sight, and
go into the campaign after the manner of
FA1srAFR's bummerB.
But lingering sense Of decency has in
duced a portion Of the members to mike
struggle upon the question Of constituting
the Nominating Convention Shall the dele
gates be elected at primary meetings or 9TH
erw1se For this purpose 11r. MORAN moved
q ser7es OF resolutions Offering the co-opera-
ton Of the Jefersonians if the Opposition
party would discard the election Of delegates
BY primary meetings, and have them elected
by mass meetings held simultaneously in |
each ward. Upon this there was a ecnera]
and acrimonious debate. The rascality and /
dishonesty Of the primary meetings were
confessed, but it had to be conceded TINT
they vera Democratic. The struggle be-
tween decency and Democracy vas fierce
one; and' it being conceded that they were
Hreconcllable, the Democracy had the greater
number OF advocntes. Mr. LIZ MoyNE. who
IS an ez-Aboltionist, Democrat, and a
respectable man, was unwilling to 70 On rec
ord against honesty or Democracy, artfully
that the matter be referred for a
conference (of whom?(
There are certain things in this matter
which seemed to have been overlooked in the
discussion. MIR: MORAN, Mr. MILLER, and
A11. DooL111E, are supposed to be informed
upon the question of vested rights. They
Know that there are several hundreds of mr..
sons who have adopted the business of sitting
nominating conventions as profession
ne lees OF that profession are important in |
ne domestic economy Of Thea members,
Each OF these delegates las to be paid-not
'nly the expenses of his election, but for his
erV1ces III the Convention. This Conront;o,
Las to nominate candidates for lonr list of ,
'inces, conspicuous among which are Comfy {
treasurer, worth $4,000 year for two ,
ears; City Treasurer, worth $4,000 year :
or t"o yesrs; Mayor, worth 1000 certain. Z
'1th patronage to the amount of g.: 7
ne County Commissioners, with good deal =
nole tnan honest people suppose; with s
efaons others, ranging from S., 900 to ss COO I
alary year, and incidcnta1s and pro babili- ?
les Now, nominations for places like tbaao a..
70 worm something, and for the lawyers Of :
oe 1eh Club to interfere and try to take the -
uS','ess OF nominating these men ont of the =
AUS VI 1ne professional delegates is an un- -
4no a.'emps to break up profitable bus- r
esS q. long standing, and one sanctioned br =
noroRen usage. The winter is near at hand T.
oa already the wind blows cold and niarc. - =,
'el7 around the homes Of these men 4 eao+ =
! tbs Convention is worth directly as much = =
the cost OF wintez's supply Of coal. and b
10 expense Of carrying the primaries is p
1ua1 to the costof ono ton for each of the I'm p
more migratory voters who 20 iron, wa,,1 .
ward in carts hired by patriotic p
as nr. MoaAx OF afr. M111xz no recard fo,. r.
" vested rights m thnsa menf In INV =.