National Republican., 1880-06-29
THE DISTRICT DEMOCRACY.
An Enoit to Form Hancock Club-The
Dem. Jacks Jealous.

meeting OF gentlemen Interested In tho
formation Of a Hancock clnb was held at tho
Messrs. Carrington's otfico on Louisiana
evening, goodly thropg Of tho democracy
putting in an appearance, Among those
present wero Ri1goloy McBlalr, Campbell Car.
rington, Thomas i. Miller, =. J. Douoho,
Andrew Llpscomb, Irving Williamson, Charles
Moore. Edward Newman, Guy Thompson, w.
p. Bell, Alfred Norris and w. ID. Wallach of
the young democracy. while tho veterans
wero represented by Mr.. John L. Norris, DIR,
G. z. Culver II. o. Claughton, Jackson
Yates, Colonel Peirce and numerous lesser
lights Al tho hour appointed for the meeting
the room was filed with others besides invited
guests, among whom weIu noticed several ex-
department clerks, half dozen cash boys In
various mercantile establishments, aud a
| dozen or two anxious-looking personagos, who
had scented prospective office and were
anxious to identify themselves with what
they thought would bo tho Influential club Of
| the District,
temporary organization was effected with
Mr.. w. p. Bell as chairman and Mr.. A. A..
Lipscomb secretary, aftof which Mr. John T..
Norris was introduced aud made short speech
| favOring the obj ect Of the mocting. A discus
| sion then sprang up regarding the election Of
permanent officers Of the club, during which
the muttcrings Of an approaching storm were
heard, some being In favor of an immediate
| election and others of n postponGment and ap-
| pointment of committees to draft constitu-
| ton, bylaws aud rules FOR the government Of
tho club. The latter faction were in a major
ity and succeeded In naming committee of
| six to report at q futuie meeting Dr. G. p.
| Culvcr, after n little persuasion, consented to
address the club but almost his first sentence
| was disapproved. He favored tho organization
| of the club in such manner rs to be subordi.
nate to tho Democratic Jackson association in
order to prevent confusion when collections
were to he mado. [Cres of mo you DON'T this
is to be the Hancock cluh."l Dr.Culver, somc-
what excitedly-"YOu may MS well understand,
| then that our association won't be led by it," A
oud-voiced auditor-"Stay home, then; we can
ret along without you" The seed of discord
| had been sown, aud there was every prospect
| ofa frst.class row, when Mr.. Campbell CARING
ton poured oil on the troubled waters by say.
ing that the club would not antagonize the
Dom. jacks, ms they not only had great re-
spect for thoir white hairs, but valued their past
services very highly. This soothed the doctor
but another tempest became imminent upon a
| proposition made to elect q permanent chair.
man and not wait for the committee to report
The majority decided upon an adjournment 10
settle the dispute, when tho noise of a
| drum in front Of the house and whisper that
there was another Hancock club outside rem
dered material aid in thinning out the crowd
so that tho question was hardly neces.
sary. Upon reaching the door a motley
crowd was dscernibe attracted by q drum
| q broom with torch fastened to the straw
| and two transparGncies while several leaders
were hurrahipg for Gar9ock and Hanheld. A
consultation among tll young democrats ro.
suited in a resolve to have a meeting over at
4 the City hall. Across the street went the
| drummer, followed by the crowd, composed
mainly OF street Gamins of every size and
color aud the unterrilCd. Thcro was not
| much discipline, the drummer going where he
listed. while the speakers We're anxiously
waiting for him to turn the crowd back, in
order to address them. Finally the knight OF
| the drumsticks relented and led his phalanx
| back 10 tho west porch, where halt was
| called. The candles in ono of tho Transparent
cies which had been brought up to give light
| to the speakers were at low ebb. aud fecked
ono or two handsome drcss-cOats with their
| drippings, when tho bearer of the broom and
torch was ordered to the front. He quickly
responded, aud tho assembly was called to
order by Mr.. Campbell Darlington, after
which short speech was made by Mr.. Thomas
| f. Miller. Tho crowd was not acquainted
with these gentlemen, however, and began to
| call for somo of their own 10 address them.
| They were not forthcoming, and tho drummer
striking up at tho wrong moment adjourned
| tho meeting, which filed down Four-and.a.
| half street.
After the meeting broke up the section OF
| tho young democracy from East Washington
and the greater part Of it was very young
rambled over tho city with their iifo and
drums and transparencies, finally disbamding
somewhere east of the capitol, While on the
ronto the man with the big transparency got
into much difficulty, owing to his pugnaeous
disposition, and when seen going over Capitol
hill tho Transparency was quarter OF a mile
behind the procession, having been delayed
by free fight but making doublo.quick time
This particular branch of the democracy
marched with transparency in the shape
of coffin at the head of its lines. AS the
lettering and carieaturcs on the coffin were
too indistnct to be readily discernible, il
was generally supposed that the democracy
had turned out under the ghastly emblcms
oil the ku.kluH.