Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-20


Some very quiet but earnest discus
sion has been going on among the local
Democracy in reference to plan for the
permanent organisation Of the Club.
It is q commendable and prevailing
desire that when the organization does
take shape, it will be upon basis that
will not only ensure harmony and until
cation among the members but the
highest efficiency to the party IN the
city and State.
With this object in view the plan and
purposes of the organization are being
carefully considered. In one paper,
submitted to our inspection, the design
of the club is quite fully expressed in
the following general terms:
"To form Democratic club in Wheel
ing, and maintain it as permanent in
stitution; to procure convenient and
commodious quarters, comprising a
meeting hall and suitable adjacent rooms
to be used respectively as a reading
room, a smoking room, a card room,
a reception room or parlor,
&c, and fit them up in
handsome and comfortable manner, and
50 maintain them as to make it a pleas.
ure to the individuals composing the
club to use them as place Of general,
daily resort"
The idea embodied in the above para
graph is that which possesses the par
ties moving in the matter and about
which there is no difference Of opinion.
There are other important details re-
lating to the appointments and uses OF
the Club quarters which should
be settled and arranged 80 that
when the organization is accom-
plished the greatest advantages
may be derived from it. Some OF these
advantages are enumerated in the paper
referred to above, as furnishing "Q)
more efficient organization during poll
tical campaigns; (2) a suitable place for
receiving and introducing to citizens
Democratic visitors of distinction; (3) a
place OF easy, social resort, conducting to
a more thorough acquaintance and more
unity OF purpose among our Democratic
citizens; (4) a complete and interesting
reading room supplied with all the lead
ing daily and monthly publications; (5)
the facilities, when desired, OF institut-
ing a series OF lectures on the living pc
litical and economical questions OF the
day; (6) and greater familiarity on the
part OF old and young with the iunda,
mental and imperishable principles OF
the Democratic party"
While these general features OF the
organization have been under discus
sion, it was suggested that the plan OF
the JEFFERSON Democratic clubs" now
being organized throughout the country,
be procured for examination; and by re-
quest Mr.. H. B. FEsGUsoN opened cor
respondence with Hon. CHAUNCEY F.
BLACK, one of the founders of the JET
PERSON clubs, and a son Of Judge JERE-
MIAH BLACK, who has responded by
sending copy Of the constitution and
bylaws, together with other documents
showing the plan and scope Of the or
carnations in question.
We shall not be surprised if upon ex-
animation of the plan OF the JEFFERSON
clubs, the Democracy OF Wheeling
will be inclined to adopt it substantially
ior their organization, inasmuch as it
not only affords well mstured basis for
such an organization, but has the add
tional advantage OF giving every club
established on that plan a more than
local importance, becoming related, as
it does, with all other clubs OF the same
kind throughout the United States,
and thereby getting the bens
eft of many valuable suggestions
in the course OF its progress and devel-
opment, and during national campaign
it would constitute link in the chain Of
the national organization which would
augment its usefulness and importance
beyond what it could hope to acquire as
club OF purely local character. Be-
sides il organized on the Jefferson plan
il would doubtless become the nucleus
of many other similar organizations
throughout West Virginia.
These jefferson clubs have not only
the approval of the leading Democratic
Statesmen OF the country, bat many of
them hold active membership in them.
Among the documents forwarded to
Mr.. FEReUsoS by Mr.. BLACK, is le!-
ter from the Hon. SAMUEL J. TILDRN,
responding to an election a. an honor
airy member OF the JEFFERSON Demo.
cratic Association of York, which We
herewith append as document worthy
OF perusal in this connection:
NEW YORK, January 81, 1881.
Hon. Chatsncsy +. Black:
My DEAR SIR:-I have received your
letter notifying me OF my unanimous
election as the first honorary member OF
the Jefferson Democratic Association OF
York.
accept the distinction thus conferred
in order to testify my approval and
commendation of the objects of your
association.
Thomas Jefferson has q title to the es-
TEEN and gratitude of the American
people even greater than that which he
derived from being the author of the
Declaration Of Independence, and from
being the author Of the Statute OF Re.
ligious Freedom by the State OF Vir.
ginis.
During all the bloody conflicts OF the
revolution, and the civil struggle out OF
which our system OF government
emerged; and the controversies through
which was impressed upon it the char
acter OF government 'by the people,
for the people" be was the apostle Of
human freedom, and the greatest leader
OF that benefcent philosophy which
was embodied in our institutions.