Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-03
PRACTICAL WORK FOR
HHTSTA.

Augusta. Let us, if we can, lead the Dem
ocratic column in November. We have a
leader now and we must do the work. Let
no Democrat permit his activity to be
dulled by the feeling that Augusta is safe
anyhow. We must not only make Augusta
the leader in the Valley column, but we must
be able to help our aoeaker neighbors. No
Augusta Democrat who remembers the
canvass his party made in 1880 can doubt
this. In that election the Augusta Dem
ocracy had the finest organization of any
county in the State, and it was go con-
ceded. All remember the enthusiasm that
attended it. Let US have that repeated.
Let the Waynesboro club at the sterling
old town of Little Tammany' be re-
organized at once. Let such men as Robt.
G.. Wright, J. A. Patterson, A. M. Bow
man. Geo. w. Koiner. and the many ac-
tive Democrats of the 1880 club again
meet and re organize for an occasion that
is fraught with far more interest to Viz
ginia than was the carrying of the State
for Hancock.
ssLittle Tammany'' to her credit beat
Staunton in that year and got her club or
ganized and in working order first. But
when Staunton did come she had club
that has never been exceeded in her poll
teal history for activity and liberality.
Its President was H. st. Geo. Tucker and
it had two of the best sinews-of-war gath
erers that we can think of. Capt. Thos. j.
Crowder and Deputy-Sergeant Geo. A.
Hutcheson. Let us have that organiza-
tion again.
The Churchville Democracy came
next on the list with its club. of which A.
B. Lightner was President and such
names as W. T. Lightner, j. A. j. Funk
houser. James Hanger, and over hun
bred others were among the membership.
1t did good work as the polls showed.
The clubs came in fast. then; the Mint
Spring club of which W. 4. Abney was
President the Parnassus club, of which
Thos ;. 4ogshead was President, and Of
which the lamented Emmett Hogshead
was one of the most active members !;
solid old Greenville then came to the front
with her club and good club it was-one
whose record on the poll books is a
pleasure to look at even to this day. and
then came the live little club at Deerfeld
to swell the list.
Not only did these patriotlc Democrats
of Augusta form those clubs which did
such work. but they formed another and
most important one. it was-a Central
Democratic club.
Now let us have these neighbornood
clubs again. They will find plenty of work
for them TO do. They will influence the
adjoining counties by their activity they
did in 19s0-there wasn't county that
touched Augusta that year that didn't feel
some ENCOURAGEMENT, and there wasn't
county touching her that did not give a
majority for the regular Democratic Han
cock ticket.
These clubs can be great aid to our
County Committee. For instance. in the
new plan of the Democratic organi cation
of the State there are these important pro-
visions
"County and city committees shall forthwith ap-
point precinct committees, consisting OF five or
more active working Democrats from each voting
precinct. Such precinct committees shall prepare
lists of all the voters in their respective voting pre-
eincts, ascertaining and recording the political
precvies of each voter. which list shall be furnish
ed, when completed. to the county or city Secreta
ry and by him recorded in a book. whereupon the
originals shall be returned to the precinct commit
tee.
THE precinct committee shall visit every voter
prior to an election: shall to the question of
registration and transfers; shall furnish the voter
all necessary information 10 that end and shall be
charged with the duty of procuring his vote to be
properly cast.
when, in the judgment of the precinct commit
tee their number Should be increased, they may
enlarge it by their own a, polntment They shall
elect chairman secretary and treasurer.
1t is from the active members of clubs
that these appointments are best made,
and the speedy formal ion of such organic
ations will greatly facilitate the work of
our committee in their selections. This
is going to be campaign Of county, dis
trict and neighborhood acork. But that
doesn't mean that whenever oratory is
| reeded to pass the time it cannot be sup
piled. There are plenty of speakers in the
county and the town whose services can
he had whenever required.