St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-14
FRENCH DEMOCRATIC CLUB.
A Lively Debate Relative to Endors-
ing the Democratic Local Ticket.

The French Cleveland and Hendricks
club held meeting last evening at the
rooms of l. Union Franchise, corner of Ex-
change and Wabashaw streets. j. B. Olivier
was in the chair, and A. Martin, of La Can
ddi'9I, acted as secretary. When the meet
ing was called to order the latter explained
the object of the organization, and urged
that all the candidates on the Democratic
ticket, from president down to county COM
missioners, be endorsed and heartily sup
ported by the members of the club. This
proved a bomb shell and several members
did some rapid shutting to keep from being
hit by it.
Mr.. j. B. Sirois first got the presidents eye
and said that, while he heartily favored
Cleveland and Hendricks and would vote
and labor in their favor, he thought the club
would do an unwise thing if it endorsed all
the candidates nominated at the recent Dem.
ocratic convention and said it should assume
an independent attitude on local candidates
The French in st. Paul had worked too hard
for the success of the Democratic party only
to be ignored by every recurring convention.
He didn't ask the club to turn over to the
Republicans in local matters. There were no
indications that they would give the
French any better representation. In fact,
neither party had offered them anything.
The French were willing to throw their sup
port to the party giving tangible evidence of
its friendship for them. That they had been
left out in the cold was evidenced by an in
stance last spring. a Frenchman was on
the police force, and he was found to be in
fault in regard to some matter and dis
charged. His place was filed, not by one Of
his own nationality as would have been
proper, but by an Irishman. The French
merited recognition in local politics, and it
was time the Democrats of Ramsey county
had their eyes open to the fact that they
would not always follow without something
being occasionally thrown out to them. The
club should not drift away from Cleveland
and Hendricks. but its members should be
left free to cast their ballots in local affairs
for whom they choose.
Mr.. Alfred Dufresue said the club was
composed of Democrats, and 1t should vote
the Democratic ticket throughout. The Dem
oeratie party would be at the front in the ma.
tional struggle this fall, and the club should
have the credit of standing true to its prin-
ciples all the way down the line. II the club
should throw its full strength to the whole
ticket this fall its power would be seen and the
French would be recognized in the county
conventions of the future. A declaration Of
independence here would only create sus-
picion, and it would react against the club,
as it would have no ground for asking recog-
milton when it had itself failed 70 uphold the
Democratic candidates.
Mr.. john Genois said he favored indie
pendenee in local affairs. The French citi-
zens OF st. Paul had been voting the Demo-
cratic ticket all these years, and they had
got nothing but dried potatoes. As nothing
had been gained by loyalty, nothing could be
lost by independence. Bresette, it was true,
was in the service of the city, but he had
worked his own way TO his position without
party assistance Back in 1871, thirteen
years ago. John B. Olivier had been elected
county auditor. but since that time none OF
the losves and fishes mad been parceled out
to the French. Only year ago Olivier had
been deliberately slaughtered in a Demo-
cratic nominating convention. The surest
way to success was in independence Of action.
The Democrats of Ramsey county wanted to
drive the Frzneh like negroes, and the speaker
asserted be would not remain with the club
unless it declared its independence in local
politics
MF. Olivier urged that nothing could be
gained by whipping about the bush The
French could ask nothing Of the Democratic
/ party unless they remained loyal to its can
I didstes. An independent organization owed
IFS allegiance to nobody aud could ask no
body TO apportion to 1t any VI its good