Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01
THE DEMOCRATIC ROOSTER.
History Of the Emblem


History Of the Emblem.
WHERE THE THOUSANDS OF THE MIMIC COCKS
WERE PROCURED TO CELEBRATE THE RECENT
vIcToRY-A WORD ABOUT OTHER PARTY
sIGNs-'THAT SAME OLD COON"
As soon as the election Of Cleveland was
claimed the democratic emblem Of victory, the
rooster" made his appearance. He came In
untold numbers and in various sizes He
appeared simultaneously In all portions OF the
country. 1t was matter Of surprise to many
that the miniature game cocks were 80
promptly and promiscuously on hand. A STAR
reporter one day remarked to a local demo-
cratic leader that somebody must have antici-
pated Cleveland's election with faith enough
to have laid in large supply OF toy ROSTERS tor
the occasion, and what makes it more surpris-
ing, he replied. sis that these
ROSTERS ARE ALL MADE IN JAPAN"
Inc reporter. intent upon gathering some in
formation as to the method and manner whereby
miniature cocks could be imported from Japan
and had ready at the opportune moment to
make prominent feature Of democratic rejoic-
ing, called upon Mr.. Thorn. the wholesale
dealer in millinery, on 9th street. When adj
vsed of the reporters errand. he said: eyes.
tnese thing are all made in Japan. We have
sold thousands of them since the election and
could nave sold thousands more if we had had
them. 1t has been our custom to buy a few
every year as they are sometimes used az or
nameDts for bOnnets and hats, but this year we
mad TO buy them by the thousand We got them
from New York house which imports all sorts
OF fancy goods. toys. ornaments, ETC. but really
can't tell you how they came to have so many
on hand. Perhaps 1t was old stock that had ac-
cumulated and the democratic victory created q
demand for them"
THE PLACE OF MANUFACTURE.
determined to satisfy public curiosity as to
the sudden appearance of so many thousands
OF democratic 'Toosters.' the reporters inqui-
rles were prosecuted through the mails in New
York city. From q large firm there, the Japanese
Fan company. which imports all sorts of goods
made in Japan, it was learned that these toy
cocks are made in the city of Osaka, situated
about three. hundred and fifty miles south Of
okOham1 and about ten miles west of Hiogo
In '0sakaIthe principal toy manufacturers of
japan are located. Say the New York import
ing house: "We import these cocks annually
In fact we imported them as far back "a 1868 in
anticipation OF having them crow over the cleo
ZION OF seymour. Since then we have been on
the alert. watching for democratic victory
that would give the cock a chance to crow.
This year We greatly exceeded our usual impor-
tation, moved thereto by the bright prospect of
Gov. Cieveland's election. We have this fail
sold over one hundred thousand of them, and
could readily have sold as many more if we had
had them. TO import these early risers we
must look over a year ahead, as we contract for
the goods in January. The supply which has
crOWed SO Justify over Cleveland and about
which you inquire was contracted for in Janu-
uary, 1888. long before it was imagined that
Cleveland would be the candidate.
Upon the first signs Of CIeveland's election
the toy boosters were in demand, and tele-
graphic orders from all sections for them poured
into the house Of the importers. Street ped
diers sold them by the hundreds at twenty-five
cents apiece, while the wholesale price was four
cents each
''cRow, CHAPMAN, CROW"
The "rOoster," as the male species Of this
barnyard fowl Is commonly called in this coun-
try has been the emblem Of democratic victory
for many years. It was used more or less in the
jackson campaigns, but it was not until 1874
that it won the nOtoriety which caused it's adon-
tion generally by the party. In that campaign
the indianapolis Sentinel. the democratic organ
OF Indiana. was edited by Mr.. B. B. CHAPMAN
After the election. returns came in slowly. but
Chapman concluded that he had enough to ind-
cate democratic victory in the state. So he
claimed the state in big display type. The next
returns favored the wings and Chapman was
tainted with having been too previous He
was told that he had '.crowed" too loudly and
TOO soon. AT last the returns showed q small
democratic majority in the state, and the chair
man OF the state committee telegraphed the
editor. "Crow, Chapman crow" He doubled
his display type, and added to the effect by
printing large cut OF cock in the act Of crow
ing. Since that time the rooster has been the
accepted emblem of democratic victory and re-
joicng.
THE LOG CABIN AND COON.
The old wing party adopted the coon. In the
Harrison campaign the backwoods candidate
was described as the inhabitant OF log cabin.
with coon skins nailed against the front to dry.
The democratic papers began to speak OF the
wings as cOOns." 'ROut the coons, was demo-
cratic battle cry. The wings accepted the issue.
acknowledge with pride the log cabin and coon
skin feature. made the fight and won the VIC
tory. Then the despised coon was elevated to
the dignity OF sign OF success. The repub-
cans have frequently used the coon as a feature
to emphasize their rejoicing over victory 1t
has not been uncommon upon the heels of re-
publican success to see the pages OF party or
gans illustrated with the cut of grinning rae
coon. described in big type as that same old
COON" But the republicans have also used
other embems. sometimes the national flag
During the Lincoln campaign the elephant was
introduced. but he didn't take. The rooster
has been distinctly democratic for years, while
the republicans have not adhered to any par
ticular symbol of victory.
LETTER from, II OcIxv villa MA