Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-07-05
A Cleveland and Thurman Club at
EIliuWOOd.

On Mondav evening, June 18th, a
Cleveland and Thurman club was or
ganized at Ellinwood. II. j. Kline
was made chairman and r. NJ Wat
son secretary. The following resolu-
lions and constitution were adopted:
PREAMBLE.
WHEREAs.-The republican party. through its
long lease of power has become currupt and has de-
parted from the faith and traditions of fathers:
and has passed into the hands and under the control
of few corrupt spOilS-men, who while attending
to blind the people with cant and loud professions
of purity, have stolen the livery of Heaven
the devil in' who have to further their selfish
ends and to please their employers laid upon the
shoulders of the people burdens TO grievous TO be
borne. And who while claiming to appropriate TO
themselves all the political virtues of the party in
the past have sold the people bound hand and foot
intolerable task masters without souls or moral
existence who have recklessly bestowed the fran
chises and prerogatiyes of the government upon
soulless corporations; have donated 10 them the
public domain and recklessly squandered the wealth
and the powers of the government upon, and foster
ed these creatures of their creation until they
have grown arrogant and shamelessly attempt TO
corrupt the Legislative, Executive and Judicial de-
partmeuts OF the government, and have too often
succeeded; who have at the bidding of these off
springs of their corruption continued upon the
pie exhorbitant taxes made necessary in time of
war though quarter of century OF profound
peace that.they might enrich the few favored pets
anu hhPoteIisH liie tndSses. VIM nave Zeaiously
for quarter OF century endeavored to keep live
bitter sectional strife and thereby retard the
Advancement of large section of our fair land.
Who have while protesting the great solcltude Tor
the defenders of the nation in the dark days of
history. insist upon attaching conditions TO the
pension laws which will make il difficult if not i'm
possible for many of the aged and unfortunate
soldiers of the republic who should be the wards of
the nation who should receive their reward with
out question, and procure that which richly be
longs to them, and thereby keep "the word of
promise TO the ear, but break it in the hope" who
seek to wrest the government from the hands of the
people and to build up strong paternal govern
uent, ruled by sumptuary laws dep-iving the peo-
pie of the necesSaries of life while they themselves
revel in luxury. And
MISUNDERSTANDING as we do that all power
in a free government is vested in the people, and
the will of the majority, constltutionaly expressed
to be the supreme law. And
WHEREAs.-We desire to assist in driving these
self-cOnstitued aristOCrats from the position which
they have dsgraced and to rescue from their hands
the trusts which they have betrayed, and bring the
government back to the sound principles of deInoc
racy as expounded by that Apostle of Liberty,
Thomas Jefferson, and his cOmpatriots. We do
ganize ourselves and adopt the following
CONSTITUTION:
ART. This organization shall be known the
Cleveland and Thurman club of Ellinwood, Kansas.
ART. 1.-THE object of this club shall be the dis
seminatiOn of sound Jefferson democratic principles,
and the promotion of the greatest good of the peo
pie in the administration of government.
ART. III.-All persons who are in favor of having
the government both state and nation administered
in accordance with the old established land marks
of Jeffersonan democracy, and IN favor OF reform in
all matters in the interest of the people oppose the
continuance of exOrbitant taxes in time of peace
and who are in favor of the unconditional execu-
pealed or modified by desire of a majority of the
people, who uRequivocally in favor of govern
ment of the people. by the people and for the peo-
pie, without regard to former party utilization shall
be eligible to membership in this club.
ART IV.-The officers shall consist of a president,
vice-preSident, secretary and treasurer, whose
duties shall be such usual in organizations of this
character, together, with captain, LIST and End
who shall be appointed by The president
with consent of the club.
ART. V.-Any person holding the views expressed
in Article III of this constitution who may de-
become a signing
this constitution and paying into the treasury there
of the sum of 25cts.
ART. VI.-This constitution may be amended by
vote of twO-thirds of the members present at any
regular meeting.