The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-21
PLAN OF THE LEAGUE.
what the Delegates Of Republican
Clubs are to Do.

The meeting of delegates from the Repub-
lican Clubs of Maine in this city this after
noon is for the purpose of forming State
League in accordance with the plan of or
ganization perfected at the great meeting of
Republican Clubs of the Union at New York
last December. In two Enthusiastically
long and comprehensive sentences Senator
Evarts defined at that meeting the object of
the Association. "These clubs" said he in
the opening address, ''are to be agencies for
distributing and enforcing sound political
knowledge, from which the Republican party
never shrinks and from which it fears moth
ing, and also for cultivating the growth of
sound opinions, fearless, distinct, uncon-
cealed, unobscure, so that the elections may
not only be informed with knowledge, but
permeated with opinion, and then there will
be the warmth and the fervor that should
flow through all the veins and arteries of po-
litical life, SO that indifference, neglect,
double-dealing on all sides shall be discard
ed. Then we may know that when we do
succeed we have really succeeded and the
people will know it, and when beaten we
will acquiesce in the popular judgment as
becomes good citizens without relaxing our
efforts to succeed next time" For the Ma
tional League constitution was adopted,
of which the objects "are to encourage and
assist in the formation of permanent Repub-
lican clubs, and State and Territorial
Leagues, to unite such clubs and leagues for
effective, and organized work, and
generally to advance the principles of the
Republican party" James p. Foster, Esq,
president of the New York Republican Club,
was chosen president. Vice presidents were
chosen from each of the twenty-nine States
and Territories represented, A. A. Strout,
Esq, of Portland, being the vice president
for Maine.
Besides establishing constitution for it
self, the National League adopted plan for
the formation Of State Leagues. According
to this plan, which is given here in full, the
League for Maine will be formed today
The name of this organization shall be "The
Republican League of the State of -"
The objects of the League are TO encourage
and assist the formation OF permanent Republican
clubs. to unite such clubs for effective and or
ganized work. and generally to advance the prin-
ciples of the Republican party.
III.
Any permanently organized Republican Club in
this State, having adopted constitution and
having not less than twenty members shall be
eligible to membership in this League
".
The officers of this League shall be a President,
three yice-presidents,j a secretary and treasur-
err, all of whom shall be elected at the convention
of the League and shall hold Office until the cleo
tion of their successors.
The convention shall be composed of three dele
gates from each club in the League, each club
Shall cast but one vote upon all questions.
vi.
Tho convention CHI III ha haId annually Mt such
time and place as may be directed by the previous
convention. Or, If no such direction has been
made by the Executive Committee, notice OF the
time and place of meeting shall be given in writ
ing by the secretary to all clubs belonging to the
League at least thirty days prior to the day OF
meeting.
The convention shall be the sole Judge of the
qualifications of its own members, shall nave pow
er to admit and expel clubs from the League ana
ecutiye Committee.
The convention may levy an assessment on the
several clubs comprising the League.
TX.
posed of one member from each Congressional,
Senatorial, judicial district or county in the State
who shall be elected by the delegates of the clubs
tion. The officers of the League shall be ero1tcio
members OF the Executive Committee. The Com
mittee shall have power to fill vacancies in its own
number or in any of the offices. majority OF
those present at any regular or called session Of
the Executive Committee shall constitute a quor-
UNI for the transaction of business.
X.
The executive committee shall have the gener-
al management of affairs of the League where the
convention is not in session, and shall have con-
troll of all funds of the League subject to the di-
rection of the convention. 1t shall be charged
with the duty Of organizing new clubs wherever in
its opinion advisable. The committee shall be
called together by the president of the League inn
mediately after the annual convention, and shall
organize. 1t shall make its rules and hold meet
mine. meeting may Be called at any time by its
chairman, and must be called by him when re-
quested by five members in writing.
XI
The duties of the officers shall be such as are
usually performed by like officers, and may be
shall be required to give bonds in such amount
as the executive committee may from time TO
time determine. The executive committee may
remove any officer or member Of the committee
members
A club may be admitted to membership in this
League upon Its own application in writing by the
executive committee.
This League shall not express any preference
for any candidate before any political convention
XIV.
This constitution may be amended at any con-
vention by majority vote of all the clubs pres
ent, but thirty days notice in writing OF any pro
posed amendment shall be given by the secretary
to each club in the Leagne.
In some other States conventions have al
ready been held and State Leagues formed.
Vermont has been especially noticeable for
the pr0mptness with which its clubs have
got into line, although Vermont is even a
surer Republican state than Maine.