Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-03
A COLLECTION OF OPINIONS.

NeNuoN iN1NhlebANC Va lliC
party in twenty-five States and Territories
Of the Union. 1t will be borne in mind
that the question propounded by the
writer was simply whether they favored
permanent club organization under the
National League plan, and if so, why :?
James Foster, of New York, President of
the National League, holds that the form
ing Of a compact body from the local club
up through county leagues and State
leagues into one national league. has an
underlying method and principle which Is
better adapted to the Republican party at
this time than to any other body or at any
other time. He was, therefore, for the
new system unhesitatingly from the first.
William Walter Phelps, of New Jersey,
in forty lines of hard sense declares for
the plan, because it is needed in this day
that public questions shall be treated from
the basis of investigation, debate and the
dissemination of intelligence. Governor
Alger, of Michigan, desires the new system
to prevail in every State, because he be-
lieyes it will result in that thorough disci-
pline essential to success, and because it is
the best means of getting the facts bearing
upon public questions fairly before the
voters. John S. Wise, of Virginia, de-
clareS that Southern Democracy is not
formed on the advocacy of any principle,
but represents the agglomeration of preju-
dices against the Republican party Club
organization in Virginia, as it would in
clude whites and black, would be disad-
be beneficial.
Senator Chandler, speaking for New
Hampshire, believes in issuing orders from
the bottom upwards in political organiza-
ton. He therefore favors the League
plan, which will work in harmony with
the present excellent State Club organiza-
ton, especially as the League system is
based on the fundamental principle that
the organizations shall not undertake to
influence or control nominations. Gov
ernor r. S. Robertson, of Indiana, favors
the new idea because it will reduce bossism
to the minimum and enable the collective
Judgment of the party to attain its maxi
mum strength by inviting, collecting and
disseminating the best thoughts of the
best elements of the party and crystalliz-
ing them into declarations of principle.
Robert NJ. LaFolette, of Wisconsin, is for
the new principle, because such clubs can
not be used as machines for individuals or
factions. "CGques and rings thrive upon
the citizens in Difference to the plain duties
Of representative government. They can
not co-exist with the persistent, continu-
Gus, intelligent, personal interest of the
individual voter"
A. M. Clapp, of Washington, approves
because right organizations is always wise,
and because these agencies are inexpensive
and efficient. He cites the campaign of |
1910 as an instance of effective party work |
of this order. A. B. Guytil, of Dakota, be-
lieves the scheme the worthiest one of Uni |
fed political organization ever laid before |
free people. A well-disciplined soldiery |
elevates the standard of an army, and it is
true in political party management.
Senator George +. Edmuuds, of Vermont, |
hopes the organization will be pushed be-
cause it will foster that hearty unitv of |
which sinks out Of sight and thought any |
supposed claims or ambitions of particular |
men. ID. Ii. Hammer, of Illinois, holds |
that permanent organizations of club,
bound together in leagues, will result in a
of unlimited political power,
that viii mold the opinion of the party in
advance of conventions and thus with |
the people informed, and expressing their
views through established representative
mediums, no convention will be able to
throw platforms of disastrous resolutions
before the intelligent voters. He cites the
case of the Franklin clubs which largely
determined the policy of the Continental
Fathers in the struggle for American In
dependence.
w. w. johnson, of Maryland, points out
that league clubs are not intended to |
supplant State, city and county organiza-
lions, but rather to supplement them
RalpE w. Breckenridge, of Nebraska,
adds: "There is inspiration in organiza-
ton; organization in politics means sue
cess" The scheme will force members to
attend caucuses and primary elections
which, except in particularly disreputa-
bic wards in few of our largest cities,
can easily be managed by the better ele-
ment within the party, thereby insuring
fairness and true representation.
Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island is for
the plan as the best means of enlisting the
young men in every community, who,
while naturally in sympathy with the
party, are at present, for various reasons
Indifferent to their political obligations.
j. IL. Manley, of Maine, declares the per-
manent clubs fill long-needed want.
They are the trimming schools of the party,
and will not SAVIOR of bossism or the ma
chine. "They are the rallying points for
the enthusiasm Of youth and the conserva-
tism OF middle age j. q. Slonecker, of
Kansas, gives among other reasons of
approval the original one that the system
will make the wants and interests of the
party and people known, thus the people
of California or Kansas viii no longer be
unknown, or their wants matters of indif-
ference to the Republicans of Massachusetts
or Connecticut"
". o. Bradley, of Kentucky, believes
nothing win more conserve harmony or
better secure effectiveness and victory. He
declares that had there been clubs of ener-
getic young men in the sixty-three conn
ties of Kentucky that had no organization,
the State would have gone Republican last
August. AS it was the Republican vote
was increased nearly $4,000 over that of
the prior Gubernatorial election. and the
Democratic majority of $4,000 reduced to
i. Eel. ,,,,-, tb,., rs OO0 I = Cla,I-