The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-08-25
A PROGRESSIVE CLUB
Which Has Not Yet Progressed Very Far
Is. F. Chronicle, lS.O

Ainong tne meeting notices IN yeSter-
DAYS Chronlcte was one purporting to
emanate from The Progressive Club, ';in
whlch al! and sundry, rich and poor"
were invited to attend Irish-American
nall last evening to hear ga workingman"
deliver an address on the political issues
of the day.
At the hour mentioned for ''the work
ingman" to begin his discourse Chron-
lcte reporter entered the large hall of the
building and was astonished to find only
three persons present. One of these, a
blonde-bearded man with Teutonic cast
OF features, proved subsequently to be
the horny -handed-aye, and horny
cheeked-convener of the meeting. The
other two were ladies-one a pianist,
hired to enliven the proceedings with
popular airs, and the other appeared to
combine all the minor Offices of the PRO
gressive Club.'
AS the workingman descended the
stairs, presumably to ascertain why the
"rlch and poor" were not rolling up, the
reporter sped after him, and when the
outer door was reached the representative
of labor gazed up and down the street
with longing eyes. A shade of disap-
pointment passed over his features at the
loneliness of the scene and he stroked his
Approaching him, the reporter asked:
Are you connected with the Progress
sive Club?"
"Well-er-yeS, or rather / might say
will be. You see," he added, in a conf
DENTAL manner as he slipped into the
shade of the building, ''the Progressive
Club is not formed yet. L am here to or
ganiZe it tonight, but-er-the prospects at
present are rather disheartening."
"They are rather" acquiesced the re-
porter in sympathetic tones, but you
have the Mechanics Fair and several
minor attractions to draw the people
away. What, may ask, are or will be
the objects of the club?"
"To educate the people up to the pres
ent political issues. Then We will have
music and sociability."
who, besides yourself, are promoters
of the AFFAIR.""
At this question the ''workingman"
grew doubly confidential and communi-
cative.
Il am employed" he said, "by the
Oregon Democracy to organize the club
here. We have similar club in Astoria,
Or, and as | am an active worker in it
was selected to work San Francisco"
SIS it labor of love with you?"
"Oh, no; they give me so much money,
but not enough to pay for hail rent, BAN
ners, etc. l am afraid that l will be out
of pocket by to-night's venture"
"You intended then to take up col
lection?"
"Of course" responded the working
man" with alacrity, while a "well-I-
should-smile look'' stole over his feat
ures. Il intend, however" he added in
still lower voice, doing it in a neat
manner"
in what respect?"
"Well," he added smilingly, 81 will an
nounce that any one desiring to join the
Progressive Club will write his name on
some blanks which will have distribu-
ted by boy. AS the lad passes round l
will tell those who are writing their
names that money is required to defray
expenses, and the boy has authority to
receive subscriptions. Do you see?"
very good idea," acquiesced the re-
porter.
"Yes,'' added the Oregonian, sorrow-
fully, "and [ reckoned on collecting $50
tonight. You would hardly believe the
expense there is attached to this thing.
That flag you saw up on the stage cost
SIS, and then there are the banners, etc.
Besides, l had a wagon all day going
around advertising the meeting. | had
to pay for that, as well as the Japanese
had with it banging the gong"
What was your idea of having a
japanese"
Il will explain the point to you. l
wanted Chinaman, but | could not get
one. The idea, you see, was to let the
people know that unless they attend to
business the Chinese will be on top soon."
'It was an astute Chinese, then, that
refused the position of gong-beater.
Wouldn't it have been rather rough for
the Japanese if the public had seen the
point and thrown rocks at him?"
well, didn't expect them to see the
drift of the thing until l explained it in
my speech tonight. By that, you see, l
would make double point"
81 understand perfectly, but as you re-
marked while ago l don't think you
will have many people to explain things
to-"
mo, indeed" said the worklngman;
'but what do you say if we 90 up and sit
in the hall. 1t will take that empty ap-
pearance off it and besides others may
drop in
The reporter made some evasive reply,
and in order to prolong the interesting
conversation said: You are Democrat,
of course!'
81 am social Democrat"
Not socialist, are you?"
Not exactly, but l believe in the peo-
pie all the time. They should govern and
have all the machines"
Political machines, do you mean?"
"No; factories and all that kind of
thing, l believe that where a factory
machine is worked by 400 people, say the
government should buy the machine and
turn it over to 400 workmen to be opera
ted for their mutual benefit"
The factory proprietors would prob
ably object" remarked the reporter. DO
you believe in protection ?"
mot at all, p" replied the man from Ore
gon, land let me tell you that 1 can
knock them all out when l start arguing
against protection. That's my strong
point you bet. l have spoken before
thousands in Astoria and Portland and |
am going there to speak again."
The speaker at this juncture grew i'm
patient and spoke bitterly of Demo
cratic journa THAT had promised to send
shorthand reporter around to the
meeting to ''whoop things up.'' "If the
papers only 'whoop things up" he said,
think club can be formed here. l had
letters of introduction to English and all
the big Democrats, but if | get a start
think can manage myself"
just here another reporter appeared,
He commenced to question the working
man" much in the same manner as the
Chronicle reporter had done, but, strange
to say, the answers ELECTED were entirely
different.
The ''workingman," who, by the way,
gave the name of H. Warmbold, stated
that he was not employed by any politi-
cal party, but rather by three trades