Wichita eagle., 1888-03-04
REPUBLICAN CLUBS.

The North American Review for March
contains an interesting series of short
articles by prominent Republicans
throughout the country upon the subject
of Permanent Republican Clubs. "
Among the writers are such men as Gov
ernor Alger, of Michigan, William Wal
ter Phelps and Henry Cabot Lodge and
Senators Edmunds, Chandler and AL
drich.
With marked unanimity, the writers
agree in commenting the present wide
spread movement toward the organization
of permanent clubs for the perpetuation
of Republican principles as distinguished
from the old system of campaign clubs
organized for temporary purposes only.
John P. Foster, president of the
national league of Republican clubs, sets
forth in strong language the usefulness
of such clubs and says: 1.-The mission of
the Republican party will end only when
the government itself is ended; and club
organizations can perpetuate the party,
especially if they will become incorpor
ated bodies under state laws, such as
were passed in New York last year.
Where such laws do not exist. it be-
hooves the clubs to hare them enacted"
William Walter Phelps says:
The political clubs are needed
as StOrehOuSeS for gathering
and distributing Republican truths.
These truths nowadays are not moral,
but economical. They must be studied.
1t is useless to try to stir mems souls to
enthusiasm for economic truths un-
til you have convinced men of the val
lie Of them. This is the function Of the
permanent club"
Senator Chandler writes: ut may be
asked then, what is the need of addi-
tlonal Republican clubs such as are pro-
posed: The answer is, to supplement
the existing organizations and lift them
out Of their ordinary rutS, to set on foot
more discussions of vital principles, to
arouse and interest the younger voters,
and to inspirit in various ways all Re-
publicans to meet the impending con-
tiict of 1888, and those which are to fol-
low"
j. G.. Slonecker. of Kansas, writes:
''Clubs SO organized will be political
schools, where principles, methods and
measures can be considered and dis
cussed. They will furnish unequaled
facilities for the distribution of political
literature, as they will deliver it directly
to the individual. Such clubs cannot
fail to be beneficial to the party"
Henry Cabot Lodge writes: ''The
rapid and increasing formation of Re-
publican clubs, and their recent consoli-
dation in National Leage are political
facts of great interest. This
great movement, as it may now
be called, since it has assumed
such large proportions, is capable
of achieving great results. But its sue
cess depends, is it seems to mo. upon the
rigid observance of one condition. The
work of clubs must be given to the
party and its principles and 70 nothing
else. The moment the league or any
considerable number of clubs advocate
the selection of any particular candidate,
whether state or national, their power
for usefulness in the only true sense of
the word, is gone. : The strength
of the clubs lies in their disinterested de-
votion to the party and its principles
and policies, and so long as they con-
tinue in this way as they have begun.
they offer the surest pledge that
and the enduring soundness of the Re-
publican party
The Henry Clay club recently
organized in this city has been
established upon these lines of thought
and action. 1t is intended 10 be per
manent institution and therefore it has
been incorporated under the laws of the
state. But its doors are wide open to
any Republican who is willing to enter.
In order to maintain suitable club rooms,
properly furnished and supplied with
useful literature and kept open ell the
year round, 1t is necessary 10 charge
a moderate membership fee. and
this has been fixed at ten dol
lars payable one-half at a time.
If experience demonstrates that
the club can be maintained at less cost
to the members the dues can be reduced
at any time.
In the meantime it is hoped that the
may be extended as widely
as possible, for the purposes of the club
as stated in the preamble 10 the bylaws
recently adopted (and published in the
EAGLE few days since are such as
must commend the club to every Repub-
lican who wishes well for his country
and his state and who is willing 10 aid in
the great work Of purifying and elevat- /.
ing tbs. polirics of bnfb