New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-07
THE GREAT DRY GOODS CLUB
BUSINESS MEN FOR HARRISON.
I'VE THOUSAND MEMBERS ENROLLED.

MISUNDERSTANDING TILE
WORK IN OTHER BRANCH
Els OF TRADE-FEAT-
UREs OF THE MOVE
MENT.
Ons Of the most remarkable features Of the campaign
fu this CITY Is the Of the Wholesale Dry Goods
Harrison and Morton Club This organization is some
thing UNIQUE and y efforts are unquesuonably among
the most effective put forth by local associations any,
where I'm behalf of the Republican ticket with
membership OF five thousand, comprising NOT
only the leading dry-goods merchants of the metrop
OILS but hundreds and hundreds of bright young clerks
and statesmen, and with large and attractive head
quarters, right in the centre of trade and travel
where are held daily meetings of the most entertaining
and Instructive character the influence of the club is
practically unbounded.
Let any one who questions this state
ment visit the rooms of the association,
No. S24 Broadway, at noon on any week
day. If no happens TO be Republican the scene that
he will witness cannot fail to rouse his party en-
thusiasm TO the highest pitch. no matter how I'M
emotional his temperament may be IL he belongs M
the Democracy the chances that he Will
before leaving either become convert to the grand
doctrine of protection return to the place from
whence he came a broken dshcartened Clevclandfe.
with all capacity inclination for further WORK III
behalf of the Golden Club candidate completely ex-
bausted. To form idea of the clubs MONDAY
$50 by % feet, neatly adorned with flags, bunting
mixtures of candidates. and other patriotic and party
emblems On one side is the platform for the speakers
tastefully drapcd with red white and blue. Near
this stands organ which Is used al every mecthg'
There is no necessity for any regulation gee clup'
as the organization includes of capital singers ana
musicians most of whom on hand to take part In
the exercises each day. The musical part however.
Is not delegated TO any choir or quarteuc.
Everybody sings for the simple reason that it Is out
of the question to remain silent when Professor Adams
or T. Faycttc sykes strikes up such songs as Our
Country and Protection "Republcansl Republ-
cans =" "Good-by, old Grover. Goodby," and Others
equally CELEBRATING zone good campaign song IS
equal to a hundred speeches. says senator Sherman,
and the Dry Goods Clubs experience is striking proof
of the correctness of this assertion.
A MONDAY MEETING IN PROGRESS.
The big begins TO I'll up promptly at noon
Employers and employees drop in on their way to
luncheon and on their way back to business. Ere
ouenly they become deeply interested in the pro
ceedings that they forget all about eating In this
crowd, which increases every moment, will be noticed
some weIl,lSnown faces There the door stands
the sturdy form of John F. Plummer urging those in
side try and make room for the crowd on the side
walk that is trying TO effect entrance The hand
some features of Cornelius n. Bliss seen for
moment he makes his way TO some modest position
In the rear from which he will be called to the
speakers in the district That with ruddy,
youthful face. which contrasts strikngly with his
white hair and mustache, is c. ID. Sweeney, of Teft
Weller Co. He is tireless worker and one OF the
leading members of the club. The two men talking to
him are Major f. p Edgar, who General Ere
uont's stall in 1856, and A. II. Dakin, of Meyer, Jo-
mason q Co.. both enthusiastic supporters of the
ganizaton. That quiet, bright-eyed gentleman, who
drops in for a moment he hurries to his Office,
Is John Clafn, the son and successor OF the great
dry goods merchant. He is an enrolled member OF
the cfb as are Edward E. Eames, II. J. Fairchild
and Daniel Robinson, the other members Of the firm
of II. 3. Clafn q Co.
When the place has become fairly crowded, which
usually happens about three minutes after 12 o'clock
William b. Fuller, vice president of the club, f. p
Hafner, Colonel George z. Clark, A. H.
Daln, or some other prominent mem
ber mounts the platform and announces
the title of the song that forms the opening piece.
The Professor Mr. sykes starts it and it is rendered
with vigor that makes 1t audible blocks away.
Then the speaker of the day IS introduced. Perhaps
Is is some orator like x-Govenor Beaver, of Pennsyl
vania; DR.. Watt, of Oregon; Colonel Carr, of Illinois
W. c. Plummer of Dakota Congressman Mason, of
Chicago; Colonel Hepburn, of Iowa, or some able
local speaker such General Stewart l. WOOdford
John J. Bealin Mr.. Bliss, Colonel Cruger jeremiah
Murphy, II 1t happens TO be meeting OF special
Importance when the new banner was raised
Warner Miller himself There is certain to be telling
and state Committees make It point TO have the
best campaign takers visit the club when in
the city, Sometimes all the speeches are made by
members and generally the meetings when this is
done, among the best An instance Of this was
the meeting on Friday when Mr. Knapp of Ellis,
Knapp g. Co., and Mr.. Sullivan, Of Sullivan Vail &
Co, told why they could not support Cleveland this
year as they did in 1894 Both these gentlemen,
It will be remembered, active leaders in the
Cleveland and Hendricks Dry-Goods Club. They are
Just as hearty in their support of Harrison and
Morton And there is a host of other converts with
them In fact about fifteen twenty per cent of
the members are men who voted the Democratic
ticket four years ago. Some lifelong Democrats are
on the rolls, men who never voted Republican
ticket
HOW TIE CLUB WAS STARTED.
The club was started early in September Papers
were distributed among the leading dry goods houses
bearing This printed declaration
"We the undersigned DESTROYS of protecting our
homo industries against the invasion Of foreign manu-
lecturers pauper labor do hereunto ax signatures
ms members of the Dry-Goods Republican Campaign
Club pledgng ourselves to assist in the election Of
Harrison and Morton"
Above this was place for the firm name; the
space below reserved for individual signatures. |
There was a general response all along the line. BY |
the time the first meeting called there over
5000 members This has grown steadily untl to |
day there IS actual enrolment of 1885, John F.
Pfummer the unanimous choice for president Mr.
Fuller of II. b. Clafn Co., made vice president:
Thomas b. Clarke treasurer. and Edwin c. Ray.
IT, secretary. These officers went to work in earnest
and of the movement is attributable in no
small degree to their untiring abors
1t is not going too far 10 say that the club has
carried the dry goods district by storm. The Mug
wumpery Of 1854 has been swept out Of sight. Not
only this but the ranks Of the enemy have been broken
True the Democrats have alleged Cleveland and
Thurman Dry Goods Club but 1t is of a composite
character, made UP of from all branches Of bust
ness The National Democratic Committee has tried
30 infuse life into 1t, but their attempts proved
futile There is too much among the merchants
10 be led away by any trade The
Harrison and Club is organization Of bust