Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-02
The Republican Club Movement.

Executive Committee of the National /
League Of Republican Clubs. Nearly all
sections Of the Union were represented.
The reports received from various states,
especially from those which have been
classed a. doubtful, were signally en-
couragiug The substantial facts pre-
sentcd prove conclusively that the Repub-
lican Club movement 30 auspiciously be-
gan last fall. is progressing in manner
which SURPRISES the expectations Of those
who originated and put it IN operation. In
the great Northwest, where it has been 80
often represented that the Free Trade
Democracy were making rapid Roadway,
the progress of the Republican work has
been remarkable. In Minnesota alone
there are already more than two hundred
local organizations, and the present MEM
bership il not less than 10000.
The reports.made from Wisconsin, Michi-
gan, Kansas and Nebraska were encourage
Ing in the fullest sense, and the advices
from Illinois were such a. to inspire faith
in Republican success. The Illinois clubs
will meet at Springfield on March Sth and
9TH to form State League. They have
200 clubs now. and count on an increase
of fully 100 per cent within the next
month. In West Virginia IL clubs
have been organized, some of which have
a membership of four hundred. These
local organizations are springlng mp all
Y.,.l
are Joining them uumcrously. In some of
them, General Goff wrote. no man was adj
mittei who had not served under "Stoue-
WALL Jackson. This remarkable fact is
due to the protection issue, which is
fast converting the Democratic wage
workers OF West Virginia and the South
in general.
The information received from old Nir-
ginia is exceedingly encouraging. The re
port of the member, of the Committee from
that State says that every effort will be
made by Republicans to secure majority
this fall, with strong indications of sue
cess" This Virginia member. MIR. South
hard-says 1.-THE negro vote il solid, and
any denial of this fact i all bo-h. | am
an ext confederate soldier of pickctt's
guard aud live in White County. which
gave 800 majority for the Republican tick
ct last fall. Il is nothing uncommon in
Virginia now 80 see rX-, onfrderates. with
empty sleeves. hohbling upon crutrAes to
the polls to vote the Republican ticket on
election day. Virginia wants protection,
aud II the Bourbons tan lac prevented
from doing too much voting after The sun
goes down. we intend to protect her"
Under the leadership of Colonel W. {.
Elam the party is being organized from
one end of the state to the other.
The report of Secretary Humphrey. of
the Executive Committee, is full of inter
est. He stated that eleven Republican
State Leagues had already been formed
at conventions held for this purpose in
these States. Official calls for similar
conventions have been issued in twelve
other States by clubs already organized.
In addition to this, Mr., Humphrey said,
preliminary steps have been taken in
eleven more States to crystalfe the
associations in existence into general
organizations. There was every reason
TO think that conventions in all these
States wonld he held within few weeks.
The SeCrctary's report showed that
thirtv-eight States had either been organ
lied under the directions of the National
League. or had ai least taken the necessary
preparatory steps for that purpose, leaving
only four States In which the work of the
League has as yet made no progress. At
the National Convention Of Republican
Clubs, held in New York two months ago,
some $50 clubs We're represented by the
l,5o0 delegates to that assemblagc. Since
the convention adjourned there has heen
an increase of more than 1000 clubs
throughout the United States. The
principal gains in addition tn the clubs
formed at the time of the convention are
rs follows: Seventy-tiye in Vermont, los
in New York. 100 in Ohio. III in West
Virginia. ~ in Iowa. 30 in Indiana - in
Wisconsin. POO in Minnesota, IL in Kansas.
Is in New Jersey, So in Illinois, II in
Maryland, - in Michigan, in Nebraska,
making In all LIS local organizations.
In addition to these there have been large
gains in several of the southern States.
Continuing, Mr.. Humphrey said that the
following States had been organized under
the League plan; Connecticut, Maine,
Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New
York. Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont. Nir-
ginia and West Virginia. Conventions
for forming State leagues have been called
In Delaware. Illinois. Iowa. Indiana,
Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ne
braska. New Hampshire, Oregon. Pennsyl-
vania and Wisconsin.
These numerous facts and strong iudea-
tons coming from all sections of the
country, can have but one meaning. They
hear emphatic testimony to the tendency
of the best public opinion TO resist in all
Just and lawful ways the Free Trade pro-
gramme which Cleveland and his demo-
cratic associates are trying to force on the
American people. They indicate how
deep among the people is the distrust and
dislike of democratic rule, and how earnest
and strong is the determination to restore
the National Government to the admins
trativc control of the Republican party,
in whose hands il was so ably and wisely
directed for nearly Il quarter Of century
the most remarkable period of its
history. Let the Republicans of Maine
push on the column.