Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1889-02-13
The aKids" on Deck.
The Hupbeau Club Still to the Front
and Planniaq rigorous Wash-
s,agtoa Campoiga.--A BRIEF
History Of Remarkable
Organization.

The Flambeau Club has at last CONS
pleted all arrangements and have deil-
nitely announced their intention OF
visiting Washington to represent Min
nesota at the Inauguration. OF course
the Flambeau Club has become a
household world, but brief resume
of its history may not be out Of place.
It was organized iii August, 1888, and
commenced active drilling. IN less
than six weeks il appeared IN y pub
lie parade and astonished the public
generally by the remarkable precision
it had attained. There Was all at
tempt to explain this by the statement
that the Club was made up OF militia
men, but this is not true. There We're
only six men in the Club Inclusive OF
the captain Ca member OF Co. - who
had ever stood in line. The only ex-
PLANTATION OF their progress is in the
intelligence, pluck and persistence
they possess in remarkable degree.
So popular did the Club become that
all throngA the campaign their serv-;
ices were in constant demand, aud
not only were they called upon almost
nightly to visit outlying towns, but
they appeared in every procession
given in Minneapolis and all of the
important ones in st. Paul as well.
They particularly won the hearts of
the Old Soldiers Club, who lnyaria-
bly, demanded that the Flambeau Club
should precede them, aud whose de-
sire now Is that they appear together
in the inaugural parade. After the
election the Ciui, held a meeting and
decided to 90 into Il permanent organs
ization OH strictly military basis.
Each member was geqnired II t;liSe Il
solemn obligation upon huaart l.st he
would serve for the term oi two yt.;srs
and to sisa Il regular muster rsls 10
that effect The Ci.sl, is nssw fur;nsd
as an independent military company,
composed exclusively OF Republicans.
They retain their hambeau torches
that made them famous, but have.
mounted them on handsome walnut
gun stocks of the regular Springfield
model, with brass trigger guards and
barrel bands. The organization is of
an entirely martial character, delin-
quent members being called before a
regularly organized court martial,
which passes sentence upon all who
violate any article of the constitution,
bylaws or point of military usage.
But it is not only in marching and
appearance that the Flambeaus have
earned an enviablereputation. Upon
election the members were assigned
posts, with specific duties, at nearly
every polling place in the city, while
some of them, provided with carria-
ges, patrolled certain wards. It is
stated as low estimate that over one
thousand votes were influenced by the
Flambeau aKids.p This shows that
they are useful as well as ornamental.
The new uniform of the Club is de-
cidedly unique. 1t consists of d red
fatigue cap trimmed with gold lace.
A short blue jacket deliberately en-
brOidered in cream silk. Red vest
embroidered in cream. Cream sash
with heavy tassels. Blue pantaloons
with wide spring on the bottom and
slashed in red, the sides being caught
with a lacing of gold thread. ternli-
mating In two heavy gold tassels. This
is wbatz nown as the Mexican uni
form. hne suits are ordered and be-
ing made by Bentson, the local tailor.
The Club will undoubtedly have the
finest uniform of any political clubln
the country and it is the first military
company that was ever completely
equipped in Minneapolis.
With commendabie enterprise it has
decided to make itself independent of
hotel and boarding house keepers in
Washington, and has, by paying down
heavy cash forfeit, seenred space for
q number of cars in the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad yards, just one block
from the Ca;JitoI. This was the Iasf