The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

and they have become the watch
words of the Democratic and tariff
reform party.
The principles adopted were as fol-
lows:
l. the largest liberty of the individ-
ual consistent with public order.
,. Local self-government.
3. Opposition to Capitalization.
/. The separate independence Of
the legislative, executive and judicial
departments. :
5. Recognition of the Supreme Court
of the United States as the proper tri-
bunal for the final decision of all
constitutional questions.
&. An indivlsible union of hides
tructible states.
I. Strict maintenance of the public
faith.
g. Public Office a public trust,
admission to which should depend on
proved fitness. All appointments to
subordinate offices to be made from
persons who shall have been found
qualified for the duties of the Office to
which such appointments are to
be made, in open and competitive exam
inatiOn. No removal Of persons in
subordinate offices for political opinion
or refusing to render partisan service.
Opposition to enforced contributions
for political purposes, The official
tenure of personSin subordinate offices
shall be during good behavior.
9. Tariff for revenue only at the
earliest practicable period consistent
with due regard for existing inter-
ests and the financial needs of the
government !; and, Immediately, such
a revision OF the present system as
shall fairly and equally distribute its
burdens.
The first president of the Iroquois
Club was Hon. f. M. Phelps. to whom
due credit should be given for plotting
it over many breakers which too fire.
Quentlv overcome all political and
social clubs. Very few political organ
izatiOns can survive defeat of the
party, and even the success of the
party, at a general election, usually
engenders chickering's and jealOusieS
within the ranks, which destroy the
discipline and mar the usefulness of
the body, but the 1rOquois has demon
strated its ability to withstand both
defeat and success, and certainly in
this hour of its prosperity can look
back upon many contests with pride
for the honorable part taken by it.
The chief officers Of the club and
the dates OF their service as president
are given as follows: Erskine Nj.
Phelps. 1870: Stephen S. Gregory,
1856 resigned July y, 1856: Walter
G. Newberry, 1865: Robert j. Smith,
lSS9-9O.
While the individual members are
free to and always do take active part
in local and municipal political con-
tests, it has never been the policy of
the club, as such, to indOrSe or sup
port as a cody any particular local
faction, candidate or measure. 1t
was formed on national basis, and
has steadily confined its work to
national issues, enthusiastically sup
porting the national and State Dem
Ocratic and tariff-reform platforms
and tickets, but leaving purely local
matters to individuals and other organ
izations. The wisdom of this policy
has been so often demonstrated that
but few, if any, now question it. The
leading minds in the Iroquos have no
desire to copy after or initiate the
great New York Tammany, which
finds that, although it may be able
to control the party in the city and
largely dictate its policy in the state
of New York, when it comes to a
national convention its strength at
home proves its weakness abroad, and
no candidate for president cares to
enter the lists relying solely on the
Of Tammany Hall
Besides its political work, the men,
bers of the Iroquois have acquired a
wide reputation as hosts in the social
world. The first public movement
looking To the securing Of the Worlds
Exposition for Chicago started in their
ranks, and Judge Shepard has the
honor OF introducing preamble and
resolution in the monthly meeting of
the club in May, 1888, which set the
ball in motion. Having inaugprated
the movement, the Iroquois felt that
1t was their duty to push the work,
and FOR many months the members of
and other distinguished and
influential men of all parties were
sumptuOusly entertained in the club
rooms. The receptions and other like
entertainments of a public nature
given during late years have served a |
useful purpose and afforded great pleas !
IRE to all who attended. Among its |
members are large number |
If leading business and professional |
citizens who frequent the club rooms |
1aily, while the list of nonresident |
members embraces representative men |
rom nearly all parts of the United |
states who make their homes at the |
Tub when they are in this city.
In view of the fact that the Worlds
exposition will attract hundreds of |
thousands of people TO this city in
S92 and 1893, the Ircquois Club be-
'omes an important factor in social as
veil as N political circles. The men,
'ership, already large, is constantly
and more commodious
quarters are already needed, and If a
uitable location can be found the
OF an auxiliary building
ssOciatiOn within the club member
hip TO erect suitable building for
he use Of the club will follow from
necessity.