The record-union., 1892-02-15
THE WHIP CRACKS.
Attempt to Lash Republican Voters
Into the Traces.
Organization of the Republican Club
With Local Attachments
VIII it Works

GALS at tne courthouse saturday nlgnJ.
The gathering was in response to call
from the State Central Committee for the
organization of s'National Republican
Clubs'' throughout the State. There was
large attendance of prominent partisans.
The meeting was called to order by State
Committeeman Joseph Steffens. He ex-
planned the object of the call and the
necessity of thorough organization. The
State Committees aim was to have these
clubs organized in every precinct, if pos
sible, and build up bulwark that would
lie impregnable. The committee further
asked that persons joining these clubs
take the following obligation: "We. the
undersigned, pledge ourselves to support
the
PRINCIPLES AND NOMINEES
OF the National Republican party" In
conclusion, Mr.. Steffens called attention
to the fact that a Republican club or
league had already been established in
Sacramento with large membership,
but he hoped there would be no conflict,
and that an amalgamation would be
effected. He saw many of the members
OF the old club present, and desired to
hear their views.
Charles Il. Jones said he was member
of the old club, but was ready to sign the
roll and the accompanying pledge OF the
new organization. He felt confident that
san amicable understanding could be
reached between the two organizations.
The new club should go ahead with its
formation, independent of any other or
ganiZatiOn, however, and establish itself
as a National Republican club. The fu-
sion could be effected safterward. He
moved then that recess be taken SO that
those present could sign the roll and take
the pledge.
The motion was carried and quite a
number of names were added to the list.
Upon re-asSembling Mr.. Steffens was
on motion of Mr.. Jones, made the tenn
porary Chairman of the club and w. w.
Rhoads was elected Secretary.
COMING STRUGGLES.
Mr.. Jones then took the floor again and
argued for harmony between the two or
carnations. 1t would be hard to mai n
tain them both, and he moved that the
chair appoint a committee of seven
three from the old club and three from
the new, the Chairman to be the seventh
who shall confer and agree upon plan
of amalgamation. There should be one
central organization. Several political
struggles were at hand-Presidentia
Congressional and municipal elections,
all in quick succession. 1t was the duty
of all Republicans to do their utmost III
the coming municipal fight, because it is
the organization and hardness resulting
from these small struggles that prepared
them for the big State and Presidential
Gnes.
A. l.. Hart said he was not member
of the old club, but he thought that Mr..
Jones, in his modesty, was willing to
concede too much to the new organiza-
ton. 1t was not fair that the Chair
should appoint the committees from both
clubs The President Of the old club, Ed
Il. Taylor, was present, and Mr.. Hart
moved as an amendment 10 Mr.. Jones
motion that each of the pl esiding officers
appoint half of the committee.
Mr.. Jones accepted the amendment,
and the motion was adopted. AS result
of the deliberations of the Chairmen, the
committee was appointed as follows: A.
j.. Hart, f. r. Dray, j. w. Wilson,
Grove l.. Johnson, a. J. Johnston and L.
I. Tebbets.
The committee retired for consultation,
and upon reappearing recommended that
the two clubs consolidate. The report
was adopted unanimously.
THAT PLEDGE.
DIR. Tebbets rose and SAID that as the
consolidation had been perfected, the
signing OF names to the roll should be
resumed. The members of the old club
who had held back could now come for
ward. He supposed, OF course, that all
in the room were Republicans, and there
would be no heSitancy about taking the
pledge. There would be no independ-
ents and boilers about it.
Chairman Steffens said the pledge was
a clean cut one-to support the principles
and nominees of the National Repub-
lican party.
This pledge, as I understand it, does
not affect municipal elections or nomi-
nees." said Senator Dray.
The Chairman agreed with him.
I T,t, 5,y,x Il
ception to this Interpretation of the
pledge. He said he did not wish to be-
long to a club the members of which
would not vote the straight Republican
ticket, whether city, State or national
lie did not approve of two kinds of Re-
publicans. He did not like Repub-
iicans who vote one kind of ticket
at one time and another on the next oc-
casion. The title National Republican
Party meant Republican throughout.
The organization of these National Re-
publican Clubs, as called for by the State
Central Committee, was the opening gun
of this years great campaigns.
IF we start out with the idea that we
are not going to support the Republican
ticket selected recently at the Assembly
Chamber, as well as the ticket which will
be selected at the National Convention
said Mr.. Johnson, we had better not or
ganize at all 1t is not good politics to
nave Republican club that does not sup
port Republican nominees"
Mr.. Jones spoke again, saying that he
wished to have nothing to do with the
club ii it was to be understood that its
members could support any other ticket
ut the coming election than that selected
by the late Republican City Convention.
Wells Drury raised the point of order
that nobody had as yet opposed the regu-
lar Republican municipal candidates.
1T WAS PLAIN ENGLISH
The Chairman explained that he al
lowed the discussion to proceed because
Il was i'll sympathy with his heart. Still
the call of the state Central Committee
was plain and there was no necessity of
ooinp bevond it. 1t simply required that
the club should support the principles
and nominees ofthe National Republican
party"
Elwood Bru,ner did not think there
should be any opposition to making the
pledge even more binding than that re-
Quired in the call.
Mr.. Jones declared that he adopted the
pledge as his creed. According to his
Interpretation of it no man of honor could
take that pledge and vote against a single
one of the candidates of the Republican
party, whether the election be city,
county, State or national.
Senator Dray took the floor and said he
did not believe q man became any more
tit for Office by reason of his nomination
by the Republican party than he was be-
fore such nomination. Referring to the
l)Ie,lge suggested by the State Central
committee, he believed that the idea in
tended was Of higher and grander ma
{tlre than would be the case If it were as
sociated with little filthy local political
souabbles and elections. For himself, he
WAS going TO vote the straight Republican
ticket at the coming election, but he sup
posed he was here. to join something