The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-18
Organize Precinct Clubs.

counties, and it should be their pleasure
to promote them in every way possible
They will find no direction in which they
can better employ their time than this
OF course these will also help greatly in
the work of organizing the state for ma.
tional and state purposes, but the greatest
benefciaries will be the local candidates
themselves.
The imperative necessity for organiza-
ton no one at all versed in political affairs
will deny; nor will anv one deny that the
republican party has for years held its
power against the wishes OF q majority OF
the people, and against the interests of ali
the people except the tarid barons, corpo-
ration, stockholders and republican office
holders, solely through the superiority of
Its organization. Even the Justice OF its
cause and the righteousness of its prin-
ciples have not enabled the democracy to
permanently triumph over its adversary
magnificent organization.
II Indiana democrats need proof of the
value of clubs let them glance at the re-
cent political history of Marion county.
Seven years ago there was not a demo-
cratic club in the county; likewise there
wasn't democratic official, and the great
est difficulty was experienced in getting
democrats to make the race for office About
seven wears ago the first democratic
club was formed. The idea spread rapidly
and grew in popularity until now scarcely
. ward in Indianapolis and not a township
in the county is without its permanent
democratic organization, while 9 ma
jority of the precincts are similarly pro-
vided for. In the campaign of 1883 every
precinct in Marion county had q club
which met at least once a week.
What was the result2 For the first time
in history Marion county went democratic
in presidential year in spite of the fact
that the successful candidate for president
was a resident of the county, and that
money was poured out like water TO pre-
vent his being repudiated in his own
home. Another beneficial result is that
every county and city officer is now
ity.
Right here the purposes and duties of
democratic clubs should be clearly defined
and understood. The true democratic
club should not be regarded as an organ
ization for marching or dress parade pur-
poses. These should be mere incidents.
The club should, in the first place, CO.
operate with the central committee in
securing perfect poll. The precinct club
does this. 1t makes democrats acquainted
with each other. At its weekly meetings
the members compare notes. They learn
who of their neighbors are democrats and
who are republicans; who are voters and
who are not and their reports to the CEN
trail committee make its poll COM
plete and accurate. We all know that
in 1888 the republicans cast many
illegal votes throughout the state. Had
every democrat been as familiar with his
precinct as he should have been and as
familiar as membership in an active, we'll
organized club would have made him
these illegal votes would not have been
cast, and Indiana would have stood,
where she rightfully belonged, in the
democratic column.
Another benefit Of club organization
arises from the weekly conference of
members and through the understanding
gained tn Great of the issues and the way
to meet them. One member has used an
argument effectively on a republican
which another had not thought of. One
member has discovered an advantage
which may be pressed and imparts the in
formation TO the others. Thus, in a short
time, each member is armed with the ex-
perience Of all, and his future work 10
made correspondinRly more effective.
Still another great advantage is derived
from the dissemination of literature. II
a member has a wavering republican
neighbor he submits his case to the club,
and some one of the members knows of
the right kind of literature to bring that
republican, with just an inkling of truth,
into the full light of knowledge. And
right here we want to say that it is one of
the prime duties OF democratic club to
see that every democrat in its Jurisdiction
reads at least his local democratic paper.
Every democrat should take his home
democratic paper first, and then he should
have all the other literature that either he
or his club can afford.
The clubs mission is chiefly an educa-
tional one. and the main feature OF that
education this year should be in the
line OF securing the correct stamping
of ballots. The Legislature OF 1891
made some changes in the election
law, and in the spring elections this
year votes were thrown out in nearly
every precinct OF the state because they
were incorrectly stamped. The precinct
club, if it does its full duty, will see that
not democrat in its jurisdiction loses
his vote through ignorance as to the man.
ner of stamping. This work Of education
should be the first duty of every club, and
systematically carried out will insure to
the Indiana democracy glorious triumph
in November.
THE SENTINEL has dealt with this sub
ject at such length because it feels that it
is oneof vital Importance to the democracy
of Indiana. 1t feels that the time to or
gsnize is right now. Democracy is on the
right track; 1t is on the peoples side; it
Is fighting the battle OF the poor against
the rich the masses against the classea