The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-21
SPURIOUS CAMPAIGN CLUBS.
oRoANIzED srnIKERs IN THE FIELD
OF POLITICS.

Their Methods Are Simple, and Sometimes
They suecccd-sponeins on Politicians
and Tradesmcn - Suspicious Behavior
just Before Election Dsy-Thc Result.
A Presidential year. so-called. ia tho season
OF richest harvest for the managers of cam
paign clubs. the genuine and the spurious.
The formor can be described as an assem-
blage OF earnest and Interested persons OF
either political party who design To promote
the success OF candidates by whatever method
seems to them to DO most desirable. Some
believe In the efficacy Of speeches aud de-
bntes: others In fireworks. music. and parades
others In mass meetings. and others in the
maintenance OF n club room for social inter-
course. tho interchange OF views. and the for
nation OF friendships which tend to bind the
members together by a common political pur-
pose. As a general thing the most active
members OF genuine campaign clubs are o1ce-
holders or aspirants for official station and the
genuine clubs are valuable auxiliares to a
party especially in long campaign.
The method OF establishing n fake cam
paign club Is worry simple Three or four
young men. usually between the ages OF 10
and %. and well known In the neighborhocd
where they live. arrange with the proprietor
OF barroom. who agrees to give them the
that they and their friends will patronize no
other barroom. Then chowder party. a pic
mic. or summerniGht's excursion is organ
lied. with the object OF procuring money
enough to furnish the club room. Tickets are
sold to the politicians and tradesmen
in the Ieghborhood. and. after the
expenses OF tho chowder or excur-
sion have been paid. a sufficient surplus
remains to equip the room. Then transpar-
ency is ordered. and on It are painted the
names OF the candidates to be supported by
majority Of the members. not all OF whom are
voters. The club takes its name usually from
Its most active organizer. whose knowledge Of
politics Is derived from his labors on election
day as the employee. at the rate OF SIS from
sunrise to shutdown Of somo candidate.
1t is customary to give u house warming.
and the politicians are sought again for con-
tributions to a fund for the purchase Of beer.
liquor. and cigars. If the campaign club be
organized on scale larger than the average.
Q banner raising. toward the expense OF which
more subscriptions are needed. succeeds
the house warming. AS rule. how
ever. there is no banner raising. the
leaders OF the club applying their
energies to getting more members. A nom
inal lee Is charged. but " common consent
under way. has fifty or sixty members. Many
of them Join from no desire to advance tho in
+ terasts OF the rarty or the candidates. tut 10
may meet young men OF the neighborhood
who ars employed like themselves during the
bers OF the club each evening means a trade
Of 50 to s. in the barro2m. the profit Of which
hs sDa be
4, Toward the close Of the summer. and when
the season OF parades and marching opens.
are in clover. Uniforms are supplied to them.
and Tor 50 much y head they march in the
aWsss 81 tne nd Is
.nents ut the end OF the march. and. when the
are gG;Sd amd party feshing runs high
the club. besides taking part in the parades.
attend the big mass meetings. .
by tn. leutenants Of the party leaders, in the the
and everything appears to be going
swimmingIy until about two weeks before
sans shouid Be- almost at hlsh.water mark KAT At
about that time the rumble OF discord may be
iicrTs. The attitude Of the club. not doubtful
before. begins to be subjected to disagreeable
hints and uneonceaied reproaches. screw
action on the situation as it presents itself. re-:
local candidates. The politicians who have
to the chowder party. the trans.
parnncy. the banner raising. tho parades. and
the current expenses Of the club are asked for
q contribution. larger than any preceding. for
ball tickets or for an entertain ont that has
Ct. day Q @ ana tRe nsht 81
Thanh sgivine. II the spurious campaign
Ssnc ses discipline sqs s lsn
hand. the CLUB appears to Do rent BY discord-
light. and the proceeds OF the ticket sales DO
s pass when The Ss esS hs e
for the purpose OF taking action about local
it's attitude toward national ami
ciently. tho chief organizer usually deprecates
any formal action. He ,counsels q postpone
HE sssssis TIM Of
intimates that it might be well to see in turn
the leaders Of the PARTIES and factions before
to any hasty act or utterance That proposition
Is aseeptLab liz after some opposition. snd the
81 5ne to barsr be ofP Of
ciates for his own benefit He docs not sue
coed usuai ly. but his failure is not attribute
fact that several OF his associates. each on lis
own hook, are engaged in the same task: and
Fiat ts
with tho members OF the club except as indi-
viduals. and their value as such is not large,
adjourned meeting of the club for action on
tho report OF the committee thors, are rum
heS o. IS 81
reached. In tho confusion the proprietor OF
the barroom apnsars usually and pres a
bill for rent The liability Is. of course dis
puted. but among those who have held up
lhe bar" frequently he gets support. and the
outcome Of the controversy Is that the
nituro. in lieu - Of rent, and tho, club
room Is closed. Before the morning OF cleo |
ton day the campaign club IL n thing OF the
past. On election day the former President
may be seen in the service Of one Of the parties |
,s u worker at the polls. few OF the mem
bers get election day employment from the
majority do not.
summed up. this is he result OF tho fake
,lub's efforts: Amounts ranging from 5000 to |
fUOO have been distributed in instalments
among the hall dozen members who orisi- |
lated IT. The President has a winter over
,uat and the Secretary has "a cane. The keeper
If the barroom has had his room tenuntei
during two months OF summer and two
months Of autumn. and he has in his possess
.ns some uniforms. The rank and ME Of the
managing members have had 2 place TO
good deal Of fun besides at the lowest POSSIBLE |
'ost. The people Of the nelghborbood have |
istcned to strains OF music and admired fro |
works. No one. except the POLITICIANS who can
we'll afford such a burden. has lost anEthing |
IN account OF the existence Of tho campaign |
hub. At the same time the interests nf n party |
lave been aided very slightly by the fax club. |