The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-10
WORKING FOR Mr.. BLAINE
Alleged 0ath-Bound Organization That
Claims $4,000 Members Already.
Said to Be Composed Of Democrats and Repub-
licans Who Want the Man from Maine in the
White House-Mills Wants TO Be Senator.

CHICAGO. Jan. 9-The Morning News
says A new political organization has been
formed. Reciprocity is its platform. and
Blaine is it's chief. 1t is combination Of
laboring men in the protected trades. farm
ers who are not in or are weary Of the ALI
ance. and Democrats and Republicans gen.
orally. who believe in Blaine and protect
i've tariff
The organization is secret and OATH
bound. Each member must subscribe TO a
ritual that fixes his opinions on certain
questions in black and white. 1t claims
5000 members in Chicago. Among them
are w. E. Macon. Frank LAWYER and a
host OF others. prominent In politics
and business. Outside of Chicago the
organization. il is said, has IS 900 members.
Encampments or lodges are to be organized
In every city in the land. Old-time politi-
cal associations will be laid aside. Its
scope is immense. Ii takes in half dozen
great interests In the West and South
west 1t embraces every one who is partial
TO Mr.. Blaine and reciprocity and IL 10 or
ganized under the general name OF
knights of Reciprocity in the East.
where there Is no Farmers Alliance ID bar
the way to success. the organization is
called THE Continental League" This
particular branch of the movement was in
tended TO exist In large cities and large
towns almost exclusively. Ex-Assistant
Postmaster general Clarkson Is said to have
conceived the idea of the organization and
Patrick For0. editor of the Irish World of
New YORK. 10 sald 10 have assisted him in
working out its details.
In the great cities other difficulties be-
Iide those In connection with tariff had to
oe considered. There were the so-called
Deputies and other orders of like char
acter, which are supposed to hate Mr.
Blaine. To Offset these Mr.. Ford hit upon
the Continental League scheme Reciproc-
ity and opposition TO the theories of the
"Dsputies' were to be it's platform. Par
ticular emphasis was TO be aid on the lat
ter point Outwardly, at least. this was to
be its apparent object. Democrats and Re-
publicans would march in its ranks In
the ritual of the Continental League four
leading questions are put TO candidates.
All members are oath-bound, and must not,
under any consideration. reveal the secrets
of the organization. In the first ques-
tion the candidate Ia asked If he is
a citizen of the United States This
requirement is essential to admission.
Question deals with the Constitution OF
the United States and Declaration of In
dependence. The candidate must be will
ing to declare that be accepts everything
in this way: do you in any way sympa-
thize with those who would deprive any
citizen of the United States of civic honors
on account Of bis religionp To answer
Eyes" to this means instant dismissal. In
the fourth question the candidate 10 asked:
do you believe In the public-school sys-
tenn of the United Statesfn A negative re-
ply TO this likewise disqualifies the appli-
cant for membership. The plan was says
the News. first mooted at meeting in New
York last October, and the organization
was started In this city on Dec. last The
constitution 10 given in full.