Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-23
THE DEMOCRATIC CLUBS.
Much Work Being Done at the Headquarters
In This City.

Much work is now being done at the head
quarters Of the National Association Of Demo-
cratic Clubs in this city. Ii has been an enor-
nous labor, the officers say, to get the organi-
cation in shape for this year. TO ascertain how
many of the 5000 or 5000 clubs on the list in
1883 are still active and to get them into inti-
mate relations with headquarters. The eireu-
lars and postage and clerical labor required for
this single item Of work form tremendous
total The national democratic committee real
izing as Chairman Brice says, that this cam
paign is to be a campaign of clubs, has spared
no effort to put the democratic organization in
as complete preparation as their means will per-
nit Nearly all tine permanent democratic clubs
of the country are members Of the association
and new Gibbs are rapidly forming and being
enrolled. Secretary Gardner says there Is q
great demand for political literature, especially
on the tariff end that he cannot supply more
than a small portion of the amount requested.
The officers Of the association are: Chauncey
F. Black, president: Lawrence Gardner. secre-
tary; Roswell z. Flower, treasurer. and William
L. Wilson, chairman of the executive COM
mittee
Mr. Flower is the governor Of New York
Mr.. Wilson is the member of Congress from
West Virginia. who il generally regarded as
having been Cieveiands choice for Speaker.
He is especially well known on account of his
tariff speech
Lawrence Gardner is president of the Comm
bia Club Of this city. He WIS delegate from the
District to the democratic national convention
of 1sSS. He was the head of what was known
among democrats the Bureau Of 1nforma-
ton in the campaign of 1883. He is secretary
of the congressional campaign committee. as
well as of the National Association of Democratic
Clubs.
Chauneey F. Black was elected president by
the national convention which formed the asso-
Citation at Baltimore. July 4. 1888, and he has
served with many changes of associates in the
subordinate places. His successor will be
elected by the national convention of this year.
He has the distinction of being the founder of
the modern system of democratic societies,
which is simply % revival of the democratic So
cieties Of the jefferson period, aud their union
in state and national associations to meet the
igencies of the present time. He has been the
annually elected president of the democratic
society of Pennsylvania ever since its organiza-
ton
Mr.. Black was elected lieutenant governor of
Pennsylvania in 1882. In 1856 he was the
democratic candidate for governor of that state,
but the republican party being united he was
defeated by about half the usual republican
majority. He the caucus nominee for
United States Senator against J. Donald Cam
eron in 1891. and received the full democratic
vote. With the single exception above men
toned Mr.. Black has never held Office
Except Chairman Wilson. who is openly and
strongly for Cleveland. the officers of the Ma
tional Association of Democratic Clubs refuse to
talk presidential Candidates. They say their
duty is to elect candidates, not to nominate
them The general committee of the associa-
ton will meet at Chicago at the time of the
nominating convention, and the time and
place of the national convention of democratic
clubs will be fixed and the call issued This
convention will. in point of delegates, be many
times larger than the Chicago convention Ii
will be the practical opening of the democratic
canvass. and many of the great leaders of the
party are expected to be present, including the
democratic candidate for Vice President.
There is much rivalry to the place of
holding the convention, as it is almost
as much of prize as the nominating con-
vention- Several western cities are quietly
laying pipes for it. There will probably be
from 1000 to 8 900 delegates in attendance and
the voting will be by states. 1t will be. it is
said, the largest political body ever assembled
in tho United States