Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-12
cEHDET DIV T
Special Correspondence ]

-
 SECRETARY LAWRENCE GARDNER.
 successively lower ranks take their tone from those, and so the whole social atmoS- phere becomes alternately Democratic and Republican.
 Without Self Government.
 This District is now the only civil divi- sion of the world in which an English speaking people is utterly without self government. There is not one of the Brit ish crown colonies in which the people do not have a little more representation than they do here, and as to the British colo nies which have parliamentary govern ment-wcll, they do not differ materially from our states. In fact, it is said by jul rists that thero is no precedent for the pc culiar system of government that prevails here, although it has been initiated in some of the southern states, notably Florida, where the cities are put under the govern mcnt of commissions, and some southern men think that the black districts in some of the states will eventually be put under similar forms of government But specu- lation as to the future is idle. For the pres ent we can only say that this government is without precedent or parallel, and that this is the only place where the Republic an party deprived any one of the right to vote during its long lease of power.
 The paradox comes in when we consider that without self government this is the most intensely political district in the na- tion, if not in the world, and even the old residents and business men of the city seem to take their politics with an energy all the fcrcer because of their personal dis franchisement
 The Heavenly Twins.
 Two Democratic wheel horses of the city are Mir Lawrence Gardner and Marshal Al bert A. Wilson, both heavy bodied men, with n tendency to the development of double chins, who might pass for under studies of President Cleveland Their re- semblance to him and each other is in gen cral outline rather than feature and is such that they are sometimes jocularly known as 'the heavenly twins" MT. Gardner is now secretary of the congress sional campaign committee and of the As sociation of Democratic Clubs, both of which have just opened headquarters in the annex to Wormley's hotel, and it is taken for granted that the national Democratic committee will maintain its headquarters there for some time. Tho congressional committee as reorganized consists of nine senators, and one representative from each state and territory, outsiders being called in when there are no Dem -ocratic representatives. Thus Mir. Dudley B. Maddox represents Oklahoma, Mr. H. A. Colleen Wyoming and MT. A. J. Nc Adams tho Indian Territory so long as its political or civil position is undetermined MT. Gardner is among the most active and successful business men of the District Marshal Wilson has long been most ar- GnINf Nf N, was on the boards that he was to have something uncommonly nice during the latter's former administration. Ho did not get it, and though the statement is again made as if by authority he has cer tainly not got it yet.
 A Dazzling Throng,
 It was great day or rather great night for the Democrats of the District when the committee rooms were opened, and the ar ray of official greatness was truly dazzling. The president did not appear, but the vice president, all the members of the cabinet save two, the leading members of the house and many prominent party men from all over the country were there. It is no se cret that the Democrats expect pretty hard sledding in the close states this year, and that they intend to begin early and leave nothing undone to secure the next house.
 
 cratic clubs from Puget sound to Key West and from tho St. Johns to San Die go have been directed to get themselves into groups and communicate with club headquarters here, which Is to be the na- tional headquarters of all the clubs in the country. All members of the congression- al committee who cannot give time for the needed duties have given place to men who can, and documents arc already being pre- pared to suit the existing political situa- tion. Indeed many have already been shipped, and the workers arc rapidly get ting their hands in.
 Distinguished Bal1adists.
 Contcmporaneous with the opening of committee work for the campaign was the reopening of social festivities after Lent, and both started off with great eclat. It Is noticeable, however that a very large proportion of the entertainments are for permanent charities and local institutions of one sort or another. Among these are the concerts at the residence of Senator and Mrs. Hale for the benefit of the Home For Incurables, the rendition of "King Ar thur" by the Mask and Wig club of Phil adelphia for the benefit of the Children's hospital, the charity ball and other enter tainments and Mrs. Jarley's waxworks for the St. Johns orphanage, and the olio entertainment for the benefit of the Her mitage, the home of Andrew Jacskon.
 The first named the concert by Mrs Bissell, is the first entertainment by the wife of a cabinet officer in the present ad- ministration, and the singing of ballads by Mrs. Bissell and Mir Olcott, the English ballad singer, excited great interest in soci- ety. The benefit for the Home For Incura- bles is considered as truly high toned af- fair, the patronesses being Mrs. Adlai E. Stevenson, Mrs. Wilson s. Bissell, Mmc Romero and the wives and daughters of va rious senators and members. These are but few and the most noted of the enter tainments in aid of various charities and other institutions, but among the vast mass of undistinguished people there is an unusually attractive series of vocal and in- strumentai concerts, private theatricals and charitable and semicharitable enter tainments of every kind.
 A Peculiar Situation.
 Despite their disfranchisement, as aforc- said, the citizens discuss local politics with Intense earnestness, and questions as to whether gas shall be furnisheSat Sl per 1, 000,, whether new roads shall he built to the boundary and where the right of way shall be granted and how and in v-lat l manner excite .as much anger locall., us l the tariff question and the moneyteuest :on | do financially. The government Is not out | lined in any constitution, 1t is not tho | growth of long experience, and it is not | very strenuously defended by anybody, and | yet nobody has any substitute to offer for | It which is satisfactory even to himself. | The situation is peculiar. The population | consists chiefly of those brouCht here by |