The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-27
| POLITICAL NOTES
BY OUR REPORTER.
The Bayard Legion Celebrate Their
Twenty.Fifth Anniversary.
SPEECHES, MUSIC AND A
COLLATION. Add to tn Enjoymenr-A Gala
Night For the First Democrat Club 10
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was
xS Democratic.

The Democratic clans, gathered last evs-
ming az tho Bayard Legion headquarters,
NO. 6l7 Shipley street, to celebrate tho
twenty-fifth anniversary Of the Club. The
rooms wore tostefully trimmed with flags
aud bunting and presented gala appear.
ance.
The reception room was very appropri.
ately festooned with American flags and
date OF the clubs birth, 1872 and Its ami.
versary 1897. were displayed on tho wall.
AS each guest arrived he was presented
with handsome badge containing tho
following: 2lth Anniversary Of the
Bayard Legion, which was pinned on the
lapel OF his coat, and made to feel at home.
The exercises were begun few minutes
after o'clock by the President of the club
Colonel William b. Norton, delivering an
address Of welcome and giving brief his.
tory OF the formation OF the Legion. 1t
was 1lrst organized by few members Of
the Democratic party Of the Eighth ward,
and he'd It's first Headquarters at Eighth
and Butt0nwood streets. 1t then removed
to seventh and Spruce streets, and after
wards located at Ninth and Lombard
streets In wigwam.
The club had by this time grown to such
proportions that rooms were taken In the
Eckel building opposite the city hall above
Filth street. and from there removed to its
present commodious headquarters, No.
6lT Shiplny street, where 1t has continued
TO grow III Importance as enc of the lar.
gest political clubs in the city. 1t first had
u membership of 80 members aud from
that small number has continued to in
crease until it numbers over two hundred
members and has become an important
factor in the councils Of the Democratic
party. Colonel Norton was its first pres-
dent aud has SO continued until the present
time.
Speeches were made by Senator George
Gray who expressed himself glad to 10
with the members on their 25Uh annivor.
sary who said the club had done good work
In all the campaigns since and he congrat-
uated them on the efficient work which
they had performed In helping to elect the
Democratic ticket, and said that they had
been II factor in the splendid results
achieved by the party in the city and state.
He coinplimented them on being Demo-
Gratis ind said that they should stick to
their party and II necessary fight for its
success on election day. The Democratic
party stood for the principles of the great.
est good to the greatest number and con.
deinned the protective policy of tho Repub.
lican party us they favored protection
for tho few against the interest Of the
many.
He was followed by Ex.Judgo Marvc!
who spoke on the good that had resulted
from the formation OF the club.
Mr.. Samuel Bancroft, Jr, said he was
Democrat because he believed in the prin.
ciples inculcated by tho Honorable Thomas
i. Bayard, after whom tho club was named.
He was free trader and against protoc.
ton evory time of the few to tho deter:
ment OF the masses. He then gave brief
history OF the honesty of Mr.. Bayard who
he considered was one of the honest Demo.
Gratis who could not be driven into doing
what he considered was not for tho good
of the whole people.
Councilman O'Ncll, who has been a
member of the club for years, made Il
very fair speech on the vicisitudcs OF what
it cost at one time in our city to be u
Democrat and expressed pleasure to add
his voice to those who had preceded him
in commencing the good work done by the
club Excellent music was rendered by
VIM. r. and Albert Bradford on the violin
and piano, besides selections from VIM,
Connolly, Reese Pyle, Hamilton Lloyd and
Arthur Handy furnished banjo and man.
dolin duets and VIM. Bayne and Edward
Sewer contributed TO the musical pro.
gram,
The portrait Of Colonel Norton was :pre.
sented to the club Howell England re.
ceiving it.
A fine luncheon was served In the billiard
room in the third floor by caterer Walton.
Letters OF regret were read from Governor
Ebe Tunnel, Senator kenney and Con.
gresham Handy and Secretary of State
Hughes.
Mr. Willard Salisbury paid his respects
'butwas unable 10 stay owing to u severe
cold. Everything WAS done to make every.
body enjoy themselves and the reception
committee left nothing uudone to that
end. The following gentlemen We're pre-.
sent.
Hon, George Gray, R. 7. Moody, Mat.
thew Murphcy, President Young Mems
Democratic Club; c. d. Morton, Presi.
dent Democratic League; W. D. Norton,
President Bayard Legion: Eugene Sayers,
Collector of Taxes; J. Y. Lynch, Walter
McEvil!y, Capt Kane c. c. King H. r.
Cochran, Jr., II. S England, George Klo.
berg, Clerk OF City Treasury; f. Newell, |
b. j. McEey, Frank Sewer. James Is. |
Oherley, p Fleming, l. Singer, Walter
Witsil, Robert G. Francis, William Bane,
SuDerintendcnt Mccoy, Of almshouse;
George Hurlock, John Lawton, John n.
Ryan, Bailitf of City Council; Daniel |
O'Neill j. Grella, J. c. Fnrra, Michael
Kelley, s. Brown, John T. Dickey, Howell
England, Councilmen Oberley and Kane,
John Aydon and Dennis Leary