Evening journal., 1898-01-15
HISTORY OF THE CLUB
Prepared BY Harry Emmins
for the Y. M. D. {.
SMALL BEGINNING BIG RESULT.
A STORY WHICH GIVES THE DE-
TAILS OF THE RISE OF THE
STRONGEST DEMOCRiATICc CLUB
IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

IN 'IIiE4 bIlA ltL4i4fANN 4AAhA@s
One Of the many pleasant features of
the Jackson Day celebration, under the |
auspices Of the Young Mems Demo |
cratic Club. was the following paper, |
which was prepared and read by Harry |
Emmons. the first president OF the or
ganizatiCn:
| have often heard of large results
| flowing from small beginnings, put as
a matter of personal experience, l have
never known a more striking illustra-
tion OF this statement, than the Young
Mems Democratic Club of Wilmington.
| can assure you that esteem 1t
high honor to have been the first pre-
siding officer OF such an organization.
And 1 congratulate the club upon the
interest and enthusiasm manifested
there tonight as an evidence OF the nigh
position and commanding influence
which she holds and exercises through
out the Democracy Of our city
and state have been asked, in the
few minutes which l shall claim your
attention. to say something about the
beginnings of the club. AS one of it's
organizers l have watched with keen
interest it's growth and rising power
The present organization was really
the outgrOwth of a marching club bear
ing the same name, which was organ
lied in 1880 during the Hancock presi-
Dental campaign. The meeting pre-
liminary to the organization OF the
marching club was held at the resi-
dence of G. w. Horn, on King street
above Sixth, and a permanent organi-
zation was afterwards effected at the
rooms of the Jefferson Democratic
Club, at Seventh and Market streets,
with Harry Sharply as president. The
meetings of this organization were held
in what used to be known as the Wor-
rail- building, No. 220 Market street.
; While this organization did not sue
ceed in placing the soldier hero, Han
b cock, in the presidential chair, it never
theless succeeded in making a com
plete conquest OF the ladies OF Will
mington. The boys in their red caps
= and marching regaiia were simply ir-
resistible. and, as an evidence OF this,
' the ladies on the East Side of the city
II presented the clgb with a silk banner,
a while the ladies on the West Side testi-
r fed their admiration by presenting the
o club with a flag. Both Of these tro-
y phies are, believe, now in the posses
i sion Of the present organization.
(. The old marching club however was
= disbanded after the campaign OF 1880
II and il was not until Wednesday, june
" 21, 1882, that some of the old mem
!, bers OF the marching club met at the
" rooms Of the Jefferson Club in th'
"a Askew building at Seventh and MaI'ke
. streets, and as junior Democrats or
ganized this club, by the election O
Harry Emmons, president; Edward
Greeves, first vice president; E. Har
10 old RhOads, treasurer, and Harvey J
Morgan, secretary A committee o
! five on constitution and bylaws wa
appointed of which l.. G. Vandegrif
I. was chairman, and at our next meeting
" we adopted a constitution and BYLAW
s. and completed the election OF officer
E by electing Thomas Davis, second-vic'
- president; John Wood, corresponding
Is secretary; N. BertOlette, marshall AM
an executive committee consisting o
L. c. Vandegrift, John Biggs, II.
Crippen, ]. A. Wood and Horace John
" son. Thus organized we entered wit
IT, enthusiasm upon our work for DemoC
racy and good government The youn
men present at the first meeting wer
s. G. G. Montgomery, who might be calle
Is both the father and grandfather
T. this club. as he was the father to bot
r the marching club and also its child, tn
ne present organization, and has been al
o. ways identified with It down to tn
~, present time. The others were Joh
70. Wood, Henry J. Crippen, j. Alfre
~ | Wood. Harvey J. Morgan. Edwar
ne Greeves, James H. Morgan and mysel
o. Our meetings at first were hel
n in the rooms of the jefferson DemOcrai
ts' ic Club, with which we held the mos
amicable relations. / know we had II
evil designs upon the membership {
Is. the Jefferson Club, and the idea of al
. sorbing or being absorbed by thOs
Democratic veterans never occurred
us for a moment; but sometimes whe
ne my attention has been called TO u
IN membership of this club in receI
ng years, am very much reminded Of N
is. Dutchtwins, Hans and Jacob. who we
= so much alike, that when one OF the
died the survivor did not know wheth'
= he was Hans that was dead or w
~, Jacob that was living. But notwitl
standing the fact that many Of the o.
- jefferson Club, after it's demise, four
cOngenial companionship in this orgal
ization, 1t was the young men orgal
lp- izing this club, who not only gave
I'd name, but also an individuality ,whiC
ul- will remain with It as long as 1t COZ
- tinues it's mission as a valiant and a
CT gressive supporter Of Democratic pri
~. iin ciples.
Early in August, 1882, we noted wi
. much satisfaction and encouragemer
that our membership had reached d
- respectable number OF forty-fOur, eve
ST. one of whom was shortly thereaft
g. shouting and working for Lore al
i StCckley and the success Of the who
Democratic ticket. 1t is needless
bv me to say they all got there
Re- Most of us were present IN the Fl
OF 1882 at the Democratic ratifcati'
oot meeting at the Opera House, and 6
- our inspiration for the campaign
.. that year from Eli Salisbury al
Whiteley Stockley and Lore, Mart
Paynter and Williams, who we're I
speakers on that occasion; and VIII
an inspiration such names were a
: still continue to be to the whole
mocracy of our little state We W
: always cherish the memory of tho
who are gone and ever delight to hon