The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-02-10
JGFFERSON CLUB
Formed at a Meeting at Basts
Hall Last Night,
A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION

form and William Js bryan
In response to call issued, large
number of the leading Democrats of Can.
ton and vicinity met Friday evening In
Bast s hall The purpose of the meeting
was 70 form u Democratic club to be
known as the jefferson Club of Stark
County. The meeting was called to or
der by Mr.. J. w. Pontius, who nomina-
ted Captain John f. Blake as temporary
chairman, the captain being the unan-
nous choice. The chairman thanked
those present for the honor conferred.
He said he understood the call to be for
meeting of all who were believers in
the principles of jefferson and Jackson,
and for the defense Of those principles
as advocated by the Democratic stan lard
bsraer, william Jennings Bryan. The
meeting, he thought betokened an inter-
est. which, if kept up, must result in
the continued advancement of these prin-
ciples. Democracy today, the captain
said, meant the protection of the people
from combines and encroachments on
their rights, and If they stood by the
party, success and victory must certainly
marks were greeted with hearty applause.
Edward L. Smth was chosen temporary
secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Rhodes l. Gregory
a committee was appointed to present the
preamble, constitution and bylaws. The
motion, after some argument, prevailed,
and the chairman appointed Messrs.
Rhodes 1. Gregory, j. W Pontius, ]. A.
Rice, j. d. Barry and A. B. Altland.
The committee retired. During the time
elapsing, remarks vera heard from vari-
Gus gentlemen present.
Mr.. Milton ShaefTer stated that he wa
Bryan free silver man. He wanted
club organized that would be open for all
-Populists, Socialists, Prohibitionists
and silver Republicans-who had in their
hearts the overthrow of the Republican
party. Stark county should be in line
next fall to support Democratic con-
gresham. He thought the mama Jeffer-
son Club might be construed to mean
that no one but Democrats were wanted.
He wanted name that would indicate a
liberal sentiment, and suggested the
name of the Union Bimetallic Club of
Canton. This was made an amendment
when the motion to name the organiza-
tion the jefferson Club of Stark County
was voted upon.
MIR. John c. Harm ony said he could
not understand why there should be oppo-
sition to the name suggested for the club.
There were but two parties in the United
States today. They were the gold or Re-
publican party and the silver or Demo
cratic party. Who believed in free silver
and the principles as laid down in the
Chicago PLATFORM was Democrat, and
who did not believe in these principles
was Republican. Mr.. Harmony believ-
ed the preamble, constitution or bylaws
would not place one obstacle in the way
vi Tree hllNeI INtpu'llCuu JNiulHB Jne
club. He hoped, however, that this was
TO be Democratic club in every sense of
the word
Hon John f. Monnot wanted Dem
ocratic club in Canton and Stark county.
He wanted q club that would work in
harmony for everything that was Dem
ocratic. He referred with pride to the
organi zation of the county during the
existence of the Young Mems Demo
cratic Club.
Mayor James A. Rice offered a few re-
marks along the same line and at the
conclusion, the committee appointed made
it's report. The preamble was read and
constitution and BYLAWS were read. The
preamble is as follows: "We, the mem
bers of the Jefferson Club, recognizing
the, wise doctrines taught by Jefferson
and jackson, and nObly advocated and
defended by that leader of modern states
men, William ]. Bryan and believing in
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
and gold at the legal ratio of sixteen to
one, without awaiting the aid or consent
of any other nation, and affirming all the
principles set forth in the Chicago plat
form of 1896, and desiring to promote all
legislation that looks to the relief and
benefit of the toiling and producing mas
ses, do hereby crdain and establish this
constitution of the Jefferson Club of
Stark County Ohio,
On motion the preamble, constitution
and bylaws was adopted, and the name
jefferson Club of Stark County selected.
A list was prepared and forty Ave
signers declared themselves members of
the club The election of offers resulted
as follows:
John G. Harmony, president.
Charles Seeman vics president.
Joseph Calmalat recording secretary.
Henry G. Shaub, financial secretary.
II. August Smith, treasurer.
Ray Herbert, sergeant at arms
Ed. L. Smith, J. W. Pontius, Gust
Bernower b. F. Faust, p. L. Manly, |
John @, Harmony ana Charles Seeman,
trustees.
The club adjourned to meet next Fri
day night.