The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30

Is It Because the Iroquois club IL = Cleve-
lind Organization md Shrieks for Tariff?

|
lnnd Organization and shrieks for Tariff?
To THE EDIToR OF Thu SUN-Sir: News
comes that the Democracy. as represented In
the present National Committee, will shift
headquarters from Chicago to ST. Louis
What Is the Significance OF this2
Chicago has been the inspiration. the d.
| vininR rod OF the Democracy since 1858 In
that year II nominated In that city Mcclellan
and Pendleton and declared the war for the
Union to be failure.
In 1894 It discovered. in the same city.
Grover Cleveland and as he was the first Dem
| ocratic President in twenty eight years. be-
lief took root in the minds OF party leaders that
Chicago was an instrument for political success.
In 1893 the party vcercd to st. Louis. renomi-
mated Cleveland and lost
In 1892 1t tackled to Chicago. named Cleve-
land and Stevenson and won.
In 1896 1t lined up in Chicago again. dis
agreed. Illuminated. and produced Bryan.
Sewall and silver 1t lost.
In 1899 the committee meets. reaffirms It's
loyalty to Bryan. Is swayed by him. and now
comes report that henceforth the helm is to
point from St. Louis
What has become OF the Iroauois Club. that
socio- political organization which came into
existence with the return OF the party from
the wilderness? few days before the recent
meeting OF the committee the Iroquois braves
had powwow in which they declared it is not
ever but revenue that the country wants.
Has the Iroquols Club lost its cunning' 1t
was the creator OF elevated Democracy in the
West.
1t was the inspiration OF Erskine NJ Phelps
a millionaire merchant who had been a club
man and commercial factori in Boston for many
years before he went West Mr.. Phelpss De-
mocracy Is OF the Massachusetts, brand. and he
is the friend OF Olney. Arthur Sewall built
big six-master and named it Erskine NJ.
Phelps. Mr.. Phelps is one OF the Hon. Mr..
Endicott's friends. Mr. Phelps was about the
starchlest Democrat In Chicago when he first
went there. He is the man who taught Demo-
Gratis how to dine at u T. NJ. Before he went to
Chicago they used to eat in their shirtsleeves.
There had been no regular Democratic club
until the Iroquois. except the Bean Club. com
posed for the most part OF contractors on the
new City Hall and county building.
Mr.. Phelps called to his aid in the organiza-
tion OF his club the Hon. William C. Cloudy.
attorney for the Northwestern Railroad. and
the dispenser OF rlums In the Northwest in the
first Cleveland Administration; Melville W.
Fuller now Chief Justice; Lambert Tree.
afterward Minister to Belgium. later Ambas-
sador to Russia: J. W. Doane banker: "Whig"
Ewing, afterward United States District Attor-
ney for the north end Of Illinois: S. Corning
Judd. first Democratic Postmaster in Chicago,
under Cleveland Louis Seeberger. millionaire
merchant. aiterward Collector OF the Port I'M
der the first Cleveland Administration. and
Frank G. Hoyne a social political carat OF the
first water. atterward United States Appraiser
at Chicago. and the man who introduced tho
public to Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland when the lat
ter stood ON the stage Of the Columbia Theatre
one night until a physician advised the COM
mttee 10 shut the doors
hr hal ma Nraa oil tnl Dra Liant o . >a Ira
Quois Club. By the time Mr.. Cleveland was
inaugurated the Illinois Democracy was in line
from Egypt to the southern boundary of Wis
consn. But 1t was understood that the Iro-
Quols Club was to be the political clearing
house OF the State. Mr.. Cloudy looked after the
appointments. Mr.. Phelps arranged for the
banquets, the receptions and the ornamental
work. By reason OF his familiarity with such
matters there was u greater array OF Numbered
linen. neckwear and silk hats in the Demo-
cratic ranks In Chicago than there had ever
been before. In it's inception the Iroquois Club
was beyond old Carter Harrison. who was
man Of the people.
When the Democratic party quit the seat Of
government the Iroquois Club shut up like
clam SO far as political activity was concerned
More than one half OF the mem bership was
posted for dues. The cuisine was finally
dropped because it produced no revenue Mr.
PnellS declined reelection as President. The
rooms Of the club were occupied for the most
part by young men engaged in those games
which arc played in any saloon where deck
of cards and piece n chalk are the necessary
implements. The glory. the expansion OF
linen the array Of white neckweaf the pro-
cession Of silk hats, umbrellas and patent
leather shoes OF the Iroquos Club had de-
parted For four long years it Stun bered; it
was in state OF "innocuous desuetude."
When the Democracy returned to power
division and dissension weakened the in
fiuence OF the Iroquois Club. Mr.. Cloudy was
dead: the push was making itself heard.
Washington Heslng had induced the President
to believe that the Germans had carried the
State for the Democracy. Mr. Hesing became
Postmaster. The slouch hat element Of the
party was on top. Politicians from the Sanga-
mon and other settlements went to Chicago
and occupied the seats at the feast Hesing Is
dead. The German newspaper he inherited Is
back in the Republican line.
The Iroquois Club Democracy which sulked
In 1896, and then sncaked for Bryan. has come
out Of the brush and shrieks Tariff :"
The Bryan contingent. led by the Hon Bill
Stone. hears snakes in the grass and turns to
Missouri.
Illinois is to be abandoned. The Irouuois
Club is political failure. 1t bears the mark of
Cleveland, The Cook county Democracy cam
not hold the guns. 1t has the faint of Altged
NEW YORK. July 20. OLD CHICAGO