The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-16
THE HICKORY ELM CLUB.


Pursuant to adjournment the Hickory
Elm Club met Friday evening. with Major
Bf in the chair. At the request of the
chair the secretary read a number of COM
municati3n5 from all parts of the country
recommending the formation of a new po-
litical party on a new platform of prin-
ciples. After the reading of the commune
cations the chair invited the members of
points therein contained.
Colonel Garlic submitted that in the light
of recent events at Kansas City the SUBJ
ject of a new party was of absorbing in
terest to all true Democrats. 1.-The
members of this club said he, ''are not
satisfied with the Kansas City platform.
which declares for the free coinage of sill
yer at the ratio of Is to 1. without the con-
sent of other nations. and which expresses
sympathy with the Beers and the revolt
ing tribes in the Philippine islands. The
platform bids for the support of tramps,
foreigners. Anarchists. borrowers, mobs,
outlaws, traitors and the whole lawless
element of the country including the New
York city ice trust, and asks no favors for
those who stand for law and order, hon.
esty, patriotism. morality. dignity, decency
and self-respect. 1t quotes the Declara-
ton of independence and attempts to en-
| force the idea that no considerable number
of people anywhere ought to be governed
without their consent. whether they be
| savages or barbarians, civilized or half
| civilized. / have no objec tons to Tillman,
| Bryan and Jones giving expression to their
own private views on political questions.
They have a right under the Constitution
| and the Declaration of Independence TO
indulge vagaries, fiapdoodle and hogwash
| which they have rammed into the plat
form. My acknowledgements, that is their
| privilege; that is personal liberty, but when
they tell us that Thomas Jefferson and
| Andrew Jackson, If they were living. would
| indorse such a platform, / enter my pro-
test and denounce the whole shooting
! match as impostors and demagogues. They
even say that old Abe Lincoln would be
a Bryan Democrat IL he were on earth,
and they involve Jesus Christ in the
| scheme by claiming that 10 to l was born
in heaven. Think of our Savior, of the
great Lincoln, Jefferson, Jackson and the
other mighty men who have fought the
battles of the country in field and forum
If they were on earth whooping it up for
| Bryan, Croker, Van Wyck and the ice
| trust. Tillman, Altgeld and Jones, of Ar
| kansas, Democracy, like decency, COM
| mences with a de and ends with a ICY"
| Decency and true Democracy are synony-
nous terms, but the masquerade at Kan
| sas City that took IN the name of Democ-
| racy is not my kind. and. acting for N.Y.
| self. I propose to kick over the dashboard
| now and here. / move. Mr.. President, that
| a committee of three. with Colonel Snort
| as chairman, be appointed by this club
with instructions to report a sensible DEM
| ocratic platform on which men of brains
can stand as We'll as the feeole-minded'
| and that the m repor imme-
| diately."
General Pitcher seconded the motion. and
| suggested that the committee be instructed
to incorporate in the platform q complete
end uneauivocal denunciation of the fol-
| lowing vices-personal viceS-which in his
cpinior nave become national I'm extent,
To wit: the tobacco habit. the candy habit.
the whisky habit. bear oil habit, gum habit,
flirting habit. gorging habit. morphine.
| bicycle. golf. base and foot ball and horse
race habit and any others which might
| occur TO the committee as needing regula-
| ton.
The motion of Colonel Garlic carried by
a good majority, several candidates for the
Chinese mission refusing TO vote. Snort.
| Skidmonk and General Erastus Muckle-
ford were appointed. and retired at once.
In four minutes by the club clock the COM
mittee returned with n platform duly pre-
| pared. A point being made by some one
that the report was a cut and dried affair.
| Colonel Snort admitted the charge. He said
he cut 1t before the convention met at Kan
sas City. and IL was dried by exposure TO
enc of those high South African typhoons,
| blown over the veldt by Daniel Webster
Davis. a late convert to Organism. Colonel
Snort then submitted the following plat
form OF principles and moved its adoption:
1.-The Hickory Elm Club Democrats OF
America, in convention declare
these as the principles on which they rely
10 save the country from the thralldom
of demagogues. political bosses and corrupt
officials:
I'VE declare our adherence to the law as
set forth in the Decalogue and the Golden
Rule. We treasure the words OF the
apostles as priceless gems for the guidance
| Of human conduct and commend TO the
careful consideration of the people that
matchless grafton, the Sermon on the
Mount. and the grandest OF all invocations.
the Lords prayer.
The Paramount Issue
We ho!d that the paramount issue In
: this campaign, as in all other campaigns Is.