Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-16
FRIDAY EVENING NOV. If. 100

arranging the selections than this way
The new committee meets and selects
its new chairman and 1t makes sucn
other orders or arrangements as may
be deemed advisable. Naturally, much
has always been left to the chairman,
but sensible chairman, like the present
one. does not act in an important mat
ter without consulting his fellow men,
hers on the committee and also con-
sidering well the party sentiment ana
its interests. This position OF chair
man is one of the greatest importance
and REQUIRES ability of high order. a
special faculty for organic alton. expert
ence 10 political action and tact in deal
ing with men. The choice OF proper
agents is very difficult, yet much de-
ponds upon it.
There was a time in the early days
wheu the chairman of the democratic
national committee did very little work
Ia 1872 Mr.. Augustus Schell, OF New
YORK. was chairman. He had able as
sistants and contributed literally out
of his own means. The democrats
could not be lined up for Mr.. Greeley,
aud Mr.. Schell's labors went for moth
inc. You can lead horse to water
bu, you cannot make him drink. IL
1875 Mr.. Abram Hewitt was chairman
ID man totally unfit, vain, garrulous,
and cowardly-but it was understood
that Mr. Tilden prscti 3ally ran his OVID
campsien. Nj. BarDum and Mr.. Bryce
acted as chairmen subs quently-Ooth
men Of organ ziuR ability. Mr. Bryce's
services 10 1888. and his large,
unselh.h contributions to the den-
ocratic cause were known TO
a lev prisons, but were wholly
unspprecisted 10y the ungrateful, self b
mao whom the democrats were then
supporting for President. Iu 1892 Mr..
Cleveland ran again aud had as his
cbairma1 Mr.. Hsrriiy OF Philadelphia,
a fl adjunct to such a man ss Cleve-
land. 10 the last two Presidential
campaigns both Hstrity and Cleveland
have given lid ADD comfort to the re-
publicsn-. BJth are very rich.
IL 1896 the Cleveland Whitney
Hsruty element VINO had debaucbt d
and dsgrsced the party organisation
was cast aside by an overwhelming
majority OF the national convention.
The cOnven ion that then met was
composed of the highest material that
had ever cous'i uted o national CONVEX
ton. tn plan pursued was to take
the sbiest men in every State and men
who could not be bought or hood
wioked Tor the delegates. Senator
James K. Jones had organized the
" W ADi buiS SiouO 4 iOiAt WhiNH NC
gan 10 the summer Of 1895 a0d ended
in triumph 10 July 1895. In this re-
sui, Senator jones secured victory of
inesumabls Importance. Mr.. Benton
once said that "the democratic party, 10
order TO succeed, must first be clean"
The democratic party cannot be kept
alive with such rotten policies and
methods AZ Mr.. Cleveland pursued in
biz second term of Office. With such
leadership as bis continued, its decay
and defeat were inevitable. A party to
have permaoeDcy and to achieve final
victory must have it's foundation laid
on great principles of human right,
consti utional government and purity
Of administration. The Chicago coD-
ventiou Of 1896 was turning point in
The history Of the democratic party.
Il was a triumph OF the clean over the
rotten elements 10 the party.
IL was natural consequence of the
reform OF the democratic party 10 1896.
he restoration of its pure, lofty Jeffor-
jOnian standards. that one Of those ]
most active men 10 the work should be
AIKEN for chairman of the national CON- |
nitttee. Senator Jones was chosen |
or this purpose in 1895 and again in |
800. Ia all this time he has had the |
I'D of the most able democrats of the |!
,Ountry, both those on the committee |
md outside. He has had no personal |
or personal interests to |
his action. He has given his |
Thole time in each campaign to his
work. But since July 1896, the
work OF democratic organization
has gone on under his direc-
Ion, and it may De said that at
10 time In its history has the demo-
ratio party been so we'll organized as
{ has been this year. The forces of
he money power aud the rich man of
be country were arrayed In 1895 and
o 1900 against Mr.. Bryan. Thew
herished for him an unreasoning fear
nd apprehension. Never was there q
,ore absurd delusioD. Ali the lust
Iehts of properly and capital were alb
olutely safer under government and
olicy OF justice such as democratic
residents have observed, than under
evolutionary and class administration
Ike the republicans. But the preju-
ices and folly of the wealthy con-