Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-12-26
For Democratic Organization.


DEAR SIR-You, as editor of the leading
Democratic paper and chairman Of the
Democratic Executive Committee of the
County Of Gloucester, are looked to as the
head and front of our Democratic organiza
tion. Now, those of us who know YOU
loyalty to the cause of Democracy and tC
its every candidate for Office fully realize
the responsibilities thrust upon you, and
are well aware that it would be impossible
for you to please the thirty-fve hundred
Democrats in our county all at one time.
Now, we. the laymen Of the Democratic
party, along with yourself, have not lost all
hope and can see brighter days of light, and
propose to at once take advantage Of the
same and place those who have been luke
warm and merely voters to more respon.
sible position in the ranks of the party,
and that can only be done by thorough
organization. We hear some leading lights
in the party, who say, "Why, that has
already been done, and you see how we
come out short" Now, a few Of us beg
leave to differ. We have never had an
organization, only in few holly contested
campaigns.
Our experience at the last State Conven-
ton should give encouragement to us all,
as we gave such organizations as the Joel
Parker James M. Seymour, Robert Davis,
James Smith and others such run for
their money as they never before had in
their political lives, from start to finish.
They knew we were in the fight to stay and
did stay until the votes were counted, and
had the entire Democracy of Old Gloucester
known that Hon. Tom" Terrell had half
3 chance, or would have come so near land
ing, they would have been in Trenton on
that day one thousand strong and his nomi-
nation would have been walkover.
The question has been asked, How would
you organize this association, by charter d?
Yes, by charter. Then the body becomes
responsible for rents and other expenses
and not any individual How do you pro-
pose to get furniture, fuel, pay rents, etc. ?
Easily answered. We have one hundred
and fifty Democrats in the county who will
give $40 apiece, making fund of 81 500
to start with. Now, some croaker, who is
always on the wrong side of advancement,
would want to know what we will do with
all that money. Our answer is this If we
we're placed upon committee to procure
site, build and establish new church, we
would get the most prominent site in town,
on the most traversed thoroughfares, furnish
1t for church purposes, procure for its min
lister one who was liberal and up-to-date in
his views; the trustees or vestry should be
up-to-date, alive and all-round gentlemen
the choir-master should have his instruc-
lions to bar all long meter tunes. Our
church would survive and we would catch
a large majority of the non-going church
people. Now, following our church duties,
we owe our National, State, county and
municipal duties, and upon the same basis
we would spend the sum above mentioned
to furnish this room second to none in the
State, with the best carpets, easy chairs,
billiard and pool tables; have for your
trustees representative from every town
ship in the county, he to be alive to the
issues of the day and know the wants of
his home people. Then you will have an
that will interest the young
and old alike and when called to the county
seat we can have some place to spend the
time and talk over the affairs of the day
No such place exists to-day.
We have to-day matter that sooner or
later has got to be made political ques-
ton in the State. The Democratic party
made it an issue in the Terrell and Stranger
Senatorial fight, and if it had not been for
the purchasable colored vote in our county
at that and all other times we would to-day
have had the Republican party on record
either for or against the law giving trolley
roads the right to carry the farmers pro-
ducts to and from his farm. With this
convention could be held;
candidate would go into fight knowing he
was sure Of its assistance and relieved of so
much of the work he to-day has to person
ally look after.
While we are proud to know that Glouces-
ter County Democracy has large number
Of born fighters in her ranks and does not
take her orders from any so-called or self
constituted leaders in or out of the county,
but fearlessly battles with right in commit
tee and elsewhere, yet in our opinion we
would be a great deal stronger to battle
with the State Democracy under organize
bion than otherwise.
Now, Mr.. Carpenter, you, as chairman Of
the County Executive Committee, have a
right to demand from your committee their
views upon sbjeat and . try st GREG to &c
Effect this organization. Having conversed
with many prominent gentlemen in the
party who are favorable and willing to
assist you in the cause and do as they are
in making the matter public
through your columns, I remain
Yours respectfully,
Jos. T. SICKLER,
Vice Chairman Dem. Co. Elk. Com.
Clarksboro, N. j., Dec. l, 1901.