The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-11-28

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inhabitants-that is, estimating FIVE
persons to each voter, which is the
ratio accepted by the United States
government.
Its early history is not so we'll
known. as it did not come conspicu-
ously before the public until within
The last six or seven years. The st.
Louis Democracy had no organization
1t was ruled by , city central com
mittee Of arbitrary power, dominated
by the most Objectionable elements
They had not won a fight for the DEM
ocratic party since coming into con-
troll of the party machinery. Their
whole usefulness seemed to be the car
rying of primary delegations to State
conventions, In South st. Louis there
was more than a suspicion that the
Democratic leaders in that section had
an understanding with Republicans
No strong effort was made to carry
South st. Louis. Democrats assisted in
Republican primaries and Republicans
conspicuously oficiated in Democratic
primaries. Some South st. Louis Dem.
ocratic leaders could secure nearly as
many favors from ziegenhein as could
Republicans. It therefore became the
first duty of the Jefferson Club to in
augurate a fight within the ranks OF
the Democratic party to drive out and
a~nnihilate the old, inefficient and self
seeking regime and to replace it by a
systematic organization with ward
precinct and block representatives.
This was done. The last committee
before its absorption by the Jefferson
Club, had but $50 in its treasury with
which to conduct a city campaign. It
had lost the confidence alike of party
workers and those business men who
contribute to their party's support,
They refused to trust it with campaign
moneys and the workers refused to
follow leadership which was too sus-
~piciously connected with the Repub-
lican management.
| charge that until within the last
four years no real honest, systematic
effort was made to carry the Southern
part of the city for the Democratic
party. and that even now the close af-
flation in that section of certain So
called Democratic leaders with prom
inent Republican politicians is a cause
Of constant suspicion. Instead of the
city Democracy being represented by
twenty-eight men. a call issued to-
night would bring together at the JEFF
ferson Club twenty-eight ward men
and 1888 precinct men. In twenty-four
hours or less time a meeting can be
had of representatives of every pre-
cinct in the City of St. Louis.
The main cause of the remarkable
growth and the present political SUI
promacy Of the Jefferson Club is due
to one provision in its bylaws which
keeps the organization entirely out of
primary fights. 1t spends no money
and takes no part as an organization
in fights between Democrats. It's by
laws prohibit the indosement Of any
candidate for an elective Office and
also prohibit the Endorsement of any
candidate seeking an appointive Office,
thus combining it's work exclusively to
carrying out the will Of regularly con-
stituted Democratic conventions.
It's business affairs are conducted in
the same systematic way as those of
any mercantile or banking establish
ment. All of the moneys paid into
its treasury are deposited in bank, ac-
companied by a record showing from
whom the money came. All moneys
paid out are by check, which is issued
only after a voucher has been made
by the chairman of the committee
making the expenditure and approved
by the president, secretary and treas
urer of the club. Not so much as one
dollar is spent by the organization
which is not issued by check.
. Republican papers continuously
/ charge that its sources Of revenue are
open to suspicion. We have but two
sources Of revenue. One is the pay.
ment Of regular initiation fees ant
dues, and the other is by voluntary
contributions at campaign periods. Tit
initiation fee for membership in thu
s jefferson Club is IS, the annual due
i are $6-that is to say, fifty cents
r month. While the dues seem small
the membership is SO large that l
r brings in a handsome annual income
o The membership is 1900, l believe, a
the present time. Multiply the annua
dues of Sc by that membership an
/ you will find that the income Of tn
y Jefferson club from dues alone amount
to about $45, 900 a year. This amour
is added to in campaign years by con
tributions.
l want to say now that the Jetferso
d Club in its whole history has nevC
at any time levied an assessment upo
its membership. It can not do 80 undl
. It's bylaws, and 1t has never attempts
, to do so. II is our custom, howeve
n during a campaign to send out a eli
cular letter to our members, reques
n Iag them to contribute to the SUI
II port OF the organization in such sum
r as their financial condition permits
This has In the last three campaign
b met with very liberal response It ca
u be easily seen how the small avOrag
% e~ontrtbution OF SS for each membe
, WsaA bring N q Asgs sum Of mona1