Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-03-20
THE IROOUOiS CLUB.
Prominent Democrats from All Sc.
tions BaDqueted at Chicago.
PLEAS MADE FOR A UNIFIED PARTY.
Democratic PROSPECTS Declared Bright
The Speakers and the COASTS to Which,
They What Congress-
man De rklond, OF Missouri, SAID.

Chicago, March 17.-Prominent
democrats from all parts of the
country gathered here yesterday to
attend the banquet of the Iroquois
eclub at the Auditorium hotel, Pre-
ceding the banquet many notables in
the party held long talks together,
o discussing suggestions for the po-
litical campaign of next year. The
speakers at the banquet made pleas
for a unified party and the adoption
of a platform that would meet gen.
eral approval.
Mayor Carter H. Harrison, who yes
terday was renominated by the dem
ocratic city committee was the first
speaker. After welcoming the visit
ors to the city, ehe responded to the
toast ''The City of Chicago" He was
, followed by Edward NJ. Shepard, of
New York, who spoke on present
Duties of "a Patriotic Opposition"
Jackson and the Renewal of the
Bank Charter" was the topic chosen
by Judge Judson Harmon, of Cincin
natl, attorney general under the see
ond Cleveland administration.
In responding to the toast "Look-
ing to 1904" Congressman David A.
DeArmond, of Missouri, aroused the
300 banquetters to a high pitch of
enthusiasm. Congressman Dear
mond spoke in part as follows:
Political parties, like armies, are
organized to fight battles and win
Victories Enlistments in them are
not for any definite period, but sub
ject, to cancellation at any time,
at the option of the enlisted. Once
enrolled as a party man, however, it
is serious matter to desert, and
more serious far to go over to the
enemy. To attract desirable recruits
and hold them party must have
principles and management which APP
peal strongly to the judgment and
sensiblities of the people; though
it must be admitted that there are
times when an appeal to prejudice is
more potent than everything else.
Parties rot we'll grounded in sound
principles must ever be a menace to
good government, varying in degree
in proportion to their relative size
and prospect of winning elections
directly, or diverting enough votes
from the main column to turn pros
pective victory into sure defeat.
''In our country to-day two great
rivals for political supremacy are
preparing for the contest of 1904, the
republican party and the democratic
party. Flushed with victories I'M
merited, drunken with power usurped
and abused. barnacled with abuses
steadily increasing, under mighty but
bad influences constantly growing
worse, the republicans rely for sue
cess upon the INSCRIPTIONS activity
of the classes whose interests they
have fostered at the public, expense
hoping they may again delude the
masses whom they have betrayed
Undaunted by defeat, still confident
" depending upon the people, still
refusing to sacrifice the many for the
selfish favor of the few, however
powerful still cherishing the princi
piles upon which the party as we'll as
the structure of our free institutions
res4, the undying democracy gives
promise that it will conduct the
coming campaign with the strength
and ardor and wisdom and unselfish
ness which SO often gave it the vic
tory. l most sincerely wish that al
who would rescue the republic from
the profiigate, reckless, un-AmericaT
rule of the republican party. may
unite in one grand, harmonious eff
fort for victory for democratic prin
ciples, under the. proud old demo
cratic banner.
Thine and. events will point ou'
the man for us in 1904. Wha'
thoughtful man can doubt that hi
must be one who was in the demo
cratic column in '96 and again j.
1900? This is not only justice, but
is necessity as well. Be assured the
man of the hour will be found; ant
meanwhile let us strive to hea
sores, not to tear open old wounds
Let us iryite recruits to join th'
party and not do anything in folk
or bitterness to drive them from it
Among the other speakers of tll
evening were J. NJ. Dickinson. o.
Chicago and Samuel Alschuler, o.
Aurora. Ill.
Owing to the large number o.
democrats who travelled to Chicago
TO attend the banquet and BECAUSE
of the small number OF toasts a
the banquet. a luncheon was ar
ranged in the afternoon at which
number of out-of-to~n democrat
responded to toasts.
Former Mayor Thomas Taggaft. O.
Indianapolis, in his address, declared
that the prospects for the democrats
party were never better and were i'm
proving every day under the presen
administrations Others spoke in tn
same vein as Mr.. Taggart and al
viewed the situation enthusiastically.
Want I.sue af Ronds Declared vois.o
New York, March 1.-THE Unite