The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-01-17
NOW is THE TIME TO ORGANIZE
Campaign Clubs a Necessity for Vie
tory in Coming Election.

Mr.. Bryan In the Commoner wise
ly advises Democrats to organize,
and thinks the formation OF cam.
paign clubs will accomplish the pur.
pose. There is a great need for
thorough organization. for the con-
slant defeat of the party in the north
ern states has seriously shattered
the party organization. In some
states there is nothing bat skele.
ton in place OF an active body OF
voters working and acting together
Mr.. Bryan is. therefore. none too
soon with HIS plan. although IL Is
doubtful II the formation OF campaign
clubs will fill the void, or that enough
responsible Democratic voters can be
induced at this time TO undertake the
work and expense of keeping such
clubs alive up to the time when the
active campaign begins next Septem-
Der. The much surer and better plan
would seem to be to urge the state
committees, and through them the
county and township committees, 10
weed out and fill up the moribund or
ganization that already exists In some
states. Political organizations, like
an army, must have both officers and
men, and to have much effect when
the real campaign begins the county
and town committees must know the
precinct leaders they can rely upon
to do the work that a real political
campaign calls for. Ii costs money
and a great deal of work to properly
organize ito get the votes into the
box for that is the ultimate end to
be attained. There is a vast differ
ence between organizing to elect a
ticket and organizing to nominate
some particular candidate. If. for
instance, many of the Democrats in
the United States join a club organiza-
ton. with the purpose OF nominating
Gov Johnson of Minnesota as the
Democratic candidate for president,
and when the national convention
meets Mr. Bryan is nominated. what
help would such a club organization
be TO the party? In that case the
Johnson clubs would die a natural po-
litcal death. On the other hand
party organization knows no candi.
date until the official nominations are
made, and then undertakes to cleo,
them. In theory all members Of the
Democratic party will work and vote
for the party nominee and especially
those who have been selected as Off
Gals OF the party organization. Prac
tically, however, there are often mem
bers of the committees who are luke
warm. because their particular choice
is not nominated for some Office. A
minority party always suffers from
such a cause, unless the party organ
ization is strong enough to punish
those who desert in the face of the
enemy, or who are discovered giving
aid and comfort to the opposition
Party organization has two ends: tt
perpetuate the principles of the partl
and to elect those to Office who vii
enact those principles into law, Of
will carry out those principles through
the executive powers to which they
may be elected Individual voters car
! do but little, but united with other.
they can do much. The Democratic
state committees should at once
complete their organization and no
wait until the state conventions cleo
new committee. but prepare th'
ground for their successors. Tn,
time is all too short after nomina
tons are made, to perfect Thorough
organization. Now is the time fo
county chairmen to investigate th'
condition in the voting precincts, anG
If the precinct chairman is lacking il
energy. to set some other to work
Mr.. Bryan is right in his call for or
ganization, but a beginning must b.
made with the regular party ma
chinery and leave the organization o
clubs until the nominations are made