The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-26

Precinct clubs invites all good Demo
Gratis into this orsaniza zation. Its doc
trines are purely democratic. The
real political contest in this country
is between the people and the holders
of privilege the special interests, the
system, the beneticiaries Of privilege
existing in ten thousand forms.
This country has been governed
through party organizations, and priyi-
Iege has for years controlled the regu-
lar national republican organization,
and through ii has controlled the ma
tional government and many OF the
state governments. This regular re-
publiCPn organization--the stand-pat
maChine-is about TO be driven out OF
power by the people who have elected
a progressive Democratic House in
congress and who now partially con-
troll the senate through the Democratic
senator's and the revolving progressive
Republican senators. II is obvious
that the Democratic party is about to
come in control Of the government in
1913 and the great danger OF the Dem
ocracy is that the advocates and hold
ers OF privilege will rush into the
bosom OF Democracy for shelter, with
protestations OF party loyalty and zeal
and urgent advice as TO the party pol
Icy and choice of presidential and
other candidates.
Already the agents OF privilege are
making secret efforts throughout tho
nation to control the regular Demo
cratic organization and will endeavor
TO guide the choice of Democratic nom
inees For this reason the people
must control the precinct, the pri-
maries the convention, the nomina-
tiOnS, the elections, and the men
elected, and in their own interests. In
this contest the advocates OF privi-
lege have unlimited funds, an army
of skilled workers and strikers, a pow
erfu press, a host of benehciaries,
and will under cover contest the field
from end to end, while the people are
comparatively unorganized. The pres
ent regular Democratic organization,
consisting OF national, state, county,
city, township, ward and precinct COM
mittees and office holders, has no right
tees and office holders, has no right
and no duty as an organization to take
sides to determine the nomination and
the election of their successors in Of
fee. This work of nominating party
committeeman, party delegates and
officials and public office holders, and
eleCting them, must be done by the
people The work of the regular Dem
ocratic party committees begins after
they have been selected by the mem
bers of the Democratic party and after
the Democratic candidates for public
office shall have been nominated by
the people Where the primary sys-
tenn does not exist the nominations OF
candidates for public office are made
by caucuses and conventions, begin
ming at the precinct, which makes all
the more important the control of the
precinct by the members of the party.
1t clearly follows that the need OF
the hour is the organization of the peo-
pie themselves for self defense in the
governing business, and first of all in
the governing business is the selection
of the regular party organization, city,
county and state committees and dele
gates from the precinct up to the ma
tional convention. The Democratic
party should be safeguarded in every
precinct, and from the precinct to the
national convention. so that the party
| i've
for the presidency and nominate an abb
solutely trustworthy man for every
party and public place. We should
have an organized army of million
precinct men able, willing and anxious
! to elect Democrat president In 1912.
Let every progressive Democrat or
ganize a club in his own precinct and
send for literature to distribute to
Democrats of like mind who will CO.
operate with him in establishing pre-
cinct club and joining the federation.
There Is much TO be done and said be
fore the delegates to the Democratic
national convention are chosen.
The time for action Is at hand and
we appeal to progressive Democrats
to Immediately write for copies of the
constitution, bylaws. organization
blanks, and litera ture for use in or
ganizing local cubs that will affiliate
with the state and national federation
OF precinct clubs in an effort and de-
termination to have the Democratic
platforms declare for progressive prin-
eiplss and to nominate candidates who
are in sympathy with and who will
wage a nght in behalf OF the princi-
pies set forth in the platform. Address
FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC
| PRECINCT CLUBS, George H. Shib-
ley, Sec. Bliss Bldg. Washington,
d. c., II interested in organizing a
Club Address A. Grant Evans, Secy,
Box S67. Oklahoma City. Okla.
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