South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-30
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, NOVEMBER 30, 1914
THE PROPOSED WILSON CLUB.

THE PROPOSED WILSON CLUB.
ORGANIZATION of a Wilson club in
South Bend as proposed TO take place
tonight should attract every democrat
in the city. P-es't Wilson stands far
in the forefront Of the party. and
among the presidents throughout the
history of the nation, ranks with the
best. History bids fair. on account
Of the strenuOusness Of the present
times, 20 place him along side Of
Washington and Lincoln. Certainly
no man since Lincoln has had more
trying problems to contend with.
The Wilson club, however, should
be more. from our viewpoint. than a
mere social assembly for democrats.
IT should be more than an organiza-
ton for the promotion OF future dem
Ocratic success. It should be all these
and more We predict for the club
an educational department. if it is to
BE a club worth while. this for the pur-
pose of endowing its members with
fundamental democratic doctrine. We
need more OF the democracy that is
democracy in fact and principle; and
more of that sort Of intelligent de-
mocracy. that never mistakes its exist
ence from a mere itch for office.
A democratic party thus grounded,
can be depended upon. Man, in gen
eral, is more faithful in following
what ne believes. and has a reason for
believing. Being born democrat or
a republican, or a protestant, or cath
Ollie. sticks pretty well as a rule, but
intelligent democracy. republicanism,
professionalism, or catholicism, sticks
better Study may inspire d man some
times 20 change his politics and even
his faith. weaving him away from his
inheritance. but that is much less of
a crime than holding on in blind ig-
nOrance. We are getting farther and
farther away from the day when men
are merely what their fathers were.
We do not cease to reverence them.
but we are certain that they were
capable of making mistakes, else
many of us would never have been
born.
A Wilson club with a sort of round
table" appendix, and the right kind
of chin music to an occasional Prince
Albert accompaniment would not be
at all out Of season with the age De-
mocracy can hold its own in the lime
light of intelligence. If it can not it
has -outlived its usefulness. Appeal to
stupidity. prejudice parsimony, etc,
is excusable to an extent, when a
campaign is on. and all parties are
equally guilty, but between campaigns
it is a trifle different. In the calm
ness of every day life. we should be
laying firmer foundations.
such clubs and such programs are
not new i'm the history of American
politics. The young mems republican
clubs that began organizing from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific back in the
middle eos, contributed immensely
20 the strength of that party and TO
the firmness of republican opinion.
The young men were grounded in the
fundamental doctrines of republican
ism. and we have seen only recently,
in the rapid decline of the progress
sive party, what that grounding has
meant The gospel of protectionism,
for instance, had become we'll nigh
an instinct with many of them and in
spired the fear OF low tariff conse-
uuences. Ii accounts for much of the
psychological condition Of the coun-
try just now that has been crying
hard times" for months, and is loathe
20 give il mp.
The democratic party needs 70 do
something in contravention of the ca
lamity bowling, and clubs like the pro-
posed Wilson club. disseminating first
principles is surely the best weapon
available. We offer il as "a suggestion.
IL may not be considered worth its
salt but here YOU have il. We cannot
refrain from repeatin5 the belief that
il would so much farther in advancing
the cause OF democracy than mere
series of smokers and luncheOns.