The Trials, Troubles and Disappointments of The Hickory Elm Club During the Last Democratic Administration and What It Expects in the Event of the Election of William Jennings Bryan

Chicago, IL: Hickory Elm Club, 1900. General wear and toning. Minor tear at base of front cover, as well as small missing section of top right corner.. The Hickory Elm Club was a Democratic Political Party social club where important individuals met to discuss the politics of the day. It starts with a brief history of the club, and then continues with several arguments distancing the the current Democratic candidate from the last Democratic presidential administration of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908). This was necessary, as under Cleveland leadership the country had undergone an economic depression, known as the Panic of 1893, that he was unable to reverse, and as such, the most of the country (rightly or wrongly) blamed him for their economic troubles. The booklet then continues on to discuss current politic issues, how the Republican Party has failed to address them, and what Presidential Candidate William Jennings Bryan would do if he won. The booklet ends with a section entitled "Bryan's Soliloquy", which starts off in a rather familiar way, "To be, or not to be -- President? That is the question with me now. Whether it is better to endure the ills we have, than fly to those we know not of, is the question with the people, I fear, and there's the rub." The front cover has several black and white illustrated portraits of famous democratic politicians, and there are a few small black and white illustrations throughout. 128 pgs. Illustrated wrappers. OCLC 6 (Nov. 2020). Measures 7 1/4" x 4 3/4" The booklet was written by William S. Haggard (1847-1911), an American politician, who at the time of publication was the Lieutenant Governor of Indian. It was meant as a way of providing transparency to the public while also advocating for the Democratic Presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925).