Home › How to Conduct a Debate › A Democratic Meeting

A Democratic Meeting

The citizens of Blank, in favor of the policy of the Democratic party, are requested to meet on Monday Evening, October 20th, at the house of John Thompson, West 4th Street, at 8 o'clock, to take such measures as are deemed advisable to promote the success of the party in the coming election. The notice is also published in the county newspaper, should there be one. Meanwhile, the proposers of the affair, either after a caucus or individually, obtain the consent of some speaker, say a Mr. Godfrey Shilling, to be present and give his views on public topics. In that case, the advertisement closes with an announcement like this: "A. B., Esq., has accepted an invitation to address the meeting." The projectors meanwhile meet in caucus, and agree upon officers. They select for chairman Mr. Timothy McGillicuddy, an old resident and a man of standing, and Mr. Porter Heap, to act as Secretary, and these gentlemen consent to take the positions assigned them. When the evening comes, and the meeting has assembled, no business is begun until half an hour after the hour named. This interval is called "thirty minutes' grace," and is always allowed, through custom, for the difference in watches. At 7½ o'clock, Mr. Henry Hart steps forward and says : "The meeting will please come to order."