dress of Tyre Taylor, President,
‘Youmg Democratic Clubs of America, to the
State Convention,
Young Democratic Clubs of Virginie,
Richmond, Virginia,
August 16, 1935.

I am happy to have this opportuni ty meet with
you again. I had the pleasure and privilege of
attending your organization meeting here some 18
months ago end I want to congratulate your President
and my friend, John Gallfher, and every member and
leader of the Y.D.Clubs of Va. on the progress made
since that time.

I feel - and I shall always be grateful because
you have given me reason to feel - that the Y.D.
Clubs of Va. are pecularily close to the National
Organization. I know that John and Louise Galliher
have responded ~ more than generously - to every
call I have ever made upon them. I recall that with-

out the influence and support of that distinguished

Young Democrat and great American, Harry Byrd, the

National Organization could probably never have been
launched

 
because not all the members of the Senior Organization
were at that time convinced of its practicability. I
am conscious of the fine and sincere leadership that
has been displayed in the movement here in Virginia,and
that leadership has been both a challenge and an in-
spiration to us as we have gone about building the
organization nationally. Every movement that amounts
to much has its ideals, - is not unmindful of the
precedents it sets and the traditions it establishes.
The highest wish that I can have for the Young Dem.
Clubs of America is that ultimately we shall have 48
State Divisions like the Weoung Dem. Clubs of Virginia,
and this seems no more than fitting and proper when
we recall that the unparalleled career and achievements
of the first and greatest Young Democrat - Thomas Jef-
ferson - are forever identified with the name and fame
of Virginia.

At your Organization meeting, I tried to explain

the larger plens and purposes of the National Organ-

ization. A great deal of water has, however, gone over

2

 
wheel since that time, and while our fundamental ob-

jectives remain the same, our method of approach has
been adépted to rapidly changing conditions.

When you met before, Mr. Hoover and the Repub-
licans were still in power, and because despair had
settled over the land, we were a party of protest. In
those days, America was tired and faltering and faith
flickered.

Now, the Democrats and Franklin D. Roosevelt are
at the helm and not only a "New Deal" but a new civili-
zation and a new America are unfolding before our some-
what unbelieving eyes. There is hope and confidence
abroad in the land, and these are based not upon Mr.
Mellon's predictions, but upon the increasing cresendo
of industry, the growing volume of employment, and a
restored purchasing power. We are no longer a party
of protest, but a party charged with one of the most
poignant responsibilities in humen history. If Franklin

D. Roosevelt fails, the America that most of us know

and believe in fails,

We know that we can, that we
must and that we shall succeed.

35

 
When you last met, the Y.D.Clubs of America was
comprised of a few hundred scattered clubs in a dozen
State organizations, with a total membership of around
300,000. Now your National Orgenization has been ex-
tended to 44 States. Some 3400 clubs mumber nearly
2,000,000 members and the Organization is still growing
at en average rate of 70,000 per month. At our Na-
tional Organization meeting in Washington last year,

a total of 175 delegates registered. Our National
Convention in Kansas City on Aug. 31, Sept. 1 - 2 will

be attended by not less than 6,000 accredited delegates

and by at least a thousand leaders of the Senior Orgen-

ization. I mention these figures illustrating the
amazing growth of our organization not in any spirit
of boastfulness, but simply to illustrate the changing
nature of our problems.

When you met before, by reason of the fact that
we were still in an almost embryonic stage, our chief
concern was to perform efficiently our designated role

of errand boys and girls mmit in a presidential campaign

 
Beyond this, and speaking practically - our primary
responsibility was to the future because the ¥.D. as
an organized political army were little more than a
dream of a few - as I have since been more than once
convinced -exceedingly rash and optimistic young

people.

Now the Y.D.Clubs of America is the official
youth organization of amass ake, of the most
powerful nation on earth. 25,000,000 citizens and
voters are yet in their 20's and another 10,000,000
will reach voting age by 1936. Is it not clear that
this organization is charged with cag definite
responsibility of leadership? I say that no generation
of young people was ever confronted by a greater op—
portunity, not only to be of immediate and practical
service in backing our President and his program for
recovery, but to shape the very civilimtion in which

they have the largest stake. Not only America, but

the whole world is in a aad oa transition. The
Qw
molten mass is erystalizing,and we are witnesses

and participants in the seemingly sudden, yet long
process of history.

5

 
And we have our practical problems to consider.
For one thing, our National Organization mst
be placed upon a staffle financial basis. It is sub-
sisting at the present time on the bounty of the
Dem. National Committee. We can never be sufficient-

ly grateful to Mr. Farley for his generous and never-

en
failing support, both moral and financial, the

resources of the National Committee are in no sense
adequate for its om needs. I am forming a National
Finance Committee and by this time next year we
should be out of the woods financially. We owe less
then $1,000.

Then, we urgently need a National publication
which will be the mouthpiece of youth in politics
and the official organ of the Y.D.Clubs of America.
IT am glad to announce that arrangements for this
have been virtually perfected and you may expect the
first issue in October. We have been working on this

for more than a year and I believe that you will find

it one of the most interesting and readable publica-

tions in the entire field of politics and public

affairs.
6

 
I think we are soon going to be in a position to
start formlating plans for a far reaching program of
popular education in the problems of government. My
ambition is to hold an annual institute in every tom
and city where we have a club and that it be under
the club's auspices. Governments, no matter what
their form, are responsive to the popular will, and
our organization can render no more patriotic and
worthwhile service than this.

Then, I think we shall miss a very great oppor~
tunity if we permit this movement to develop without
some sort of program of physical training, and out-
door recreation. This may appear unnecessary to us
here in the south, but in the densely populated
centers the political club can supply an acute exist-
ing need by the establishment of inexpensive camps
where young people can spend a few days for the actual
cost of food and overhead.

I mention these things which are primarily of

organization concern because you are met to take prac~

tical thought of the future. of your own organization.
7

 
of course, our immediate task is to assist in

educating the public in the aims and methods of function
ing of the National Recovery Administration, and we
expect to have some very definite proposals ready to
submit in this connection in Kansas City. In addition
to this, however, we must, if we are to make our
greatest contribution, think constantly and clearly
of ways and means to strengthen and consolidate our
orgsnization. To this task, and to the support of
our President and his program, your present officers
pledge their best thought and efforts. I thank you
for your gracious reception and hospitality. I

hope to see you all in Kansas City.