Marching Clubs

Jacksonians

During the nineteenth century, political parties promoted their respective candidates for President by organizing marching clubs to parade about the city.

In the campaign of 1880, when James Garfield and Chester Arthur were the Republican candidates, the club was known as the “Reynolds Guards” in honor of Major Reynolds, the shoe manufacturer who funded the purchase of the uniforms. Another marching group, known as the “Lewis Lawrence Cadets” was sponsored by Lewis Lawrence of Utica, a close friend of Roscoe Conkling, and it marched during the campaign of 1880. Incidentally, Mr. Lawrence lived in the Lawrence mansion on the northeast corner of Rutger and Steuben Park. In later years, this mansion was the home of the Republican Club.

At a meeting of the Reynolds Cadets in the City Hall, those present were divided as to the selection of a uniform. Many were dissatisfied with the one then worn and wanted a more showy one. The result was that a number of the members withdrew and formed what was known as the “Republican Continentals.” They purchased elaborate old-fashioned continental uniforms and attracted much attention.

In the campaign of 1884, Blame was the Republican nominee and Grover Cleveland the Democratic. The Continentals continued their club and secured beautiful uniforms. Another group, “The Plumed Knights”, were commanded by Isaac Bielby. They wore flashing white uniforms with German cavalry caps. The name was taken from the title of the famous speech of Robert Ingersoll nominating Blame. During 1884, the Lawrence Cadets did not march as a body, but some of the members paraded as the “Fourth Ward Pioneers.”

The Utica Jacksonians was the principal Democratic marching club, first organized in 1880. They marched in the fall of that year and also in the elections of 1884, 1888 and 1892.

Conklin Unconditionals

In 1888 the Lewis Lawrence Cadets formed the nucleus of a new organization which was called the “Conkling Unconditionals”. Their first parade under Major Charles Horsburgh was held on October 14, 1888, the group wearing black uniforms and helmets. The organization paraded in every presidential campaign from 1888 to 1924, inclusive, and attained a national reputation. In 1892, the uniform was changed to white, with black and gold trimmings and a headgear called a “shako”. In 1896, the club wore a stylish white cutaway coat, with gold trimmings and a white shako. In 1900 the outfit was of khaki, after the style of the Spanish-American war uniform.

The “Utica Saturday Globe” of October 13, 1904, described the uniform of the Jacksonians: “The uniforms are stylish. The coat is of the straight frock pattern, single breasted, similar to the National Guard full dress coat. It is made of white duck, with black oilcloth trimmings, and has a black belt and a brass buckle. The trousers are of white duck, with a wide black stripe down the sides. The leggings are of black enamel, with white trimmings. The headgear consists of a black fur shako with gold tassel and white braided ornamentation. The fatigue cap is of white duck, with gold strap. The officers and staff uniforms are of the same material as those of the privates, but are trimmed with gold oilcloth, shoulder straps and aigulets, while the headgear is a chapeau of white with black feathers. The rank and file carry lanterns on staffs, in red, white, blue and green. The staff and officers carry hand lanterns in colors. White gloves complete the outfit.”

In the October 22, 1904 issue, the “Saturday Globe” described the uniforms of the Unconditionals, of 130 men: “The uniform consists of white duck coats and trousers, trimmed with black bars, braid and collars, black leggings with white trimmings and a white cap of the new United States army pattern, trimmed with black. The line carry lanterns on long sticks and the variegated colors give a pleasing effect. The staff carry hand lanterns which lend themselves to pretty effects, particularly in the “open order” formation, with hands joined and lanterns raised. The officers’ uniforms differ from those of the line and staff in that they are trimmed with gold.”

After 1924, changing conditions and the advent of automobiles made political marching clubs only a memory of the days when “There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight” thrilled the hearts of political partisans.