Political Clubs and Campaign Events
It’s that time of the political season to return to our series stumping and eating, the role of food in election campaigns. Take a look at the social media of candidates running for president and you’ll see the type of events addressed in this series. During the presidential election of 1876 the 10th Congressional District of Kentucky had been a Democratic hotbed and headquarters of the Tilden and Hendricks Democratic Club of Ashland, Kentucky. One’s party, ethnicity, and assembly district determined their ability receive an invitation to join a political club. They served as important party institutions that provided volunteers and support during campaign seasons. Club members organized political events featuring food to attract voters. In the Midwest in a political club might organize a barbecue with live music, free whole barbecued ox and smaller animals such as hogs and lamb, bread, desert, and alcoholic beverages. In exchange for their get out the vote work, elected officials distributed political patronage (benefits) in the form of civil servant jobs, building permits, liquor licenses, and other perks. If so inclined, political club bosses had the ability to help qualified people get appointed or elected to positions of power and the ability to direct support toward favored causes.