West Side Democratic Club

West Side Democratic Club


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1. Club Exterior

2. Article on Club 1938

3. Article

4. Article

 


The West Side Democratic Club was organized in 1929 and enjoyed its “Political Heyday” in the “New Deal” era of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s.  Its source of power was the “Big 6th and 3rd” Wards” on South Bend’s, West Side which could be counted on for a 90% Democratic vote effort during that period. If you needed a job you called the president, if you needed a house or loan assistance was available … the club was always your best friend and in return you were also a good friend of the club and its candidates.

 

Over time the education of immigrant children, the flight to the suburbs and the aging of the first and second-generation immigrant population in general ate into that power base.

 

This is not to say that the ethnic voter’s were not a force to be dealt with prior to 1929. There were a number of Polish, Hungarian and Belgian Clubs in the beginning of the century and we Poles saw the awakening of ethnic political power as early as 1880 when Charles Korpal, a Pole, was appointed to a municipal office of Deputy Street Commissioner (1880-1896).

 

Democrat’s dominated South Bend politics, a Polish councilman was regularly elected from the Third and - after 1889 - also from the Sixth Ward, the two Polish Wards. Leading Polish politicians of this period included Charles Korpal, Peter Makielski, Frank Kowalski, Jacob Jaworski, Valentine Duszynski, Anthony Bilinski, Frank Gonsiorowski, Martin Zielinski and L. A. Kalamajski.

 

Charles Korpal would run for city treasurer in 1898 and although he failed to win, he polled enough votes to prompt the  “Goniec Polski” to write triumphantly: "The number of Polish votes in our city has reached such proportions that we are able to swing municipal elections ... Soon both parties will have to reckon with our political aspirations"

 

Early political organizations such as the Polish American Political Club, The Pulaski Democratic Club, The Polish Voters' Club, began making good the Goniec's boast. After 1900, in addition to positions as Ward Councilmen, Poles began to occupy places of importance in the City Council and the City Clerk's Office. In 1913, a Polish candidate Jan T. Niezgódzki ran for mayor, finishing third among the six aspirants in the primaries.

But none would rival the clout of the West Side Club, in its time.

 

It’s still, in my heart, the only place to “Dygnus”, but that’s another story. 

 

The Northwest Club reflected the multi ethnicity of the new immigrant neighborhoods that populated the Holy Cross and St Stan's parish area. The club had its origins in the mid 1930's and centered its activities around St Stanislaus Church.


Information Supplied by: Jim Piechorowski and John Kovatch


Project Started: Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Updated: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 09:14:33 PM

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