Party bosses push back against the boys’ liberalism
This prominence comes at a cost: with their greater fame, the gubernatorial campaign advisors caution the boys to become more moderate so as to not scare older voters. The youngsters are advised to make themselves a club for white men only; no “Lady Wide Awakes” or African-Americans should be allowed form Wide Awake companies. Sperry and the five founders regroup. They restructure Chalker out of their HQ – which he had turned into an unpaid labor factory. Chalker and his retinue are given their own sandbox – a West Hartford chapter. Sperry’s efforts coordinating parades with other chapters wins out over Chalker’s view of these kids as his customers. But Chalker goes rogue, placing ads in distant newspapers to sell his own uniform kits: a military cap, black cape, and torch. However, many young people, especially those in rural conservative areas, are unable to afford the kits. Sperry helped them by sending a mailer that included a DIY fabric pattern along with Lt. Hinckley’s illustrated marching guidebook.