The sun., 1878-11-07
A DAY WITH A CANDIDATE.
IN TENEMENTs, BARR0OMS, STREETS
WORKSHOPS, AND OUARRIES.


barrooms and climb up into the Nth story
rooms Of tenements? Would you like to go in
to slaughter houscs2 Do you want to talk to
ouarrymen and laborers. and hobnob with
everybody Do you want to drink beer with
the brewers. whiskey with the distillers. and
bad gin and worse brandy with the barkeepers
in general2 All right. Come along"
The reporter had asked Mr.. james O'Brien
to grant the privilege Of accompanying him for
aday.
This is n short canvass" Mr.. O'Brien said.
and I've got to work all day and all. night.
Everybody knows me up here. to be sure. but
then everybody wants a special call. don't
know whether It's 30 everywhere. but l find
that when I'm running for Office the best plan
is to see everybody In my district that can
reach. l have known we'll l-spoken word OF
praise for a we'll painted sign to convert the
painter from a bitter enemy into IN earnest
friend. and in the same way have changed
the opinion OF On obstinate opposition voter by
chucking his baby under the chin and taking
of my hat to his wife. Most candidates ignore
the women. That is a mistake"
We were not far from the candidates. house.
and the neiRhborhood was highly respectable
Brown stone fronts lined the street. but at the
corner was a barroom. 1t was the first stop
ping place. 1t seemed deserted when wo en-
tered but before the candidate had been in
conversation with the proprietor for five min
utes, the room was full. and thore was a con-
slant opening and shutting OF tho doors be-
tokenlng the advent OF newcomers. BY the
time the candidate had said his say to the bar
keeper or proprietor. there were thirty men in
the room, oil Of whom seemed TO know the can
didate The result was that thirty men took
into his drawer. and the candidate went away
minus that amount
:. Did you gain vote there ?" ]. asked.
-" Gain vote No. I'm only keeping what
Iyegot This is rLy district"
Do yoT have e put up the drinks this way
:" Why. OF course whenever go in the place.
% you think politicisns salary belongs to
mind that one-third Of your earnings mus,
.pers niG the and run the O nss another To your eTS oTa
wants. This doesn't count in the assessment OF
your party. which is generally graduated ac-
why Kelly set Potter up for Congress NoS
Well, III tell you. Potter is worth 81 900 900,
His sole aim In going to Congress was to get a
bill through the House OF Representatives con
aassmnlne the Brooklyn Bridge. What was was
down about the bridge approaches. and he
is not satisfied with the price that the Board q
had money Therefore Potter could "rofd to
S 30 such ss }SaR Poer ss
soWwethng to be made BY il for the party Z"
and the candidate began to look attentIvely at
the numbers Of the houses. We mounted TO the
sS5 sb%6map at the doST STSnFh
oSwinegan ?" the candidate asked
Sure; Sure; he's here; asleep on the lounge"
Wake him up, istI Mo life ,youldn't be
worth IN cints If 1 woke him up. Wake him up
At this the candidate walked over to the
mS, lounge and nd, PLACED lac his hesyy hand on the
suddenly upon his rough couch. puckered up
his lips as Il for grand essay OF profanity IL and
Then resognizing eco his visitor broke opt; Wife
We declined the beer. but we could not in de-
cency decline the company Of Mr.. o'swinegan in
visit TO his house had given him sort of claim
that he was not quick to relinquish. Wherever
hour. Mr.. O'Swinegan was on hand. and il was
not until late at night. when the canvass was
home. shouting the name OF the candi late
In slaughter house we met with better luck.
The men were all hard at work, but such OF
them as could come out TO the candidate did so.
and were duly talked to. There was all sorts OF
talk about wages, and taxes. and reform, and
the King and the Clown.
In the ouarres we met broad -chested men.
who talked TO the candidate Just as though he
had been one Of them. i may not strike
wages from 81 10 sl.60 day they struck u blow
a. labor that spread throughout the country.
You are running for office. What are you going
70 do? Are you going TO stand up for the eight
hour law for decent days wages for a good
Gays Workf Ii not. We nave nothing 10 say 10
The candidate assured them that he was in
favor OF the eight-hour law, OF good wages. and
OF everything else TO benefit the workingman
and we went from the Quarrymen with three
cheers and a ferocious tiger ringing in our
q" How do you canvass persons OF the richer
classes ?" / asked
Well. that's according TO who they are
There are persons that can't be approached In
public places. who are glad enough to be called
upon az their homes; Then again there are
men who would rather give you a political
recognition in public than in private. In deal
ing with these you must use tact. You mus
Colts yoS venture are too as ar on
political opinions, you are sure TO be cut short
but II you know how 10 keep your mouth shut
and wait for chance you can always get q
word or two in that will tell"
And so we went on. for hour after hour. from
house to house. store to store and barroom tc
barroom. Everywhere the same story was told
In every barroom the candidate spent money
IN every tenement he listened to complaints
about rent; in every butcher shop and quarry
he heard, sympatheticaly. tales Of low wages
and hard living; IN every, street he met strikers
In all his visits to barrooms, and they were
frequent, tho candidate paid Tor everybodI
custom was to throw bill down upon the bar
call up the boys in Joval way with the eas
touch oi the sweet brogue of Erin where th'
barkeeper 10 supply their wants. Nearly every
where he was buttonholed and dragged into
wanted "a bit OF a promlse." How he got rio
OF these office without giving ofIens'
was marvel but he did II somehow, and VIZ
did not leave an angry face beh nd us anywhere
- IL YOU ever 90 into politics" said the candi
date, sentenliousy. as we were walking acrosI
an open lot. remember these two things
don't make promises and don't drink, prom
ise made and broken is vote lost and promise
made and kept seldom brings in harvest 0
gratitude"
How about strikers this year ?"
Oh they are a matter OF course II takei
years Of experience In politics TO enable mar
10 guard himself against them. and then h,
isn't altogether safe. In old times they used L
get up target companies and clam bakes, givinl
the candidates the privilege OF footing the bills
They 20 for solid cash now. but once in I
while strike for some social party or other !
would take a wheelbarrow TO carry the bal
tickets green candidate has TO buy. and eveI
old staRers don't come of without some eX
pense. Look here Here are five tickets for
clam bake that bought the other day. II yol
look at them you'll see they're q year old.
But the main hold OF the strikers this veal
Is getting up clubs, II believed half hear
would suppose that my whole district was or.
Ranized into 0'Brien clubs. Only yesterday
young man called at my headquarters and un
rolled scroll as long as your arm. saying tina
Il contained the names OF his club All in
huential names. SIR said he. had to aoknowl
edge that they were. for some Of them wer
names OF men that know well. What do yol
n HI 4 -.