Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-11
Furnishing POLITICAL Information.


QUESTIONS WHICH THE SECRETARIES OF THE con-
GRESsIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES HAVE TO ASK
THE COMMITTEE ROOMS SUPPOSED TO BE VAST
sTOREHOUSES OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES THAT THE
CAMPAIGN is GETTING WARM.
AT democratic headquarters they say they don't
get, on an average, two requests for tariff docu-
mentS in a day. They have Randalls, Hurd's, War
ners Yaples and MOrr1sOn's speeches, but there is
no demand for them. In the first part OF the cam
paign voorhees, speech on the McSweeney ease
was the principal document, and probably two
million OF them have been sent out. Now nearly
blocking Valley bonds" Posts speech on Treasury
frauds. the pension documents and labor statistics.
The Mulligan letters and Hooking Valley circular
are sent out from New York, the Others, together
with great number Of Curtin'S speeches on land
grants, are sent out from here.
Some OF the letters received each day curious.
Those from some OF the candidates who are run
ming for Congress for the first time particularly
so. One man wrote to have several thousand Of
ing their campaign book and McPherson' IS hand
book OF politics sent to him at once, as he had a
big fight before him.
Another, who is running against man who has
served IS years in Congress. asked for his oppo-
nent's vote upon and attitude towards every i'm
portant question under discussion during the time
he has been in the House.
These and thousand such questions come In
every day together with many long letters Of advice
as to the method OF carrying on the campaign to
occupy the attention OF Mr.. Post. To answer those
asking for legitimate Information involves an I'm
mense amount OF labor. Mr. Creecy and corps or
half dozen assistants are constantly occupied in
looking over the records and getting up statistics
To answer some letters OF half dozen lines Ii re-
quireS four or five days OF hard work looking
through musty Congressional Globes and old CEN
SuS statistics Some OF the questions, again, may
be answered by simple reference to the almanac,
or sometimes to the Revised Statutes, which was
probably ut the writer's hand when he sat down to
make the inquiry. One man wrote for all cores
pondence the State department has ever had with
relation to Cuba, and another wanted everything
that has ever been published about the star route
trials.
The same Sort Of correspondence is received at
the republican headquarters. When a republican
campaigner In any part OF the country is asked a
question, which he Is not prepared to answer, or
there is charge made against his party which he
son. All this correspondence Mr.. Mcpherson at
pher only. With his wonderful stock OF information
he can answer many OF the questions without refer
ence TO the records but some letters call for seve-
raj days hard work. The land grant document
recently issued was in answer 10 one OF these let
tiers Of inquiry, as was also the document on the
republican party as the friend OF soldiers and
Sailors both OF which were the result Of an i'm
menSe amount OF labor.
Since the campaign has begun to get hot there
has been change in the character OF the political
correspondence. The long prophetic communica-
tionS are not SO numerous. The letters are abrupt
and to the point. They consist generally of one
line dashed off, from the scene Of battle, asking for
some important information. From Ohio no letters
are received. All communications are by tele-
graph, and indicate anxiety and excitement.