The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-13
"THE BULGE"

1t has always been the case in Tex
as, that the man who, to use an inele-
CANT but expressive Yulgarism, "got
tie bulge" went to the front, that is,
succeeded, and this, too, in many in
stances altogether without reference
to his fitness for the place to which he
was elected. The "bulge'' will cut
considerable figure in the campaign
upon which We are just entering. In
deed, it is already on, and vastly the
larger part of its work is already done,
whether for good or evil. The
bulge" is but pet name for caucus,
and it is organized from the ranks OF
the aspirant's favorites. His critics
are not invited, However, they
are often bulldozed. There
are many ways in which
the "bulge" is engineered. First there
begins to appear charming little para
graphs in the papers connecting the
name of the beneficiary in remote
and delightful way pleasantly with
some social or business event which is
of interest or importance to the peo-
pie. Gradually these become more
positive and pointed. The delicacy
wears off and the naked ambition of
the man and the partiality of his
friends are uncovered Leading arti-
cles more or less urgent and pro-
nounced are written by henchmen,
and by henchman papers published
and by some henchmanlike papers
opan to conviction, are copied far and
near, and then the boomstage is on. All
this usually occurs long ere the mas
ses are aware that they are being
ravished by the all unutterable blan
dishments of an adroit politician. II
is no less curious to note their tactics
than it is to note how perfectly they
succeed in majority of instances, OF
the modes prevailing, changing am
adopting themselves to exigencies a:
time goes on and stage succeeds stage
At the proper time, and when thu
, "bulge" has attracted enough of fol
lowing to make it safe, we have war
| A certain paper or public speaker
makes fierce and assailable warfare
J upon the expectant. This is so con
} structed as that by a little effort i
may be met and overthrown. 1t i
= essentially the false point dodge" anC
5 it is astonishing how often it has sue
ceeded in Texas. There are certain
papers in Texas which are induce,
: to go against the favorite, becaus'
long experience has taught these clos
and wary observers that their friend
ship is deadly while their opposition
3 is healthful. All these modes are i
| active use, and many of them are pre-
f vailing today, and yet the people ar
led to believe that all is open and fail
and that John Smith, or Peter Smith
, or any other Smith of the fraternity
: is spoken of only because he is tn
J fittest. 1t thus happens that when
/ man is elected, even the most une1
3 pected man, it is found that his cabine
, is already closen. He doesn't have a
. this service for nothing. There is n
! unselfshness these days, but in orde
to induce devotion, he parcels on
beforehand the good things he wi
have to dispose of, if successful.
! Is there an intelligent observer c
, events, an intelligent politician in a
a broad Texas, who does not recall a
hundred instances of this sort {
tactics2 And yet how few there al
who are candid enough to admit /
p The bulge is now on. 1t is "gettin
:. in its work." and we take the lioert
r of warning those desperate fellow
r that there will be vigorous "kick
: against it. States now formed an
q forming, Will be smashed withor
! mercy, by an earnest people fa'
e awakening to the absolute necessit
D of purging the public service from til
e baneful results of the personal part
D zanship which has grown up out of til
overtopping democratic majority
I Texas.
l THE proposition made by the Gu
: rent to divide 81, 900 among writers
5 short stories, according to merit (notl
= - La roiI for Tho -.