New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-23
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
RECALLING THE CAMPAIGN OF 1910.
A WING sTANZA-THE CURIOUS GAME OF POLL.
TICS PLAYED BY SOUTHERN BOYS.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: "reminiscences of the campaign of 1910
published from time to time In the Tribune remind
me also of that period I was then a boy of nine
years. living in Georgia recolect the barba-
cues which in that section and at that period 1t
the custom Of both the whig and the Democratic
parties TO give In connection with political meetings.
They were what light be called political picnics.
Living in the city of Savannah, recolect ono that
was held In grove near the town. Long. rudely
built tables erected on which after the address
es had been made from a hastily built rostrum all
who wished were fed with bounteous supplies. which
usually included beeves, hogs ETC., roasted whole be-
forc immense out-ofdoor fires. That table. or por
ton OF the common table. where the speakers and
most notable of tho company ate. usually SUD
piled with wine. and shall always remember that 1t
at one Of these old political gatherings that
was first permitted TO taste Madeira wine. which was
at that time one of the most fashionable wines. but
since greatly dcterlorated, and IS seldom heard
Of
also recollect hearing the campaign songs OF
1910. II seems to that such SONGS were then
more popular. There were moro Of them. and they
were more frequently sung than campaign songs
are nowadays. But I remember OF them only one
stanza-or perhaps IT was only a part of stanza-
which have not seen mentioned among those ne
Gently recalled and reprinted 1t ran thus
ooh, Mauy Van IS Of doubt.
He wires in. he wires out:
He's not the peoples candidate. oh
They've dropped him like hot potatol'
Another thing I wish TO aludc TO. II embassies
the proverb The child Is father to the man, The
boys of Savannah. from tho smallest to the youth
who was barely young to vote. were thoroughly
organized partisans upon one side or the other
The city was divided into districts. or precincts
what they were termed do not remember-and In
each voting place was provided whether these
divisions were identical with those Of the real voting
precincts. cannot tell: but great energy was as
played I'm gathering boys by the leaders Of both SIDES
and bringing them into the polling places and seeing
them vote the right ticket. and in guarding against
their being scduced by promises or threats by the
opposite party. In short. the game Of politics wa;
PLAYED by the boys in close imitation of the real
game by the men and with no less shrcwdness ana
energy. Is II any wonder that the sOuthtrnele arp
born potciansl Our Northern BOYS have no lack
Of games and sports. but never knew them 20 pa.
at politics. Or rather, parsanshlp, for OF course lat
IS what IL was. As / remember the proceedings az
these juvenile polls. everything was done deccntN
and I'm order. with levty and boysh hlIaftS Ou,
with all seriousness. and was greatly implessri
with its importance. though not OF an age 10 under.
stand exactly what meant or what was the use Oh
II all. . . ,sca.
Though-to use a Southern phrase-I was raised
AT tbe south I have always voted the ReDuDllcan
ticket and cannot but hope that the grandson OF Ola
Tippecanoe' will defeat hs opponent a. the grand
father did Mafty VAN ~ -
New-York, July -, 15sa T. d. ~