The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-31

ments of either OF the committees. Prob
ably no private business organization IN
the country could do better with so large
an amount OF money distributed through
SO many hands. OF course there Is great
difficulty in supervising these disburse-
ments, but the interests Of both parties de-
ynand the employment of the best men in
the various communities. Both parties
watch each other too closely for any great
abuse of their powers.
The chairman OF each committee de-
clares as general thing the policy Of the
campaign. Back of him is always the
candidate, who is the real chieftain. Every
matter Of supreme Importance is submit
ted TO him before action Is taken. The
post OF director of these political organiZa-
tons Is not q desirable one. He Is the
ostensible head and front OF the political
forces of his eide. He has to bear the brunt
Of nearly all the criticisms and possible
wins the candidate nearly always Is so oc-
cupied with the future as TO forget the
past Who ever heard of the chairman Of
the national committee being prominently
recognized by an administration which he
has helped TO elect? The doctrine Of civil
service reform would be outraged TO the
uttermost degree if the chairman OF any
such committee should ever receive any
reward for his work If he fails to elect
his candidate then he is made the scape-
goat TO bear.the burden of this defeat The
task, from beginning 10 end, IS thankiesS
one. These cnairmen have plenty OF noto-
riety. but never popularity. They are
hunted from morning TO night by men
who want to dip their hands into the COM
mittee's treasury. They have 10 approach
andi leave their committee headGuar-
tiers by private ways and have to live al
most in hiding 10 escape the swarm of
bores and mendicants. Then they have
submit 10 people from whom there Is no
escape. The political leaders of various
communities come TO headquarters for the
purpose OF advising the dlrector-in-chief.
Sometimes he receives good suggestions.
but in the main this is only q waste of
time, and ordinarily such visits are used
as covers for demands upon the national
treasury.
The secretary of the committee is the
buffer TO the chairman. His real duty IS
TO entertain all the men who come 10
headquarters and 10 fight of as adroitly
as possible the swarm of people who seek
each day 10 capture the headquarters for
purposes OF their own.
There are people who think that. like
the standing armies IN Europe, the nation
al committees are necessary evils. If
there could be a mutual agreement be-
tween the two sides much of the work
and expenditure could be avoided. IS
there is so much of il of routine char
acter. People are wearied and worn out
with political parades, and, except as an
excuse 10 get out OF doors, political meet
ings throughout the country are not great
lv enjoyed.
The day of the campaign orator is pass
ing. 1t is felt, particularly this year, that
the issues are business ones, and that
sentimental ones viii not be con sidered.
The side that gives the best business
reasons for succeeding will capture the
country. Manufacturers will contribute
freely to the campaign funds TO preserve
the principle of protection, and the
wealthy importers of New York will con-
tribute with equal freedom 10 the other
side In the interests of free trade.
What is the compensation for chair
man OF national committee? He cannot
receive any pay for his services. He is OBJ
Nged to entirely give UP his time for at
least six months. He lives in the midst
OF confusion and riot. The bulk of mis-
work begins at time in the summer
when most people are anxious to avoid
extra eIertion, and from then on until the
close of the campaign he has hardly mo-
ment he can call his own. 1t is upon him
tina. rests the burden of raising the money
necessary for the conduct of the campaign.
People look to him TO heal all party differ
ence, to smooth down the ruffied feathers
of disturbed personal vani;ies. He
must present harmonious front
TO the public. Every petty difference
around the committee rooms is
so exaggerated by the opposition
that 1t needs great tact, great seIf-control
and great force of character TO keep the
diverse elements OF vast party organiza-
ton together. In this country the civil
service people demand that practical poll
ticians shall not have too much 10 do with
the management of the party. In England
the political campaigns are nearly always
conducted by officials. | mention this
only because il is supposed TO be the IDEAL
land of the civil service reformer. There
is no campaign conducted in England that
is not supervised and controlled by the
parties directly interested. There are very
lev people In this country who have the
leisure or the means which will enable
them 10 devote their time and attention
TO the cause of politics for no reward ex-
cept the qualification OF a personal am
bition. Such ambition may be stimulated
by disinterested patriotism. But as the
world goes politics is managed, and al
ways will be managed, by the people who
have direct interest. And without it
campaigns IN this country could not be
conducted. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that every Republican and every Demo-
crat who contributes dollar to a cam
paign fund does so for the purpose of
community where he lives.
One of the best Eastern advisers of the
president for the coming campaign is Sem
ator Proctor, of Vermont. lie would have
made an ideal chairman from a business
standpoint He Is very adrolt. discreet and
has had great experience III handling large
financial affairs. He Is notable for his
ankee common sense, and common sense
is the chief requisite for success in politi-
cal management. He has the PRESIDENT
implicit confidence. His advice during
any period of emergency will be most
valuable. for he is prudent and at the same
time bold. Mr.. Whitney will find the
tactics OF Mr.. Proctor i'll the East KEYED
To the same plane as his own. Mr.. Whit
ney is 4 Massachusetts man and Mr.
Proctor is Vermont bred.
The Western antagonists in the field Of
management will be Chairman Carter and
General Kitchener, Of Indiana, against
Don NJ. Dickinson, OF Michigan. and GEN.
eral Stevenson, the Democratic vice presi-
dental candidate. General Stevenson is
very popular man IN the West He is
very amiable and diplomatic. lie is a
good politician from the Western stand
point, and makes friends wherever he
goes. He Is not An eloquent man, but Is a
good speaker before g general audience.
lie i tall, very broad shou,dered, and has
an engaging air Of frankness which always
MAKES soou impression. linen, TOO, tie
is very popular with the politicians be-
cause he is sincere believer IN the old
doctrine, TO the yictors belong the
spoils."
Another Western political worker who
Will be very active in the campaign for the
Republican side is ex-senator John &.
Spooner. He is a lawyer of brilliant quail
titles. and has 4 very wide acquaintance
throughout the Northwest. He has renre-
scented railroad corporations IN the courts
for many years, ana has the uubouniei