Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08

III
HEGyWNlD time with them Elec-
igtE IMt~ tons are approach
FJI( ing. and those of
sill. H-S8 them who have al
t.tt.<Ss1A ready secured or cx-
- - 5 pect to get renomina-
tions must see TO the repair of their no.
litical fences. This business of rnending
FENCES Is very difficult. Ii is patronage
chleny That breaks them down The most
important task of the candidate at home is
TO soothe the feelings OF people who have
not succeeded in getting the offices they ex
rected. III the Congressman belongs 10 the
party In power. ne must explain why he
did not get places for this person and thar.
such snarls are by no means easy 20 nm
tangle. IL he has not secured many Offices
Tor his constituents. he is apt 90 be turned
GOWN The people want representative
VINO can get things for them. So likewise
do the local politicians. Some members are
supposed TO possess special influence with
the President and the executive DEPART
ments. The reputation is political can,,a,
10 them. Each Congressman wants to have
IL understood IN mis- district that ne has a
big pull at Washington. :
III the Congressman belongs 20 the party
that Is represented in the White House his
constituents expect him TO push pension
Claims through for them off-hand sie cam
not make them understand why he a. nm
apie 10 do this But, IL he is not of the
PARTY In power he escapes easily enough by
saying that he can do nothing with a hos
tile administration. He has no influence"
he says IL Is a cold bluff, but IL goes"
Ihis Is great stump year. In the fall
canvass most OF the members of the present
Congress will take active part Many of
them VIII speak nightly for the six weeks
preceding the elections. Some of them will
deliver from two to six speeches every day
r Ia at~ah onra axr.l
assisted by their clerks. In assembling ma
terial for these orations. The bigger the
man. the greater the number Of speeches
that viii be expected from him. A nominee
Of SO little consequence that no newspaper
viii report him verbatim can use the same
speech right along in different places; his is
comparatively easy task. But IL is other
wise with the conspicuous men, such as
Tom Reed. Crisp. Burrows. Bourke Cochran
and william l.. Wilson, whose words Will
be telegraphed all over the country. They
must have as many orations as they have
engagements.
The Electfeaeertag Dstses.
From now until election the ambitious
statesman must travel through every town
and hamlet ia his district. He must 60 to
every camp meeting. must kiss every new
baby. and must shake hands with every
woman he finds at the wash tub up to her
elbows I'm suds. Nearly every mail brings
letters from various precincts and counties
making demands for campaign funds,
which must be drawn from his private
purse He must comply also with requests
for large Quantities OF campaign literature.
which he procures by application to the
congressional campaign committee Of the
party at Washington. The nominee whose
election is a sure thing may take things
easy, having no fight ON his hands. How
ever, IL he Is a man of national reputation,
he will be expected to give help In other
districts where his party is weak. Prob
kar ha ali fx-aI
more than a hundred requests for such aid
in the approaching campaign. during which
he will be on railway trains most Of the
time. delivering orations at different points.
In some parts of the country the wives Of
candidates for Congress take part in the
electioneerfng. accompanying their hus-
bands on campaign trips and helping to
make good impression on the people.
The Congressman at home seeking re-
election is busy man indeed. For the
sake of illustration. take a typical day as
he may be supposed TO be spending Il at
any time during the next two months:
am.-He is walked up by Farmer Hay
seed on the way to market. That individ-
ral wishes TO inquire about the progress OF
an application for a pension for Aunt Gym
thia, who is poor and rheumatic. The Con-
gresham says that he viii write TO Wash
ineton about IL.
a.m.-Interrupted WHINE shaving by q
young man with inventive turn. who
desires to know IL the Congressman viii see
TO the business OF procuring n patent
8 a.m.-Summored from breakfast by o
local politician OF fnfiuence.. who gives
notice that the opposition managers have
discovered an alleged flaw In the Congress
mans record. which is to be used as an
argument against him IN the campaign.
He writes to Washington Immediately for
docun ents to disprove. the allegation.
9 ANA life Insurance agent calls ana
speaks gloomily of the mortality among
statesman at Washington recently. He
talks for an hour about policy that viii
make the holder millionaire In ten years.
whether he lives or dies. The Congressman
cannot afford to be uncivil even TO an i'm
surance agent. when he is running for re-
election.
liver an address at n local church anniver-
sary. Being the most conspicuous person
preser {, he cannot well contribute less than
s25 to subscription that is taken up to
pay OF the mortgage On the whole. IL Ia o
costly mornings recreation.
IL 80 ANA local crank meets him OUT
side the church and asks FOR a complete set
of the census report OF 1850. he button
holes the Congressman, and insists on talk
in politics.
II m.-Hc finds waiting for him at home
three people who want 10 know about their
pension s; also n man who wishes 10 inquire
why he has not received certain seeds prom
Used to him some time back. The Congress-
man makes a memorandum OF the matter.
pm.-Interrupted as he Is sitting down
TO. lunch by bicycle maniac, who wants 10
get certain government maps 10 help him
find good roads.
= pm.-Another local politician calls ana
asks for 500 TO pay certain Incidental exc
penses of the campaign. The Congressman
writes a check and gives the visitor drink
of whisky and cigar. The politician 10
encouraged by these refreshments to stay
a while and talk.
3p.m.-A widow calls and appeals for the
Congressman's influence in procuring an
appointment for her boy TO the Military
Academy at West Point. Women never
know when to go-that is. when they come
to talk business This case is no exception.
4p.m.-A chronic Office seeker drops In to
express his disappointment AZ not getting
lob under the government He Is followed
by an agricultural person with whiskers.
who wants to know II the Congressman
cannot procure for hi:a some Of the Seeding
trees which are distributed gratis by the
Department OF Agriculture.
> PIMA number Of important letters
have to be written, notwithstanding inter-
rllptions by another pension applicant and
a committee that comes TO invite the Con-
gresham 10 speak al a religious revival in
the vicinity.
6 pm.-Dlnner eaten hastily in order TO
enable the Congressman TO be present al a
political gathering I'm n neighboring town,
where he expected 10 make a long oration
showing up the party of the opposition. IL
is midnight before he gets home.
Dl(Nl. nkf~fTE