The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-01
PRACTICAL POLITICS.
Advice to Young Men From One Who
Has Had Experience.

fhACIlCAL POlIIIlCS.
Advice to Young Men From One Who
Has Had Experience.
To the Editor: ...
Well, boys, what about politics? There
are a good many young men readers of
The Representative who have political am
billions, as is right every young American
should have. This talk is for them. If
100 Of them will make practical applica-
ton of the suggestions here made we will
make shaking among the dry bones of
Minnesota, and the entire state will be the
better for 100 earnest men equipped for
battle in the arena of political campaign.
But" says ione'"I never can be much
of a politician. I CANT make a speech to
save soul" y
Well, that is'1a good qualfica ton to be-
gin with There are few gifted men
whose speeches have actual influence in a
campaign. They are rare. 1t is as a
rule, the political "worker'' who wins the
fight In the army the buglers and
drummers make great deal of noise, and
are very useful In their way, but they fire
no guns, they'Qoriginate orders, they
plan no campaigns they win no battles
Be a worker. anyway AS to the speeches.
let circumstances and your own ability de-
termine. SN sjn ~
How will you go to work? "Organize
Populst club."Io First rate. How will
you do it? "Oh, get out some bills for
meeting. and get some we'll known man to
be president, and get speakers and music,
and-and-stir things up"
All right, only l would make it young
Mems Populst Club You will find a
Young Mems Club more effective. In
ORC izi,
in this way: First, 1 would informally get
together four or five at most not over
eight or ten young men of known Populis-
tic leanings, and talk the thing over. Re-
member from the very start that you are
first, last and all the time after votes, and
nothing but votes. At this preliminary
meeting carefully list the men who will
probably take interest in your club
and allot the work of securing them
among yourselves in such a way that the
one of you most likely to induce a man to
join will be the one to invite that man to
join. Now. if there is any young man in
the community Of average intelligence who
is on the fence, who is not vet sure
where he stands, set apart some prominent,
place for him, and get your very best men
to induce him to join the club and to take
an active part. In that way you will nail
his vote. In organizing your club there
is quite an opportunity to enlist the doubt
full ones your side. If you can elect
one of them presluent another secretary,
another treasurer and so on, and get them
actively interested, you will have done
more actual good than any political speech
of the campaign in your district is likely
to do The point is in organizing to
safely enlist men who, not thus enlisted,
may drift away. Unless you can thus
make safe some doubtful votes by assign
ing places for them, it is we'll to call your
first meeting without any slate" farther
than a oh God
upon for convenience and for the expedi-
ton of business.
Having among yourselves settled these
things. and decided among yourselves your
list of possible members in such a way that
each one will be approa ched by the man
most likely to secure his presence, set the
date for your first meeting and go to work
That first meeting will be the first meas
ure OF your success as political workers
In many localities, especially in farm
ing communities and smaller villages it may
be found wise to enlist wide awake young
women as well as young men. If your
work has been we'll done nearly all of
those you expected at that meeting will
be present. OF course in addition to the
personal Canvass suggested, you will have
had printed or written notices posted in
public places, and through these YOU NAV
find others present whom you did not ex-
pect. The popular tide runs your way
this year. Have wide awake men or men
and women on your committees. You will
need committee on finances Thanks to
our rulers of late years you will not have
much money todspend but YOU will need
some and this the finance committee must
raise. membershipafee is to be avoided
II possible. in a political club: but the
finance committee. may appeal to members
for contributions. YOU will want commit
tee on speakers andtione on music. Most
important of all Aou must have a COMMITTEES
county committee hay made ARRANGEMENTS
for thorough canvass Also a committee
to secure and distribute Populst papers
and pamphlets. AS rule the county
committee will Be vefy glad Of assistance
from local clubs in this direction. Other
committees can pc added as you see fit.
The committee on Speakers should seek
for men who can talk briefly, and in an in
teresting manner Ten minute speeches are
long enough as q rule, One or two formal
speeches will be, enough during the cam
pagn, outside of the larger towns and not
100 many are needed in them. Then, too.
the committee on speeches should keen q
sharp eye out for doubtful men. There
may be a young lawyer, or teacher or
or other young man who is rather
a Populist at heart, but has not fully de-
cided to come out flat-footed. Secure him
for speech, use him Well and he will be
no longer among the doubtful.
AS to music, a good local u,.r+o+ 49,
chorus which will learn some rattlinr E,oI,
campaign songs will furnish The most in
spring music you can have The con,ni+tna
on music may here possibly win a vote or
two by pursuading basso or tenor to sing
Populist songs, who had preyjouslv beao 10
doubt as to the political key in which bis
voice was pitched. Or, some fond fa+bar
may be little influenced hearing his
daughter sing Populist songs
Constantly impress upon the mind = of