The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-24
LOCAL CAMPAIGNING.
Its Tricks and TribuIations, and It's
Joys and Woes.

Allan Hendricks, in October Lppincott.
Under a certain city administration an
era of street Improvement was begun and
in the opinion of many voters it was carried
to an extreme. The dissatisfaction was
particularly manifest in a poorer portion
of the city. and was there expressed very
openly. Into this district. on the day be-
fore the election, the managers of the party
then out of power sent corps of pretend
ed civil engineers, equipped with the in-
struments of the profession, under instruc-
tons to go through the form OF taking
levels and measurements. To all inquiries
which were many-the only answer given
was that they were estimating the cost OF
paving the street with asphalt. That night
an impromptu mass meeting was held in
the neighborhood. and the vote of the ward
next day spoke loudly for a change of adj
ministraton.
In recent national campaign the local
chairman of one of the parties organized
club of old soldiers a majority OF whom,
it CHANGED. We're on the pension list BY
properly approaching a member of this or
ganization the chairman of the committee
of another party obtained the names and
addresses of its entire membership Two
or three days before the election this list
was. divided among several trusted men
who were directed to visit the home of each
pensioner and PROFOUND, with no comment
or explanation, series of carefully pre-
pared questions which We're intended to
arouse in the mind of the war-scarred old
soldier a grave fear that a pension cannot
confidently be expected to go on forever.
1t is told in the political circles of Indian
apolis that large majority Of these vet
Grams spent the first half of the next day
at the headquarters of one party, saying
unkind things of the President, and the
other half at the headquarters of the oppo-
rif1c oil OF 70 q W U haf
would provide for old soldiers with due and
patriotic liberality.
The "heeler'' who haunts the political
committee rooms and hangs about the
polling places on election day has many
little peccadilloes that do not endear MIN
socially to his fellow-men of cleaner linen.
AT all times his thirst is that of desert
sands; far be it from him ever TO decline
the proffered cigar; his ready tongue pratt
ties ceaselessly on national issues or his
own misfortunes or needs. and all things
between; his personal aroma is not such
as perfumers vend his manners find no
advocate among the Chesterhelds of to-
day; mendacity has reached in him its full
est flower; and in his presence 1t is the
part of wisdom to guard we'll small articles
of value. But whatever he may te--and
this catalogue is far from complete-lt
must never for moment be forgotten that
he is the proud possessor of that theoret-
cally priceless boom the ballot. before
which kings and ward workers alike must
bow in their several manners.
grosser kinds of political bargaining take
place. Corruption in some FORM however,
IL found in almost every branch or political
campaigning, and with 1t sometimes may
be encountered an element of bodily dam
ger, for men who are willing TO barter
their votes are usually those who realize
the hazard of such negotiation ana are
ready to use physical force in order 10 es-
cape the possible consequences or their
greed Thus Ii comes to pass that IN all
the relations which commonly hedge ABOUT
the civilized man of to-day, no more ura-
matte situations can be encountered tnan
sometimes arise in political lie.
In no other field of legitimate effort does
the doctrine of chances find so many unto
it's workings as in that welter OF human
endeavor known as politics. 1t is a glorious
thing, forSoOth, to send one elOquenNo
ringing down the corridors at time by way
of the halls of Congress and the Congress
sional Record; it is good, beyond question;
to feel that the scope OF ones politlcal
authority is limited only to the boundaries
of the Nation but the way TO these happy
pinnacleS of greatness is often long anu
difficult and many are the vicissitudeS that
may be encountered upon the path. To-
litical prospects are as susceptible 10 de-
moralization as the most delicate line or
credit; personal popularity is a tickle thing.
s'fences'' are fragile possessions in land
where political upheavals akin to natures
widest disturbances are wont to disrupt the
existing order of affairs; and when the bal
lots are harvested it often happens that the
score of the canvassing board shows the
too confident statesman how vain are nu-
man hopes. Then in truth the world to him
is sad and dreary; but the ups and downs
of political chance must be taken COM
placentiy, and it is we'll for the politician
to truth, arises after each crushing with
new VigOr.