Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-01
some FREAKS OF TIE CAMPAIGN
Electricity Plays Bigger Part Than
Ever Before.
TROLLEY CAR PARADES

present municipal contest for the control
of the Greater New York, both on ac-
count of its Importance and the multiplied
ton of contesting parties, has brought out
an unusual variety of electioneering de-
vices.
Perhaps the most unique scheme of pre-
senting municipal issues has been hit upon
by the Citizens Union. They have as
stunned responsibility for the present re-
form administration of New York, and
their campaign is partly devoted to show
ing the advantages which it has brought
to the city To do this they have employed
the cinematograph to show moving views
of the reformed police on parade, the
march of the white WINGS" the condition
of the streets at present and before the
administration of Col. Warning and other
pictures of a similar nature. The stereopti-
con has been brought into play for SIM
liar purpose. both during indoor and out
door MEETINGS. This application of popu-
lar attraction to campaign purposes has
been very successful in attracting crowds to
the meetings. The older campaign directors
are inclined to scott at their utility as
vote gatherers. Just how effective they
are in this respect may not appear even
on election day, for since their first in
PRODUCTION both the republicans and Tam
many Hall have taken them up, until
broadway Is lined with a panorama of
views calculated to appeal to the pass
ing citizen. One Of Tammany's favorite
views represents the reform police spy
ing for excise violations while q thug
sandbags and robs passerby in the street.
Pictures of the candidates always form
a prominent part of the campaign deco
rations, and it is interesting to notice that
they represent those worthy individuals
as of every nationality from Scandinavian
to Hottentot, according to the taste of
the artist or the popularity of the con-
stituency to which he wishes to appeal.
In the uptown districts Gen. Tracy Is pic
tured as pleasant American gentleman
but in Little Italy his features are mod
eIed after those of Garibaldi, while on the
braic cast In the district about Central
Park Seth Low Is shown in cap and gown
but in Grand street he is pictured in a fam
hei shirt and with the general appearance
of workingman.
Unique Kite Banners.
Campaign banners are endless in number
ana design One of the most unique yet !
devised was displayed recently by a resi-
Gent of Staten Island, who Is an enthusiast
NC KITE nyer He sent up two strings of |
kites with a big banner suspended between
them, bearing the legend Seth Low and |
the candidates picture. BY attaching a |
couple of rejecting lanterns to his kite |
strings and balancing them so that the |
light would fall steadily on the banner he |
was able to illuminate the emblem a.
night. 1t presented striking appearance
IL. n 1
out any visible support, and proclaiming |
the kite flyers choice for mile around I
Another striking kite piece consisted OF two
large Chinese kites, one representing |
tiger and the other an elephant. BY deft
manipulation of the kite strings the two ami |
mails were made to fight a duel in midair |
10 the delight of crowd of spectators on |
the ground. In other places kites have
Deen used to suspend American flags, pic
lures Of the candidates and various other
emblems.
When the republicans had their first
grand rally in Brooklyn they hit uDon :,
novel and effective scheme which utilized
the famous trolleys of that city. Each dis
trict delegation was conveyed to the meet
ing ON special trolley car and these cars
were decorated in many fantastic ways
Nest OF them carried a profusion of red
white and blue lights. pictures of party
candidates and generous amount OF
bunting. Some had banners hung along
the sides with notices more or less re
markahie for their originality. One of
these combining the names of the candi-
dates read: Van Wyck is pretty Low, by
can find no better comparison for this long
line Of Saily adorned cars than the bla-
zoned cages Of a travelling circus The no
htical trolley party may have existed be-
being novelty.
Electric ElectiOneering.
Electric light has often been utilized for
campaign effects. The bicycle has been
utilized not only because of its facility for
transporting ward workers, but because a
certain modification of it can be combine ed
with electricity to produce a startling eff
feet. cycle delivery cart-the kind in
which a package box is carried between
two rear wheels-was filled with storage
batteries the current from which was used
to light up incandescent lamps arranged TN
stand above the box so as to form the
name OF prominent candidate, 1t has
been proposed by some Brooklyn political ms
TO rig up float which could be pulled
along the tracks of trolley railways A
trolley pole would supply current enough
10 operate huge Searchlight the float
Long insulated cables reaching out in
trent OF the float would be grasped by two
long lines Of men. Each man would have
an incandeScent lamp on his brightly pol
lshed helmet. and current for these would
be supplied through the cables With the
CLEAN of the incandescent lamps on the
helmets and the rays from the searchlisht
hashing to and fro. the whole ARRANGEMENT
VIII present very imposing spectacle in
deed, II 1t Is carried out.
The Political Tableau.
The prohibition party. which makes a
brave showing In the campaign in spite of
discouragingly small vote at election
time. has new stage piece this year. The
tableau is an amplification of the horrible
example" who has served as the stock In
.fdoe vi the temperance orator for years.
The difficulty with the horrible example
was that he was apt to reform under the
eloquence of the orator and then. of course
ms usefulness was gone Mistakes some
times happen now when the figures in the
taoleau are not sufficiently well instructed
Recently prohibitionist orator was ex-
planning scene entitled 1.-The Drunkard's
Home, and referred to the drunkard's wife
and little ones without crust to eat"
when that individual suddenly sat up and
said: Yer another! Bridget an the Kids
is all well cared for as any in the ward"
Thus far the prohibitionists seem to have
rad this particular form of appeal to the
feelings of the voters entirely to them
selves.
The present campaign has been In the
nature OF boom for the cart-taiI orator
Every party has employed him, and he has
allowed his fancy free play in deyising
plans to attract the passersby to his open.
AIR harangues. The cart-tail orators ont
MT usually consists of a truck backed I'M at
some convenient street corner. From one
end an assistant distributes campaign