Evening star., 1898-10-08

scramble. In one district there may be five
candidates. while in the cne adjoining there
may be a dozen. Personal programs are
the rule; and each one Puts down categor-
icalIy the things he promises to do if sent
to Parts.
The first work of the candidates is to
make the acquaintance of his electors. This
is particularly necessary when, as so often
happens ne is an utter stranger in the dis
trict. Residence IS not essential in a can
didate. ANY one may set up for election,
and IN any part of France. Incidents with
out number arise from this state of things.
one August afternoon an office-seeking
youns count arrived al farming hamlet
belonging 10 the district in which he had
proclaimed himself candidate. Before
the single wine shop Of the place he caused
Ii drum to be beaten, and soon the har-
yesters came trooping in from the fields
There was never so democratic a count
He laughed and talked with each and all,
Until a hundred bottles of beer had been
oTened. Then he came down to business,
making a plain little speech, in which he
PROMISED all the things lie would do and
have done for that part of the country. He
wound up with the direct appeal:
Now, my friends, you will vote for me,
won't you?"
The wCrkingmen looked at each other in
silence. At last an old man among them
made himself the spokesman
You see. Monsieur le Comte, we'd like
to. but we can't. We're only BeIgians over
Eere To work at the harvest"
Why He Asked Questions.
Just before the last elections 1t came into
the head of a university professor to inter
rupt his course of lectures by becoming a
deputy He put out his program and
Started of to make his speeches in all the
different towns of his chosen district.
France vas Just then interested in some of
the ports Of China. At every meeting there
was the same burly man who called out,
when the speech was over, for information
at0ut the resources of these Chinese ports
and The state of French commerce with re-
spect 10 them. His questions We're always
varied and searching, but the university
professor had looked up the matter thor
CLghly, and was not to be caught After
The hTtn meeting, however, ne lost patience
and asked piunlply the importunate ques
tioner what the reason was of his great
interest In the Chinese ports.
We'll YOU see answered the other. II
an d wholesale dealer. and want informa-
ton about starting house out there.
That's all
As a general thing it is most difficult for
the candidate to get with the peasants.
They are distrustful and as hard-headed
as their mules. This year a not unlikely
story Is gong round at the expense of d
Well-k1own deputy who had been accused
OF making money out of a railroad man
aged oy the government. In a country
''-A'-N 'NN4S bl4ts llltluulilS IdTIn NdnuS ana
servant girls. puts money into stocks of
some kind these railway scandals were a
matter Of considerable interest to his con-
s'Ituents- Accordingly, the candidate for
reelection was met something in this way
Ey the first peasant he encountered:
Peasant-Welcome back, NJ. le depute:
Paris
'puty-I-what do you mean?
Ptasant-Why. didn't you get any OF the
morey going in that affair of the railroad?
Deputy swear to you--
P5asant-Oh, come now; you might as
Well own up. SO long you dida't get
caught.
Deputy swear l received nothing.
Peasani-fou swear; but would you bet
on il?
Deputy-Certainly. Money was offered me
ana / refused il.
Peasant (amazed)-Wen, 1 thought you
were smarter than that.
Deputy-SO you Will vote for again?
Peasant-No; | don't think / shall. /
don't think man who doesn't know how
TO look out for his own interests Is likely
10 do much for others.
More Keen Countrymen,
At some of the former elections an at
tempt was made by each of the opposing
candidates in a rural district to form COM
mittees among the peasants. There are
never less than three Of these candidates.
and sometimes there are a Dozen They
found double difficulty in the way. Some
of the peasants would not allow their
names 10 be used for fear of ''compromis-
ing themselves, they said. mysteriously.
Others quietly gave their names to each or
the committees in turn. One old farmer.
when asked why he did this answered with
great show Of cunning: SO as to know
what goes IN all Of them
Regularly, If the candidate does not live
IN the district, he tries 10 identify himself
With IL by buying real estate or shares in
some local manufacturing or other busi-
ness II he owns a country seat, the open
Ing Of the chase gives him a good oppor-
tunity OF recommending himself He in
Eites his more influential constituents to
hunt on his preserves. and he sends pres
snts Of game to the least notabiIities. even