The age-herald., 1898-02-03

can cut an ace out of the center of the pack as quickly as anybody.
 met four men the other day, all of whom are candidates for the state legisla- ture. The way they. did speak to every body whom they met on the street was a caution. Bowed and scraped like a French dancns master. Politeness fairly running riot with them Powerful glad to see you. Rush up and speak to men whom they did not know Shake the strangers single hand with tl1edr two. Inquire about the family Many spoken to did not know what the candidate meant Neither knew the other. Good deal like bunco game,
 I have seen a great many candidates whom I really felt sorry for. Especially candidates for small offices Perhaps their first experience in the political arena. Do not know half as much about politics as they think they do. Funny part of It they are always trying to make the public believe they are so intense ly wise. The public seldom deals fairly with 8 candidate. If the peo- pie whom he met really told him the truth the chances are there would be a smaller number of candidates. When man Is a candidate for office 80 per cent. of the people will give f1im good jolly. Say he is just the man. They'll vote for him, and hope he'll be nominated. The people are prone to say complimentary things in the presence of candidates have known lots of people who would say to a candidate they would support him and ask their friends to do the same timing. No sooner had they gotten away rom the candidate than they would began 10 set up pins for his defeat. If you are going to support a man, say so. If not, say so Nothing is gained by lying. In fact much is to be gained by telling the truth The man who has no natural knack for politics should keep out of it The political paith- way is strewn with wrecks
 The worst feature perhaps of politics, at the starting point at least, is the drink habit. Many men who run for office be- lieve they add popularity to their candi- dacy by inviting men to drink with them. Some men spend thousands and thousands of dollars in this way. It is true stingy candidate is usually unpopular. Many candidates will not patronize the drinking resorts from principle. I do not believe the drink custom adds particularly to the popularity of the candidate. It is mat ter that is very much overdone, and one which detracts more often than otherwise The people like to have as their public servants men of good character, men who drink little and never get drunk.
 
 Hundreds of candidates go upon the principle that man can make hfmseif more popular with the people by dress ing shabbily, to make it appear that he IS one of the plain people. My observation of many years of politics and pliticians teaches me the truth of the opposite. If a man is a candidate for an office, the peo- pie, the plain people, so-called, want to see him well dressed, neatly dressed, and cleanly dressed, but not gaudily dressed. It is not the clothes that makes the man, but clean clothes never disgrace anybody. It is too true that honest men often wear homespun where scoundrels are appareled in satin The man who dresses slovenly and poorly for political effect makes mistake Clean clothes should go hand in hand with clean hands, clean conscience and a clean heart, and man to be suc- cessfuI candidate should be the possessor of these three virtues.