The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-02
PEOPLE AND POLITICS.
BY AN OBSERVER.

becoming stirred up about the Hethou
OF electing their representatives IN the
United states Senate IL so PLAIN thdt no
man has been reckless enough 10 come
forward and propose counter proposition
TO the call Tor a convention which was
issued last week 20 take the SUBJECT up.
IL Is claimed that this movement Is hot
against the aspirations OF any indiVldudi.
but against a system-a method-dhu '"ds
II has received force and impetus from
the scandals In California, in Utah' IN
Pennsylvania, IN Delaware. ana heaven
only knows in how many other state reg
slatures not 50 disgracefully corrupt. %
little attention IS now paid 10 the aoiilty
or public services OF the candidates ior
the United States Senate that the elec-
ton of senators Is becoming rather tue
result of art than Of merit. The senate
is the choice branch OF pubic service. dnu
wise old birds that have ieathereo t"e'.
nests there have worked out SET Oh
unique and skillful rules whereby they
can make their calling ana elecuo"
sure" and It is very well Tor an asp
rants 10 the senate 20 study the preVa'-
ing rules which have been eVolNeu ~
great mains by the successful politicians
that make their home in the senate Wi"s
Of the capitol These rules have oeen
such statecraft. The days OF Clay, Wen
stcr. and Calhoun have long since pssseu
away. The days Of Platt, Quay Aual'hs'
and Hanna are upon US. II takes 4 ui-
ferent set OF rules 20 elect fht'
Quay. or a Hanna 20 the United state
Senate from the old rules I'm vogue ln the
prime days Of the republic. How the.e
new methods have been elaborated IL -
difficult 70 trace. Perhaps IL comes IRON
the experience OF one senator spoken 'n
confidence 20 another senator WINE 'N
lunch under the capitol. an occasional re-
mark d~opped IN the cloak-room might
have been freighted with the most ie,
tile suggestion. But. out Of the multi
Iulinous experiences IN dealing with the
home legislatures and the manipulation
OF the currents Of home public opinion
the senators I'm Washington have learned
pretty well how 20 shake the plum
tree and SIC herewith give syllabus
or brief summary of che most approved
rules governing such contests we com
mend them 90 ail aspirants:
G) Keep a weather-eye on oil possible
rivals. When any man az home becomes
popular or prominent seek out the weak
Joints in hts armor and through ialinlll
friends and relatives start menu
wagging against him AT those very points
Always be cautious in such manipuIatonS
so that II shall De impossible % trace u
! back 20 the real source Spread abroad
such remarks as these: "THs position on
so and 50 renders him an impossible can
didate." "His appointment OF 50 ana 20
/ ruined him" 1.-THE people viii never Tor
get so and so" "The masses have turned
from him" "He IS not sound on sucn
ana such question" And thus keep up
| q constant. quiet bomhariment using an
| the while sm0keless powder. II there is
no prominent or popular man 70 run
/ against you. yOu are very sure 10 De
! elected. Hence. knock the underpinnins
/ from beneath every prominent and pop
/ uar citizen that lifts his head too hieh.
90 Show great concern and soicitude
{ for the Success OF every member or the
/ legislature that runs for Office In your
/ state. Never pretend that You have any
( personal interest in a. but that il g. for
/ The triumph OF your party and 10 TINS
connection there is 70 better way 10
! show your Jealous interest IN the personal
| fortunes Of each candidate for the les-
| isiature than 20 send him a money con-
/ tribuu0n 10 help bear the Legitimate
| expenses OF hla campaign. Always Toe sure
! 10 use that word Legitimate" but leave
/ il entirely at his discretion as 10 what
| he shall DO with the money. There are
| many ways 10 get bride into an itching
| PALM" but none quite 50 good IS send
/ ing a liberal contribution to help bear the
! expenses OF the campaign. II your funds
I are short count your men. and do not
waste such valuable powder. Emulate
/ the willy Hanna. when noses were count
/ ed ON him he had just one majority what
! fine skill was that He knew Just whore
/ 20 cut of the supply and did not have
a supernuity Of Legislators on bis hands %
settle with. There & no benefit arising
| from approaching" more than a bare
majority. The minority then are conscious
! OF the fact that you never approached
| them. and IL gradually gets spread
| abroad IN the minds of said minority
that. perhaps. inasmuch as you ala
| not approach them you have not APP
/ preached anybody. Hence, the benefit ~
leaving all the opposition untouched or
! course. your own men viii never exc
| plain or expose your methods.
| 90 Have the same faithful friends
! scattered throughout different portions oi
| the state 90 keep up a continual boast
] ing. using such remarks as these; "Nou
| can't beat him" III YOU want I'D have
any influence in the next legislature get
on Mr.. Blanks side. lie Will control that
! body. He has q majority OF the hold
|
| OF the former legislature are an for
J him" Speak with absolute certainty ana
| assurance. never hesitate. never quail
| Sometimes two or three men ln military
! annals have been known y make whol'
| company surrender by keeping up con-
stan, FIRE and shaking the bushes and
! thus making the impression that they
. have them entirely surrounded and out
| numbered This boast ~ strength has
! very much the same dem0ralling effect
| cDon your political enemies. There is
/ among an politicians 2 desire 20 ger on
ths winning side. and the minute they
see the scales turning they Will come
! 20 you. pell-meu. so you cannot over
| estimate the value OF this continual boast
! ing. Boast early. boast an the time.
| boast constantly. boast even on the
| crumbling edge Of an abyss. II may pun
you back and ont.
90 Never trade yourself. but have your
! friends trade FOR you. Keep up con-
! inual trading By proxy. some poor fei-
! low may have the deciding vote, ana 70
! aim = guard place AZ the penitoniiary
! t. just as big a thing as the United
! states Senatorship az that particular mo-
ment IS 10 you, while clerkshiD In WASH
! ington would be a paradise for his son
/ OF younger brother. and n your faithful.
J ard particular partisans consult eacn
, o,her on the many matters 70 come before
! ,he legislature, both In the matter o. laws
I and OF place hunters. they can trade
| enough votes 20 turn the scales 10 your
| favor. should the contest be close.
man that cannot trade nicely. mildly