Evening star., 1900-09-29

O'Clock he holds conference with c. A.
Walsh of Iowa, the secretary of the demo-
cratic national committee, and ]. w John
son of Kansas, chairman OF the executive
committee. IL is these three men upon
whom devolves the chief responsibility of
making the party machinery do the most
effective service. They superintend the rou-
tine duties of nearly 200 employees.
As secretary Of the democratic national
committee Mr.. Walsh is in charge of all
the departments into which the organiza-
tion work is divided. Next to his private
office is the department of ways and means
which keeps account of all contributions
and locks after the collection of all pledges
task involving a tremendous amount of
detail. Mr.. Walsh has introduced a card
catalogue system into this and other de-
partments. which greatly simplifies the rou-
tine duties. As each check for money is
acknowledged with a receipt and thanks
the letter writing in the ways and means
bureau keeps large corps Of stenographers
engaged. The bureau also employs a staff
OF solicitors.
All the departments are dependent upon
the department Of organization which IS in
charge Of w A. Deford. Ii is said that
this department has been busy since the
election returns Of 1896 We're received. 1t
has succeeded in effecting ore Of the most
perfect systems ever adopted In the his
tory OF campaign work, for it works
through precinct representatives. This
means that there are 10000 workers di-
rectly appointed by the national democratic
committe. These precinct representatives
are carefully chosen from among the most
active and best-qualified adherents of the
party IheE are independent of all local
issues and they are in direct touch with the
national committee. To facilitate the work
or instruction the Working Democracy a
weekly paper, is published and sent IN escb
representative. who is required to paw a
yearly subscription of 81 for the pubiica-
ton. Ine paper makes personal corre-
spondence unnecessary, for it gives uniform
instruction TO every man in the great army
incidentally al
the campaign fund.
Ambitious Orators
The speakers listing bureau is one of tho
busiest at the headquarters To this bureau
al ambitious orators apply. and their num-
per Is legion. They are required to fill out
blanks giving their names ages, qualifica-
tons experience and an estimate of their
effectiveness. This last is sometimes snr
prisIns. not TO say weird Modesty is NOT
the besetting sin Of the political orator
Hundreds OF applications are received dailv
Dy letter, and scores OF would-be speakers
make personal pleas for campaign engage
men3s. IL is here that the crank seeks rec
ognitlon. The broken-down preacher the
superannusted actor, the college yaleiicto-
ran, the youthful lawyer, the street fakir
and the CIR! eloCutionsts all ask for oppor-
lunltleS 10 enter the political arena" Some
OF these orators are so persistent that they
succeed in passing the sergeant-at-arms and
gaming admission TO the secretary. man
with long hair and a Byronic collar one
warm day interviewed Mr. Walsh on the
possibility OF obtaining a chance to speak
Tor Bryan. The orator had on shiny frock
coat and he swelled out the bosom of n
frayed shirt as he posed before the busiest
man In the headquarters.
Sir, / am not only a speaker of more
than local tame. but | am a poet" he said
u have composed a few lines beginning
Let's clasp each other by the hand fine
unbroken band. and stand together as one
man., that would be sure to catch an au-
dience."
The secretary was occupied with the
weekly pay roll He looked up from long
column Of figures and said quietly:
''Go into the next room and fill out an an
plication blank Be sure TO state your
qualifications
"There is no trouble about my experience
IN public speaking" declared the orator
approaching the secretary's desk and
pounding his fist on the leaf that extended
out on one side II have been an auc-
Noneer for ten years. Ny persuasive power
~ gift as rare IL is valuable"
Put II down in the blank" said Mr.
walsh. ana the man went away and wrote