Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-21
sNE of the most important features

NNE OF the most important features
of "a political campaign, especially
national campaign, is the speak
ing. The people by thousands flock TO
enjoy the spell cast over them by the
eloquent eXpounders of their faVorite
doctrines. and the men most attractive
barring the candidates. to the voters
are the orators of the campaign.
Though these wizards of the platform
wear an air of self sufiicency and for
the time being seem to carry the re-
sponsibilty for the welfare of the ma
ton upon their Individual shoulders.
they are but parts OF great machine
that has it's directing spirit and It's
method of operating. 1t was FOR the
purpose of learning something about
how this branch OF the work of q great
campaign was carried on that | visited
the national Headquarters of the two
great parties and asked for audiences
with the chairmen of their respective
speakers bureaus.
Men do not jump up of their own mo-
ton and, afIixing party label. so upon
the hustings as the prophets of the
party OF their choice. Nor are they Sc
lected or accepted as n matter of course
when they present themselves as can
didatcs for the wreath OF the spellbind-
er. A speakers bureau is n business
concern. The man a its head must be
leader and director by nature If he is
TO make success OF his work. He
must be able to distinguish between the
orator. the talker and the 'stumper,
and should know how to dispose Of the
speaking time of the representatives. OF
these several classes. Some men will
elicit unbounded enthusiasm and win
converts in communities and under cir
cumStances where others will be wet
blankets and send everybody home
from meeting dispused. The capa-
bilities OF :. chairman Of Speakers and
the success Of his management are
measured by these tests.
How does he know? Well in III,
first place. he knows. or soon learns.
what each speaker did In the previous
campaign-Nhat kind of talks he made
and how he was received Then. by tho
use of his natural ability to size mon
up, he is able to classify them This
classification is recorded on the hooks
of the chairman, and he is enabled by'
reference to his records to see at MI
times the oratorical history of any one
of his men. With new man, ono who
is entering for The first time upon tho
career OF 4 spellbindcr. he must ADOPT
one or both of two plans. He must nc.
cept the opinion of some mutual ac-
Quaintance. or he must try the new re-
crut upon some safe platform where
he will do little damage IL he isn't up 10
the mark
Having the soothsaycrs listed. the
next thing is to keep them at work un-
der The best conditions With the ma
tional bureau one of the first things
after organization and the listing of the
speakers is TO inform tho state commit
tees as to the personnel of the speaking
corps and request their desires as to
the services of their respective favor.
ties during the campaign. The mos:
difficult part of the chairmau's work
comes when he is compelled to decide
between the claims of several states
respectfully il one or more OF them be
what Is called "cose'O for the services
of some star" speaker Again. certain
men may be counted us PARTICULARLY
strong speakers for certain localities.
because OF racial or other reasons and
here the chairman must he iudicious
and discreet 1t IS true the chairman
OF the bureau OF speakers has the bene-
fit of counselirg with tho chairman
and other members OF the national
committee, but in the final analysis
after the campaign is over. he has 50
stand the brunt OF all blunders in his
department-and is sometimes held for
more than his share OF the defeat But
in the event of victory? Well | know
the gentlemen in charge or the Demo-
cratic and Republican bureaus this
year are too modest to lay claim TO
more than their fair share OF credit
The Republican national committee
has two sneakers bureaus this year
one in Chicago ana one in New York.
IL, ITo.,t.