New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-10

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During the legislative session in Albany a..
.embIyman GherRrdf Davis wrote for IT,.
tribune n series of anonymous articles teII
ing in a bright and interesting yvnv tho
experIences OF lawn aler. MIR. Davis no.
now written the following story which re
heads "The Members Experience Mt m Mid
.ummer Primary"
II was a hot summer afternoon and the Men,
her had just returned from his vacation ua
VAS congratulating himself upon the fact tbot
No found little to do in his business. and that
his mariners had decided not to leave the citv
cor their holiday until September. He was toll
ing g friend OF his prowess as a fisherman and
~ his skill a sailor when the teIephona
rsng. Somehow, instinctiveIy. he felt that there
vas g political friend at the other end of the
tine and as he put the receiver to his ear ba
vas not surprised to recognize the voice of the
man whom he called his boss" but who IN
more polite language was known as the leader
Of the district
What DO you know about your district" +ba
leader asked. What do you mean?" said the
Member Well" came the reply, in rather
,urt tones. who is In town. How many votes
are YOU going TO get at the primary" The
Member felt little crestfallen, and replied in
father a humble tone: Il have only lust re-
turned from my vacation, and have not had an
opportunity OF looking over the ground" And
here the voice at the other end interrupted
him bv saying, Well, you had better get I'D and
hustle and get those voters OF yours out for
+ber. Is going TO be a fight in the district, and
VOL have got TO show up good vote. Goodby
sir"
Tbs Member dropped the telephone and sat
down at his desk He took out from one OF the
drawers 8 registration and enrolment list Of his
district. but he found that the enrolment list
90 - haFor
was therefore not complete and as is always
the case In such emergencies. he could not get
IF the necessary information 10 complete his list
Of names from any papers IN his own office.
As luck would have It again, he had busy
afternoon. and was unable to any about
the primary. and when the time came for him
10 leave his Office, instead Of going to his club
and dining IN comfort, he expected to do. he
found himself compelled, pursuant to written
Instructions received from his leader Che then
called him boss" spelled with a capital and
IN black type) 10 begin the work Of canvassing
his district The primary was to be held in
three days and he walked through the
election district in which he lived and OF which
he was captain, he saw with dismay that house
after house was closed. and that apparently
10 one was IN town.
AS he strolled down his own street to his
house he met F., an old time politician. with
whom the Member IN former days had had
many q tussle at primary observation-disclosures
which were held prior TO the passage OF the
present Primary law, and when the practical
politician could and did put as many men OF
the other side on the rolls as he thought neces-
sary TO defeat his opponent F. was in cheer
full mood, and hailed the Member with: What's
up7 You look worried?'
A WORRYING TASK.
The Member replied: Look at the houses,
Nj F. and tell me how I going TO get any
votes on primary day.
z. laughed, and said: We'll, old man, don't
worry Don't you remember that convention
we attended az the Stove Pipe on Ave.
and how you came there full OF fight, and we
put the lights out and had the place cleared out
by the police several times in succession, till
We got you fellows so tired that most Of you
went home? They can't do those things now,
SO don't worry"
No" said the Member gloomily, but find
Il Just as difficult 20 get out q vote that
the thing is under the Election law as I did
then. Now, there are lot Of men in my dis
trict here who think the State and the party
are going to the dogs. but who are playing golf
or have gone salmon fishing in Canada, and
who will no more come 10 town to vote at the
primary than they VIII confess TO the tax
NO" said e. and yet they will turn and
growi At Us II We let the Democrats carry the
district against US. AS have always told you,
I Cont think much Of men who growl and
don't vote"
You are right" said the Member. land that
remark always makes me think Of what you
said 10 me at the last convention but one, at
which We fought each other; you remember it7
You said, You may kick all you like, but I've
got the votesl' That is good politics"
f. who had a sense of hunor, even If he
was practical politician Of the most pro-
nOuncet type, laughed and said: But at the
next fight, you remember, II was L who did the
kicking and it was you who had the votes.
Cheer up old man; the boss is only chafnng
you Gail me up on the telephone tomorrow
and let me know how can help you. I'm out
Of politics now. and haven't much to do. I'll
help you DO the canvassing"
The Member did come thinking after this
Here was a man who had defeated him In poll
tics over and over again. by various ana not
always open methods, who had often oehper-
ately fooled him. but Of whom he felt never
theless that Il he gave his word ne would Keep
ia trait which the Member had often recos-
nized among great many politicians OF SINH
lar type. And that man now offered TO help
him when he was in trouble Is it a wonder
unused the Member, that he has what he calls
inhooence?"
The Members district was one in which there
were no professional politicians or oficeseekers
and when he went home he got out a social d.
fectory Of his city and proceeded TO look up the
Summer residences Of the Republican voters
he then went over to his club. which was near
his house and spent the evening writing letters ,
70 the men whom he knew to be absent AS an
extra precaution he inclosed a stamped en-