New-York tribune., 1900-09-19
CAMPAIGN MANAGERS AND METHODS.

There is perhaps no reason why campaign
managers and prophets should take the world
into their inmost confidence. No wary poll
tican would be justified in sharing his secret
hopes with the public, or unveiling to prying
eyes his real perplexities and embarrassments.
To mislead and dissemble is as much the every
day strategy of the politician as of the soldier.
Yet there times when the stratagems of
campaign management seem to be carried be-
yOnd the bounds of reason necessity. When
a political leader, through sheer indulgence in
rainbow chasing kndles hopes in the minds
of his followers which can be realized on
known theory Of human probabilities. does he
not really weaken his cause by openly defying
the rules of mathematics, logic and common
sense? When on the other hand, the disquiet-
ing echoes which his artifcially darkened fore
casts awaken are allowed to throw the world
of business into unnecessary turmoil and con-
fusion does he not hinder his own triumph by
an extravaganza of method against which the
best judgment Of the interests to which he
appeals for assistance must inevitably protest?
OF the first error Senator James K. Jones's
management Of the Democratic National Com
mittee is a standing illustration. No National
chairman ever carried more States in Septem
Der and October lost more in the November
following. Four years ago Chairman Jones
SLllI udu tue country lOT bryan TWO udyS
after President McKinley's election. This year,
undeterred by sad experience, he has already
credited the Nebraska candidate with an over
whelming majority in the Electoral College, al
lowing his opponent only the votes of the
six New England States, Pennsylvania New
Jersey, Ohio and Iowa. In contrast with the
abounding and extravagant optimism of the
Arkansas statesman Republican managers in
Chicago and elsewhere are reported as consid-
ering New-York a doubtful State, and as find
Ing no single ray of encouragement in election
results in Vermont and Maine, which by every
rule Of deduction accepted for a generation
past foreshadow a complete and decisive Re
publican victory in the Nation. Is there not
some golden mean Of judgment through which
the opposing managers Of the National canvass
can be made to see their Respective alterations
as others see them, and be induced to strike a
balance Of hopes and prospects more In keep
ing with the conclusions of the non-managerial
mind?
1t is gratifying to find that one conspicu-
GUS political leader does not share the ten
dencies to bluff" and mystery in vogue In
this campaign. Ex-senator Arthur P. German.
probably the most experienced and most re-
sourceful manager ever placed at the head of
the Democratic National organization, has a
theory, apparently, that frankness and candOr
may be as desirable virtues in a politician as
Discrimination and stratagem. When asked the
other sday ia this city by a correspondent of
The Baltimore American" what chance there
was Of Colonel Bryans carrying Maryland the
ex-senator made this direct and simple answer:
At this stage of the campaign 1t is impossible
TO make valuable prophecies Hundreds of men
IN Maryland who have been Republicans are
undoubtedly for Bryan this year. There are GER
talnly many Democrats who intend to vote for
MchlnIey The tide runs strong to Bryan, but
notice the Democrats who are still against him
Chairman Vandiver and Chairman Coldsbor-
ough are both earnestly trying to measure up
the situation but they are both confronted
with new conditions. 1 make predictions I
only say that the drift Of sentiment favors
bryan. The State is Democratic But the con-
dttions are such to cause a partially new
alignment Of parties, and under these circum-
stances II is difficult TO foresee events MANY
Marylanders with whom I have spoken believe
Mckinley will lose the State.
No summary of the situation in MARYLAND
could have been on the whole farer, more ac-
curate or more satisfactory. Mr.. German will
probably be accused by other leaders of intro
ducing "shirtsleeves" methods into political
management. But 'shirtsleeves' methods have
vindicated themselves in American diplomacy.
in which plain speaking and dlrectness Of pur-
pose have now come to be virtues OF common
use. Why should not similar habits of mod
crate and open statement and frankness with
the voter be encouraged in the field of National
party politics?