The Negro world., 1900-03-31
BEEFSTEAK CAMPAIGNING.
A. a Vote Making Project 1t Ia
Thought by Politicians 10 FuInII
All Present Requirements.

There have been more beefstehk din
ners, so-called, since the last election
than during any other like period with
in the memory of contemporary poll
ticians, and il is explained by some that
this form of social fraternity must in
evitably supersede the chowder. the
party banquet, the ball, the military
drill, the reception, the target excur-
sion and the moonlight festival. All
these have been utilized as political eN-
igencies required, and some of them
with conspicuous Success. but they are
now rivaied by the beefstenk dinner,
a form of entertainment which offers
many advantages to politicians, and
many attractions to their friends in and
out of Office.
4 beefsteak dinner, as politicians un.
derstand it, is not. in fact, dinner at
all. Several hundred pounGs Of beef
are bought nj wholesale and, after be-
ing cut into small square slices about
corresponding with the size of the meat
in roast beef sandwich, is briskly
broiled over a quick fire, and is served
between slices of bread dipped in but
ter. With these hot beef sandwiches
is furnished beer, and this constitutes
the dinner, with the addition, i'm some
cases, OF celery. With ordinary ju.
dieious handling several hundred per-
sons mny, in a hail not equipped with
any of the requirements for cooking
except a range, he supplied with beef
and beer In abundance and within q
few heurs several thousand persone
may be thus fed without friction, with
out confusion, and at relatively small
expense.
SolEe OF the advantages which poll.
tIcians find that beefsteak dinners offer
are these; No elaborate preparations
are required, no walters. except yolun-
teers are needed; where beer only Is
drunk there Is little danger OF the dis
order which often follows whisky
drinking at a political function Of the
kind, and, unlike the ordinary course
dinner, IL is by no means necessary that
all those ina attendance should be
served nj the same time.
Following the dinner, or more prop
erly the beer and sandwiches, there is
usually a vaudeville or musical enter
tainlneIrt, the expense of which Is not
an important item, and at it's close the
meInberssepHrate, ready, most of them,
to attend another. Chowders and ex-
cursions take place usually in summer
time, and, white advantageous as a
means of establishing closer social con.
ncctions between political leader and
his constituents, have some detriment.
al features, one of which Is that they
take place at sofDe distance from the
district, and. moreover, offer coveted
opportunity to gamblers, card sharpy
and disortler1y characters generally.
and lead. sometimes. 10 breaches Of or
der. A banquet, whether Of the ten
dollars or the one dollar variety. re-
guires the attendance of all the guests
simultaneously. and "A bali or recep-
tion to be silccessfu1 must be partici
pated in by the fs-minine friends and
relatives Of the members, and while
thus highly enjoyable TO many of the
guests II spprals more strongly 10
those of them who like dancing than 10
those who have an eye singiy for poll
tics. Moreover. such entertainment
involve expense To those taking part In
them. whereas a beefsteak dinner IL
organized on the free-fpr-alI basis- be-
ing n complimentary affair. The ex.
pense& of IL. which are modest In
amount. are supplied from the eonfri-
buttons of the cfFic~-holdfng members
of the club which gives n. and az IL IL
exclusively Of the stag order IL attracts
only those who have yotes--and usual
~ votes in the district In which the
club il situated.
4 Is the opinion Of some well In
formed politicians that the beefsteak
dinner as a yote-nakinR project has
come TO stay. that il viii gradually
supersede other like forms of diversion
when q political campaign II moi pend
ing. and that as each new fuuctfon sur
passes or IA intended to Nurpass TIA pre-
decessoF in this line new features win
be introduced and perhaps larger euts
of beef and bigger glasses Of beer fur