Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-24
Not a
Mere List
of
Voters With
Party
Label.
Fourth Article on Practical
Politics.
BY HON. WIN. HtNRICHSEN
Securing Census of the Men Who CAST Ballots is
as the Most Important Mechanical Work
Of the Campaign.
Article IV-Takina a Poll.

fHihiSiS w d FOlis
The next work to be taken up is
that of taking census of the voting
district in which you live, or making
poll, as it is usually called.
If you have studied thoroughly the
preceding lessons you are we'll equip.
ped for the work now before you.
A poll is not mere list of voters
with the party label of each person OPP
posite his name. To be of value tc
the student and to the organization it
must contain practically a full de-
scription and history Of each voter.
No one must be omitted from the list
and the data must be accurate. A
single error casts discredit on the poll
and makes it almost valueless to the
committee
Taking a poll is regarded as the
most important mechanical work of
the campaign and should never be en-
trusted to any but the most reliable
persons.
1t is possible that the party organi-
cation may prefer not to trust the poll
to the student but no objection can be
made to his taking it on his own ac-
count, and it's accuracy can be tested
by comparing it with that taken by the
regular agent of the committee. If it
proves to be all right it will be used.
You should make careful prepare
lions for taking this poll. Consult the
chairman of your committee as to the
data he requires and then make note
of every other item of information re-
garding each voter which you may
think will be of any use to you or to
the committee.
You should not use the ordinary
book furnished by the committee for
your field work, but should procure a
blank book of a size to be convenient
ly carried in your pocket in which to
make your first notes, which may be
neatly transcribed into the regular
poll book
This book should be large enough,
or there should be enough of them to
give each voter page instead of a
line as is customary. This page
should contain at the top the name
and number or location of the voter
Then should come his occupa-
ton, place of business, ct cetera. Then
his politics, religion, nationality, for
mer political affiliations, and views on
special issues in the campaign. All
these expressed by authorizations will
take up another line. This will fill the
regular requirements Of the commit
tee, but you should not stop there.
You should fill the page assigned to
each voter with all the information
you can obtain concerning him, most
of which may be expressed in abbre-
Viations. The following data should
be obtained: Married or single or
widower. Number OF boys and ages
number of girls and ages. number at
home, whereabouts of others; if mar
ried to whom. Politics of wife's fam
lily. Relatives of wife or self holding
Office or public contracts, full account.
Habits, age. Financial condition. If
tenant, who is landlord. If employe.
who is employer If employer, how
many men. Is he against any one on
his ticket? Is he a kicker? What
newspaper does he read? Is he ambi-
tious to hold Office? Is he enthusiast
tic or Indifferent. Was he a soldier.
Does he draw pension. Does he al
ways vote? Does he ever split his
ticket? To what secret societies does
he belong. Has he hobbies And
many other things of the kind that
will occur to the student in special
cases.
OF course in the case of a well
known man, much of the above may
be omitted, but in general it will be
found convenient to have all such in
formation regarding every one at
hand
Having prepared your book you
should start out to make your poll
and should personally visit every
house. If you find no one at home or
no one who can give you the informa-
ton you desire, note the fact and call
again.
Be careful to get the name of every
voter in each house and full informa-
ton concerning him. Be particular to
make such inquiries as will elicit the
fact of his being legal voter and
make careful note of the fact. If the
head of the family is at home, tell him
your name and try to get we'll enough
acquainted SO that he will remember
you, and you must prepare to remem-
Der him. Do the same with the mem
bers of the family and try to create a
good impression upon all. You will,
as rule. find this easy to do
If any voter living in the house is
absent, call on him again or see him
at his place of business. Be sure that
you personally meet every voter and
study his face, form and manner so
that you can address him by name
whenever you may meet him. Do the
same, as far as it is possible, by the
members of his family.
You will be asked many political
questions. and your previous studies
will enable you to answer them cor.
rectly and intelligently, and you should
always do so.
~ Pick up, as far as you can. the
tastes of the family, for you may be
able to crafty them by sending them