Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-31

Article V-MakIng Use of the Poll.
The poll being completed and in
the hands of the committee, its first
use becomes apparent. While this is
properly the duty of the committee,
yet you stlould, with its approval, ala
in the work
Distributing Literature.
The first use to be made of the poll
is, from the information it contains,
to select and distribute political liter,
ature to the voters whose names it
contains
You should make a list of members
of your own party and of doubtful vot-
ers who do not take q newspaper OF
your political faith An effort should
be made to get them to do so. Always
give your local or home paper the
preference.
Get these people to subscribe and
pay for your paper, if possible, for
they Will regard it of more value if
they pay for it than if it was given
them. 10, such as are unable or UNI
willing to bay it should tt sent by the
committee.
This work should ue extended so as
to include. if possible. every family in
your district, no matter what it's poll
tics. This should be done as early as
possible. for pol.,lcal literature, to
prove effective, should be applied be
fore the heat Of the campaign.
Induce the editor OF the paper to
give some attention to local matters in
your district CT precinct.
You sh2r'3 study the list of speech
es and pul . documents at the com
mand of tli, onlmittee and compare it
with h.
ditions of your voters and select what,
In your Judgment. is most suitable for
each Do not send too much to any
one person. A large quantity may
prove repulsive and will not be read.
Make like selections of pamphlets
and other papers which you think will
do good and send them out. This work
should continue throughout the cam
paign.
If your congressman or either of
your United States senators belongs tc
your party you can readily obtain
seeds. cnttings, bulbs. vines, plants,
maps and books on various subjects
for the usc of your people, and even
if this source is barred. you may OBJ
tain these things by writing to the DAT
ferent departments.
Yen shoHll prepare carefully list
of names showing what articles OF
this character will prove most accepta-
BILE to each ana have these articles
sent them if possible.
Books ard documents printed by the
state for free distribution should be
obtained if possipie and distributed
according 10 the same system.
These courtesies are generally ap
preciated. and Will increase your in
fp,, an r.tI
at the same time,
Naturalization.
Your poll will also furnish you a
list of aliens entitled to become citi
zens or TO declare their intentions. II
there is a regular committee TO attend
to this work, turn your list over to it
otherwise induce the aliens to take
out their papers by your own efforts
In either event it will be best for yor
to accompany him to the court and
aid them in becoming citizens.
Petty Patronage.
Your list will furnish you the names
Of those of your party who are needy
and you should endeavor to throw tc
them, worthy such patronage as youl
party may control and to which youl
district is justly entitled. A few
days work on the streets may en-
able needy man to pay his rent ant
be Of immense benefit to him. The
little odds and ends of petty patron
age may be SO distributed as to re
lieve suffering and benefit the party
The list of doubtful voters should
be carefully scanned and from lnfor
nation obtained, those most likely tc
have influence over them should be
H. to ~,
port your party ticket
The poll will furnish you the
names of those most likely to make
the best officers for your primary cleo
ton, if you hold one. Also those mos
suitable for election if the organiza
ton has any voice in their sc
lection. In fact your informa
ton will be valuable to thu
committee in selecting persons to oc
cupy the various places to lie fillet
during the campaign.
You should insist upon the recos
milton of a certain number of youns
men, and your services will give you
advice weight.
Through all the work you hav'
done you are supposed to have beef
in close touch with your committee
and when there has been differenc
between you it was your duty t.
give way, for their experience at thi
time is worth more than your study
Still, what the organization has dc
clined to do, you may have done o.
your own responsibility.
A Primary Election or Convention.
You will need some further prepf
ration for the struggle over the nom
nation of party candidates, which wi
be the next thing to engage the a
tention of the politicians and the o.
ganization.
Make study of preliminary rule
and review the laws governing primar
elections and conventions, if sue
laws exist.
From the files of newspapers stud
the reports of former conventions an
primaries and make list of importa1
precedents established.
Study the forms prepared for use
primaries, the forms of party pla
forms, and the forms of official call
Discuss all these matters with me