Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-17

cal, not purely local. 1t issues in
structions OF general character to
all local committees, furnishes speak
ers and documents, and decides con- |
troversies. 1t directs the campaign |
as regards state issues and state can
didates, and also, as rule, assists in
the campaigns of congressional and
legislative candidates.
The nation committee of a party is,
as its name indicates, the supreme
head of the organization.
1t is chosen by the national conven-
ton al the same time that the candi-
dates for president and vice-president
are nominated, and holds Office for
four years.
1t consists of one member from
each state and territory and one from
gates to the national convention from
the states, territories and district usu-
ally nominate these committeeman.
The committees powers are, as a
rule, limited only by the laws of the
land, and it's duties are as numerous
as it chooses to make them. While
obedience TO it's orders from commit
tees of smaller jurisdiction is volun-
| tary, yet such orders are seldom ig-
nored. Its influence is immense, due
in great measure to the standing of the
men who compose it. 1t usually in
cludes in its membership several of
the leading statesmen of the party,
and each member must necessarily be
man of considerable influence and
of high standing in the state he repre-
sents.
The committee calls the national
conventions, deciding upon the time
and place, and makes all arrange
ments for the meeting of the dele
gates. 1t suggests the temporary Off
GERS of the convention and decides
Temporarily all contests between dele
gates. In the campaign it decides all
interstate matters, CONSTITUTES the par
ty platform, and controls and directs
| the movements of the higher grade
political speakers. 1t collects and dis
hurses money for general purposes
and provides literature on national
questions. 1t advises committees Of
smaller jurisdiction and provides them
with information on national ques-
tons.
Its work is done mainly through the
it sometimes has its own agents in
each county or even in each voting
district in the country.
It's work is divided among a num-
Der of subcommittee or bureaus, and
it employs large number of clerks
writer's, bookkeepers, etc. Its bust
ness 1s usually as well systematized
as that of great commercial estab
lishment
, The headquarters of the national
committee are located in one of the
larger cities, but it frequently has
branches in other places.
The student should procure copy
of political almanac for the current
. year published in his own state, if pos
sible. In this he Will find large
amount of Information concerning the
state and national committees. He
should write to the secretary of the
national committee for copies of The
year book of the last campaign and O.
,, the proceedings of the last nationa
convention, together with such othe
. printed matter bearing on the commit
tee as can be furnished him.
He should write to the secretary o
the state committee for copy of it
constitutions or set of rules, and TO
any printed reports made by tina
body He should consult the files o
the newspapers, both metropolitan an,
: local. lie should question every on
: likely to know anything about any o
!, the committees and should keep rec
= ord of the information thus obtained
i He should prepare to answer the TO
lowing questions:
: Who are the members of your pre-
cinct committee and how and whe
), are they selected?
i What specific work is assigned t
/ them?
I Give the names of the members @
T. your county committee unless in
i large city, where the names of tn
7 members of the executive committe
$ will suffice.
b Give the names of all officers Of tn
county committee and names of sui
9 committees, If any.
g How and when is the county con
: mittee selected?
, Give a. brief outline of the plan c
Organization in your county in the las
compaign.
Give names of the officers and men
bers of your state committee. If yer
large, the names of the executive con
mittee will suffice.
How anu when is the state commi
, tee selected, and of what is it con
posed?
Where are it's headquarters located
Give brief outline of it's plan {
e organization in the last campaign.
, Where are the headquarters of tt
national committee located?
Give the names Of it's officers an
s members, with the state in which eac
q lives.
4 Give the names of the heads of IL
Al principal bureaus or subcommittee
! the last campaign.
G How many documents were distri
6. uted by this committee in the la
campaign.
How many speakers did it have {
/! lis list in the last campaign.
II your county contains a large eli
in which the affairs of the party a
managed by committee under sp
nisl organization, describe the syste
briefly and give the names and a
dresses of the principal officers of Il
Il committee.
~ Give the names of any other col