Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-31
The Fifth Article on Practical
Politics.
LITERATURE A FACTOR
Judgment Should Distribution Pamphlets
Containing the Ideas of the Party-Too Large a
Quantity May be Repulsive to Voters

most subtle in triclery, and you
should endeavor to inform yourself on
every scheme that they have had in
hand in order to meet it.
In selecting candidates for the as
pirants for nomination you will fire.
quently find yourself embarrassed.
You will sometimes be compelled to
make a choice between friends or be-
tween men so nearly equal in every
way that you will find it difficult to
make up your mind
A party candidate should always be
in full accord with his party principles.
as you understand them, and should
for the position he seeks should be
unQuestioned, and he should be pre-
pared to make a thorough canvass.
Do not be deceived into supporting
J for the nomination man brilliant in
! enc particular direction and weak in
iothers. Because man is good law
yer without business ability, do not
| support him for a position where bust
ness ability is required. An all around
| imam of fair ability makes a better can
lidote and 4 better public officer than
ia brilliant specialist. Avoid support
ling mere theorists or extremists. A
| sensible, conservative man of good
istanding is always to be preferred
And above all things, avoid support
ing man too easily influenced by
others, or whose obstinacy reaches
the stage of stubbornness.
Having made up your mind as to
which of the candidates are the best,
see as many of the members of your
party in your precinct as You can and
endcavor TO get them to view the sub
iect as you do. Call in your helpers
on making the poll and enlist them in
the work Visit every house in your
precinct if it seems necessary, and
rouse up your people to the necessity
of action. 1t is not only necessary to
secure a majority of your party in ia
vor of your men, but you must secure
the active cooperation of that ma
jority. Four-fffths of the members of
your party may sympatbiZe with your
views and plans, and still you may be
defeated through inability to utilize
this aid.
If the nominations are to be made
by primary vote, the first thing for
you to do is TO see that the primary
election officers are fair. honest men
who viii permit no frauds in vot
4 ing or in he count. II you have any
doubt of them, take measures to have
good watchers inside the voting place
Organize q committee of those who
agree with you for the purpose of get
ting out the vote. Hold frequent meet
ings and go over the situation careful
ly each time.
! will not at this time go over the
details of the work Of getting ont the
vote, as the subject will be fully
treated iii the lesson on election day
work" with which it corresponds fully
If a convention or caucus is to bs
held, full attendance Of all those il
sympathy with you is necessary, ant
they must come prepared to stand to
gether
You should with your organization
plan program and carry it out.
capable floor leader should be selected
with corps Of assistants. Mer
should be selected to perform eacf
part of the work, and each should BIZ
fully informed as to his duties. In Sc
; lecting your managers, be careful tt
find men who are clear headed anC
, who will not be alarmed by threats o
violence.
: Thus prepared you can enter upo1
! the final struggle with the assurance
that, even should you be defeated yol
will have gained experience and infor
; nation that will be valuable In the flu
: ture.
From the foregoing it is not to bt
supposed that you shall lead in tn,
contest in which you are engaged. Yol
may be chosen for that position, bu
you are more likely to be found work
ing in the ranks. Whatever duty il
assigned to you, perform it faithfully
and whether you lead or follow, TAX
an active part In all meetings, eau
cuses and consultations. If you hav'
carried out the work heretofore outlin
ed, your opinions and advice will b.
: valuable and will be well received
: Copyright, 1901, Lewis d. Sampson.