The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-10
MINNESOTA POLITICS

Minneapolis certainly leads the procession
when it comes to novelties in politics. Here
the new primary law had It's inception and
its first trial, and here last Monday evening
was born the idea of a winter lyceum for
campaign speakers.
The universal verdict is that the new edu-
cationa1 wrinkle will 'fill a long-felt want"
There will be no more firing in the air. Com
mittees of competent men will investigate
thoroughly and prepare accurate information
as to what the republican party has done for
Minnesota, for Hennepin county and for
Minneapolis. This information will be i'm
parted to campaign workers at frequent
meetings this winter, and they will go out to
the people next summer loaded to the muzzle
with effective campaign arguments.
| The plan was given a splendid send-of
Monday evening The meeting was a repre-
sentative turnout of campaigners except In
| this that the city administration was not
represented However, those who gathered
at the first meeting do not claim to be 1.-The
people," but want all who expect to take
an active part in republican campaign work
next summer to join in at the later meetings
1t will be an unusual opportunity for prepa-
ration, and no speaker should attempt to in
form audience on questions OF the day
without taking advantage Of it,
1t is quite likely that other sections of the
state will follow suit. Something Of the kind
/ is needed In st. Paul, and Duluth could use
| it to advantage. The country districts would
have more difficulty in getting the workers
together, but they could take advantage Of
the work done by the Hennepin county COM
nittee on state issues, which will be issued
in pamphlet form.
Members of the state and county commit
tee are highly pleased at the idea, and state
capitol officials commend it as a useful de-
parture.
! Senator Young Of Appleton was enthusias-
tic when informed of the plan. He said:
The time has gone for poor campaign
| speeches No matter how far out in the
| country you go, you have to have something
| to say that is new in order to interest an
audience and it must be accurate, too, or
you will find yourself corrected. A poor cam
! paign speech is a good deal worse than no
! speech at ALL The Minneapolis plan ought 10
| be carried out and there ought to be no more
| indiscriminate sending out of unprepared men
| to preach party doctrines.
Chairman Matchan, of the county campaign
| committee, indorses the idea. He believes
that some central and responsible committee
| should have the direction of campaign speak
| ers even to the extent of furnishing them
with lines Of argument. More effective work
can be done by determining on the points to
be made, and hammerlng persistently on
| those points, in an intelligent manner, than
| by the usual scattered fire.
| The plan, if carried out as intended, will
] doubtless result finally in crystallizing Of
| campaign material in a few meaty docu-
| ments which will furnish the texts for all
| the campaign speeches. In doing this the
| committee on state issues will be giving valu-
able assistance to the party outside Hennepin
I county.
| A noticeable feature Of the meeting Mon
day evening was the kindly feeling mani
| tested toward the state administration. 1t
! was an entirely informal gathering, and every
| cne present was expected to speak his mind
| fully and freely, but If there were any sore
heads present they failed to make themselves
| known, and references to the work of the
state administration were very we'll received.
S. T. johnson, who Win assume the duties
| of public examiner ia i. l. is now in the
east where he is looking over the systems
! of other states and acquiring valuable in
| formation.
| Very little has been said about his prospeo-
tive office force. The impression at the cap
itol is that Mr.. Johnson will not make po-
litical appointments, but will look solely to
fitness, being only anxious to keep the de-
partment up to its present high standard Of
| efficiency, or If possible better. 1t is quite
| likely that some Of the present staff will be
retained, for time at least. &C. B. c.