Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-02-21
POLITICAL SPOTTiNG.
Development of a Business Enter
prise Involving Millions.

prise Involving MiIIions.
Political spotting Is recent de-
velopment of the profession. but it has
become necessary in the establish
ment of political campaigning as a
business enterprise involving millions
of dollars capital and run on strictly
scientific principles. Every state
chairman has at his command a corps
Of trusted workers. Now this term
has a wide range of meanings, varying
in reputability. In some cases, 1t
desgnates the men who use money
where it will do the most good; in
others, the men who look after these
disbursers to see that the money is
actually used where it will do the
most good to the party and not to the
handler of it. But, as rule the Sc
cret service fund is distributed only
among those in whom the party man
ayers have the utmost confidence, and
the work of the spoilers along this
line is not extensive
"To this corps falls the task of
guarding against fraud on the part of
election officers when election day
comes. They are supposed to be en-.
cyclopedias Of information as to the
spending of money by the other side,
and to block off in one way or an
other, either by threats or counter
persuasion, any attempts to corrupt
the men who register or count the
votes. There is no doubt that many
schemes are frustrated in every cleo
ton on both sides by the activity of
this service.
This species of service is continual
ly in demand to keep headquarters in.
formed as to the progress and pertin
ence of various budding party organi,
cations. For instance, word is receiv-
ed that the intercollegiate Hammer
Throwers' Mckinley and Roosevelt
Marching club has organized with a
membership of fifty, and would be
glad of little financial aid toward
furnishing their club-rooms. Now all
these organizations are promoted by
professional organizers who do not re.
gard virtue as its own reward, at least
in political sense, but hope for some.
thing more tangible This they get
if their labors are worth votes to the
party. AS soon as the notification is
received a spotter is quietly sent ont
from headquarters to rubber around
the locality and find out whether the
new club has an existence otherwise
than on paper. Another matter where
in the political spoilers judgment is OF
value to headquarters is that of
campaign oratory. Scores of spell
binders are sent out in every lively
campaign to all parts of the state
Each man has outlined his speeches,
and had them censored by the pow
ers that be, for the managers don't
want any 'Burchardism,' to crop out
and spoil their campaign Lest the
spellbinder should be traitor in dis.
guise, or have ambitions to launch out
into unauthorized by-paths of elo.
quence, trusted worker is set on
his trail to make report on his
speeches. This report also includes
an estimate of the spellbinder's effect.
iveness and popularity with his audi.
ences. Many of these useful adjuncts
to political party are minor office.
holders, and in addition to the hope
draw $40 or SIS a week for their work,
while still others are volunteers. No
body but the managers themselves
know what men are doing the con,
fidential work of a campaign. S. II,
Adams in Ainslee's.