Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-28
The Ninth of the Series of Ar
ticles on Practical Politics.
NEXT STEP In THE WORK
The Use of Money in a Campaisn-Is
Regarded as Legitimate to Spend
Campaign Funds for Nearly Every
thing Except Bribery.
Article TX,

AS the campaign now progresses the
labors of the county and precinct COM
mittees increase. In addition to the
general work heretofore enumerated
the individual voter must receive con-
siderable attention.
While the speakers, the writer's, the
special pleaders, and other agents are
trying to convince him that it is best
to vote their ticket. another class of
agents must not only see that he is
qualified to vote, but that he is ia
miliar with the mechanical process OF
casting his ballot
Most of the states have adopted
what is known as the Australian bal
lot in some form, and as the laws gov
erning this method of voting are some
times very complicated, it is neces-
sary that each new voter and many of
the old voters should be carefully in
structed as to how to mark their bal
lots.
This work is frequently assigned to
the precinct committeeman, who are
first carefully drilled for the purpose.
In any event such instruction must be
given direct to each voter who is not
known to be thoroughly familiar with
the law.
The poll of each precinct has no
doubt been completed, and several
weeks before the election it is care
fully corrected. 1t should furnish the
information which the committee will
require in order to begin the work.
The student should revise and cor,
rect the poll of his precinct which he
made early, and he will, by this time,
have discovered its value His knowl-
edge of election laws so freshly OBJ
tanned will qualify him for an instruc,
tor; and he should volunteer for that
work.
Sometimes regular schools are held,
with sample ballots, boxes, judges,
etc. which is a good plan. Some
times instructions are given privately
to each voter, and sometimes a COM
bination of both plans is used. No
matter how instruction is given, the
student should never rest until he
knows how to mark his ballot and
knows it so well that he, Will not be
likely to make a mistake through ner-
vousness or any other cause.
The student should also see that ev-
cry voter is made thoroughly ac-
quainted with his rights and duties as
voter, and should never cease to i'm
| press upon him the Importance of ex-
ercising the right of suffrage.
Registration.
The poll, being fully revised, Should
} receive a final examination prepare
tory to registration. In some places
. registration is necessary in order to
vote, in others it is not, but whether
: it is or not, the student should see
: that every voter in his precinct is reg
istered. The man who is registered
: whether it is necessary or not, is
more likely to vote on election day
than he who is not registered.
The student should carefully review
his study of the laws governing regis
tration, SO that he may make no mis-
take, and should prepare himself care
fully for the work.
The work of getting the vote regis
tered is so similar to that of getting
out the vote on election day that il
will be discussed under the latter
. head only and will be treated in q
later lesson, which should, of course
be studied carefully.
Use of Money in Politics.
7 At this point it would be well fo
the student to give some attention tt
the important question of the use o
money in elections.
In undertaking this course of study
it is presumed that he determined tt
do nothing illegal and nothing which
he might feel was dishonest and as il
legal and dishonest action in polite.
l Is generally associated with the use o
money, he ought, by this time, to have
made I'D his mind as to how far h,
: might go in the use of money withou
violating his principles.
I Some states have laws limiting tn,
: amount of the campaign expenses of ;
, candidate, while nearly all states hav,
$ laws forbidding the use of money il
elections except for certain purposes
! and although laws of this kind are us
4 ually violated with impunity, he Shout,
I observe them scrupulously.
g Men absolutely honest differ in opir
e ion as to what may be called legiti
:. mate or Legitimate use of money il
: order to gain party success, and, with
I in the laws, each mans conscienc
: must be his guide.
e 1t is generally conceded that it i
proper to use money for the followin
purposes:
# To pay the rent of the headquarters
employ clerical help, purchase station
!, cry, postage stamps and furniture.
d To purchase and distribute liters
S ture, including flags, banners, poster:
:, badges, etc, and even to establis
l. newspapers and distribute them fire.
l. to the people.
e To pay the expenses of speakers, t
3 hire halls, and pay the other expense
e attendant upon public meetings, il
J. Guiding the cost of running free train
h to such meetings
e. To furnish vehicles for the conve,
e ance of voters to the polls, includin
II those at a distance, where the railroa
e fare has to be paid.
y To pay the naturalization fee of a
d lens, and even to pay the expense c
/ taking them before the court for the
purpose.
< To pay the salaries of men emplo,
l. ed in making polls, in spreading poll
6 zeal doctrine, and in getting out tn