Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-04

Registration being over the prepare
tons for election day begin.
The literature is all distributed, the
speakers are paying their last compli-
ments to the people, and while all the
various schemes for making converts
and rousing enthusiasm continue in
operation, but few changes in votes
are expected from this time forward.
The work of the national and state
committees during the last week con
sists mainly of watchfulness. They
are in constant communication with
local committees and are prepared TO
advise well and quickly on every ques-
ton which may arise affecting the IL
terest of the party.
The county and precinct committees
redouble their efforts. Every prepar
alton for the final struggle is made
for any relaxation during the closing
days may lose the party all that it has
gained during the campaign. The
work of making converts and holding
their own voters in line, to which so
much money and labor has been de-
voted, may all. be thrown away by a
single error, and local managers, real
izing this, bring to bear all their abil-
| tiles and energies in order to garner
the harvest of votes so carefully cul-
| tivated.
| 1t is customary for the county COM
mlttee to call in the precinct commit
! teemen and workers in final confer
ence early in the week preceding the
election. Final reports are made, fin
al instructions are given, and all pos,
sible contingencies are provided for.
OF course the student should be pres
ent at these meetings, and he should
try to remember everything that takes
place. His work in his own precinct
will have made him acquainted with
the people and the conditions there,
and it will naturally be his field of du-
ty. For the purpose of instruction we
VIII suppose him placed in charge Of
his precinct, whether he be in charge
or be an assistant the suggestion will
be equally applicable.
He should gather around him The
committeeman and workers of his pre-
cinct, and they should go over the pol
of the precinct for the information they
require. They should understand
that no man is certain to vote. no mat
ter how earnest and enthusiastic ne
may have been during the campaign
and therefore no voter should be los
sight of until his vote is deposited il
{ the ballot box The names of all the
members of the party should be drawn
off in groups, each group assigned Il
a capable person pledged to see tina
i the men whose names are entrusted
S to him get to the polls and cast thei
v ballots.
. In order to make the work of TIL
u precinct committee clear it will ~
well to take an imaginary precinct ea
e listing under ordinary conditions. w
/. will suppose the precinct to contain 40
voters $50 of which are divided equa
= ly between the two principal parties
e the others doubtful or belonging t
e other parties The student finds tha
e he has 100 votes for his own party t
handle The poll shows that two {
these are sick and unable tc get to tn
polls without assistance, three are oil
e. and feeble, one is cripple, and tiv
are Indifferent and will not vote III
less conveyed to and from the pol!
20 one is at work in a neighboring tow
- and cannot afford to come home
T. vote unless transportation is furnis]
a, ed him, two are students at distar
. college and are in the same condition
and two are railroad trainmen who's
~ duties prevent their getting home tn;
III day.
e. The sick, the old, the feeble. tt
n crippled and the Indifferent are assig
= ed to certain committeeman and wor
ers. preferably their intimate friend
d if it can be arranged II the count
n committee has done its duty the a
ID sent workman and the students ha'
y, been provided with transportation,a al
= arrangements have been made to G
Il substitutes for the absent trainmen
IN this has been done the student shou
he