Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-22
THE LEoisLAToR.ELEcr
An Elections Aftermath a. Known hv
the Victor,

AFTER the tumult and the shouting Of |
political campaign, there il rest and i
peace for the defeated, says a writer in
The Boston Transcript. But for the
VICTOR begin new and strange expert
ences. The man just ushered into
ponucal power beholds a new heaven |
and a new earth. The perspective
changes. The armed camps Of public |
contests shift and fade from his sight. |
and he finds himself in the tents of the
generals OF his party-planning. con-
sidering, devising ways to help his
cause by pleasing all parties, or to out
general opponents in the giving Of good
things to the people without offending
any powerful faction Of his supporters.
AS the day Of election darkens into
evening the candidate relaxes a little
from the long strain Of the campaign.
II he can do SO he goes home for a little
while; II he cannot do this, he tele-
phones his wife that he feels certain he
has carried certain doubtful sections,
and promises to let her know the re-
suit as early as possible. Later in the
evening he gathers two or three con-
fidential friends about him, denies him
significant returns. In this waiting
hour self-revelatiOn Of the mans real
character is likely to come. II he is of
good, plucky stuff, he takes all returns
calmly. Reverses do not brighten him.
or if they do indicate grave danger of
defeat he is reserved and quiet. AS
favorable news gradually confirms his
fondest hopes, he becomes genial and
pleasant. and when the result is GER
tain he turns gratefully to his cam
paign manager to thank him warmly
for his long and well-managed cam
paign. Then the few leaders who real
ly control the party are called in, and
later he appears among his lieutenants
amid cheers and music to congratulate
them upon the victory Of the people in
a great crisis" and perhaps to make a
short speech. He is tired SO tired that
he wishes it all over.
He longs to get away and go and tell
his wife all about it. He wishes he did
| not have to stop to shake hands with
his friends just at this time. He won
| ders if his kilograms to his old friends
| away in the country, where few who
care much for him and little for politics
are waiting the news, has gone through
the mass of dispatches to their desti-
nation. He feels a happy, vengeful
thrill as he realizes how he has
knocked the political life out of that
despicable faction which turned
against him after he had helped and
paid them for years. He thinks of the
newspapers that lied about him and
blackened his reputation, and he Won
ders If now he cannot get decent people
to control them. Even as he thinks of
these things he has ordered refresh
ments for the crowd, arranged for those
he really wants with him in his new
political life to call in a day or two for
a general talk as to the future, and
contrived other plans for the future.
After while he finds that he can plead
fatigue without offence and retires
gladly to his home life. Once there he
takes brief congratulations from all his
household and drops to sleep worn out,
| usually sorry that his opponent must
be enduring that disappointment which
| is Ike death to bear.
The morning brings a day Of busy
attention to details. By his breakfast
plate are the kilograms of friends and
politicians that eagerly seek to get in
| to good relations with the man whose
political star is rising. They are a
harmonious song of joy. very poem Of
praise. Famous men have, it seems.
| watched his splendid championship of
| the partys cause with interest. Illus
| triOus names are signed to congratula-
tons that well may justify pride. The
| long career of craftsmanship to which
| he was plainly destined opens before
him. He is beginning the splendid
work for which he feels himself fitted.
| In his heart, too. he is waiting for the
word of the three or four unselfish
| friends whose opinions he really prizes.
Wise is that man who in his hour Of
triumph sees clearly that many of
those whom he has helped will sacrifice
his interests on the altar of political
| expediency and leave him to neglect,
| and only those of his blood and house,
hold and two or three good friends will
care for him and sacrifice for him
without hope of reward.
His first days walk abroad after
election is likely to be expensive. To
! furnish cigars ana other refreshments
| to those he meets is expected. and they
must be of excellent quality and be-
slowed upon friend or foe. This GUS
l tom Of the country is borne with a
| cheerful spirit, however, and the first
heralds of coming Office seekers are
listened to patiently. The man with
an ancient grievance seeks his coat
button with persistence. An iliiterate
| voter asks him to attend to affairs in
| Washington, not understanding that he
l has been elected to the State Legis-
lature. There are many demands for
| seeds and official reports, and the
newspapers begin to advise him as to
his proper course in the future, his Bit
terest opponents. of course, taking the
lead.
1t requires no time, he discovers. for
| politicians and political newspapers to
change front. The sheet" that but
yesterday held him up to the public as
a blatant demagogue will today speak
of his great natural ability and fine
| prospects and put him on its lists for a
free subscription to the paper during
/ his term Of Office. The men that LED
bitter fight against him till the last
vote was counted will assure him that
| they opposed him only on party
grounds and that in their hearts they