Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-03-14
j -
Practical
Politics
.. Bly,.
WILLIAM II. HINRICHSEN
Xu.-Review Of Work.

luc lctuluS VI Lie 01eCIlOu are
- u known and printed the stu
dent should arrange all his
data and make review Of his politi-
cal work and experience during the
year.
He should compare his predictions
with the, results and determine the
causes Of the variations between them.
He should endeavor to estimate in
votes the value of each class of work,
and should also endeavor to estimate
the relative value Of the different
classes Of literature, of the different
kinds of speeches, of the different
kinds of meetings.
Comparing Methods With Results.
The effectiveness Of all special fea-
lures should be considered and he
should also compare the effectiveness
of the different schemes for vote get
ting
The errors and defects Of the organ
Aation should be written out for fu-
ture use. In short, he should, by COM
pairing the work Of the campaign with
the results in different localities en-
deavor to ascertain what should have
been done that was not done to in
crease the strength Of his party.
In this connection he should study
with great care conditions and results
In his home precinct and should try
to solve the question as to whether he
could have done anything to increase
the vote of his party in that territory.
What the Student Has Learned.
The student has now concluded this
course of study in practical politics.
1t has lasted about a year, and if he
has been intelligent and industrious it
has not interfered seriously with the
ordinary business in which he has
been engaged. Just here it is we'll to
Inquire what knowledge he has ac-
squired during that period.
While pursuing his political studies
and performing his political labors he
has seen and learned many things Of
which no mention has been made. I'M
Dresslons and information not to be
found otherwise have been forced up
son him, and he has learned more Of
practical value than he could have
learned in three years in an ordinary
school.
He has become we'll acquainted with
the history of his country, the manner
In which it is governed and by whom.
He knows the geography of the coun-
try, and it's map in all it's details is so
thoroughly impressed upon his men,
~ory that it can never be erased.
He has become well acquainted with
all the people in his immediate locality
and has formed the acquaintance Of
hundreds of others in his county and
state and from other states.
He has learned to write and talk in
telligently and logically.
He has learned to handle details, to
grasp broad questions and to obey and
give orders.
He has learned men and the springs
that move them and has got rid Of
many false and sentimental notions
which old age sometimes fails to erad-
dcate
He has learned to think broadly, to
respect the opinions of others and to
average up man for his real worth.
In addition to all this his knowledge
of theoretical and practical politics
has equipped him for leadership in po-
litical life, if he desires it, and if he
should decide to enter the field as an
aspirant for political honors he can do
so without embarrassment and with
out fear of the many dangers which
threaten the new candidate. If he
! should be called to fill public posi-.
ton of honor or trust, he will find him.
self well equipped for the duties he is
to perform and will be able to avoid
the rocks upon which so many officials
have been broken.
If he should not care to hold Office.
his requirements will make him val:
ued citizen in matters other than those
political, and he will almost imme-
, OldIely occupy pOSltAcu III Stdte duu
civic affairs which many men spend
twenty years in obtaining.
General Observations.
There is popular notion that active
participation in politics Injuries bust
ness man. This is not necessarily true.
OF course, a man who never studies
political questions and who does not
recognize the courtesies of politics,
but through prejudice, blind partisan
ship and ignorance embraces the belief
OF certain party, can see no good in
any other and never misses an oppor
tunity to abuse the members and can
djdates of other parties, must injure
]. his business and destroy his natural in
. fuence in the community. - :.
On the other hand, the man who acts
on honest conviction, who can success
fully defend his principles and who
I practices the courtesies which a study
1,f notifies inculcates will enjoy the