The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-16
ANCIENT POLITICAL POSTERS.
POmpefi and Rome Were Placarded mt
Election Time.

Ethelbert Stewart in Chicago News
Political billposting is not new. The
walls of buildings and even OF tombs in
Pompeii preserve large numbers OF them.
There was billDoeters' union in Cos, one
in Pompeii and one in Rome. OF 1850 po-
litical electioneering inscriptions so far
Transcribed and translated 1,3O0 are from
Pompeii. In the better parts of Pompeii
the posters are for candidates for the more
important offices and are very respectful
and voters. The earlier notices OF the days
Of the republic simply give the name OF the
candidate and the Office with the simple
Sometimes just the initials "V. B." are
added TO his name. The earlier inscrip-
tions are seldom signed by any person or
party as making the recommendations.
Later such signs as this became frequent:
Make Publius Fuvius duumvir, L beg OF
you; he is good man.,
In one case a candidate for dilumvir Ia
advertised i'm the fashionable wards as "a
youth OF singular modesty. In regard to
one aspirant for Office we are informed that
''he will be the watch dog of the treasury
-hic aerarium conservabit- One says:
His neighbors request the election or IT,
berius Caudius verus as duumvir.' Later
on this campaign gets personal and senti-
mental and We read in letters eight inches
long that This little sweetheart is work.
ing for the election of Claudius as dunn
vir." referring to Verus. In the poor mems
wards Of both Rome and Pompeii the no.
tees deal mostly with the election OF
aediles, since the duties OF these officials,
ern police board and partly that of in
spector OF public works, touched the in
terests Of the working classes-who were
not all slaves. as Is often supposed-in a
vital way. In some Of these cases the
tices are signed outright by officials OF
unions. but for the most part they are sim
ply appeals TO the various crafts, leaving
their source TO be surmised. One says:
THE BARRIERS recommend Trebius for the
office Of aedile." Another asserts: "All the
goldsmiths recommend Gaius Cuspius Pan
sa for the aedileship." A third makes this
appeal: LET all OF the craft Of fullers
unite on their candidate for the aedile-
ship"
Sometimes plebeians united with patri-
clans on a candidate. when the fruit
usually had candidate of their own, come
out with flaming sign: All the fruit
sellers, together with Helvius Vestalis. urge
the election of NJ. Holconius Priscus as
duumvir with judiciary authority" The
fruit sellers were always interested I'm mu-
nicpal elections, probably because OF IL
censes or of police protection. 1--WE find"
says Friedlander, that during the excite
ment over elections in Pompei such meE
as these were interested: Members OF the
union of wool sellers. OF salt workers. dom
In dry goods, in drugs, I'm fruits; also the
union of Bakers. hotel keepers. BARRIERS,
goldsmiths. A ball team also figures. as
well as two religious brotherhoods." To
this list could be added the tanners and
scores Of other unions mentioned in the
hundreds of political inscriptions. Either
signs.
Sometimes class hatred crops out, as
where the unions in one section OF the city
proclaim in red paint for Vatia as aedile.
and in the swell districts the following
sign appears: THE sneak thieves request
the election OF Vatia as aedile." And again:
THE whole company OF late drinkers and
they who come into your house when you
are asleep favor the candidacy of Vatia for
aedile." Ii Is quite apparent that some an
cient candidates for office were accused OF
being backed by the hoodlum element. But
N such is the record of Pompei what must
an election In Rome have meant? For Rome
had more trade unionists I'm one Industry
than there were inhabitants OF Pompeii.