Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-17

~HE next WORK 10 De taken up IS
that of taking census of the
voting district in which you
live, or making a poll, as it is
usually called
If you have studied thoroughly the
preceding lessons, you are we'll
equipped for. the work now before you.
A poll is not a mere list of voters,
with the party label of each person
opposite his name. To be of value to
the student and to the organization it
must contain practically a full descrip-
ton and history Of each voter. No one
must be omitted from the list, and the
data must be accurate. A single error
casts discredit on the poll and makes
it almost valueless to the committee.
| Taking poll is regarded as the
most important mechanical work of
! the campaign and should never be in
trusted to any but the most reliable.
persons.
1t is possible that the party organiza-
ton may prefer not to trust the poll
of the student, but no objection can
be made to his taking it on his own
account, and it's accuracy can be tested
by comparing it with that taken by
the regular agent of the committee. If
it proves to be all right, it will be used.
| You should make careful prcpara
tons for taking this poll. Consult the
chairman of your committee as to the
data he requires and then make note
of every other item of information re-
garding each voter which you may
think will be of any use to you or to
the committee.
You should not use the ordinary
book furnished by the committee for
your field work, but procure blank
book, of a size to be conveniently car
ried in your pocket, in which to make
your first notes, which may be neatly
transcribed into the regular poll book.
This book should be large enough to
give each voter page instead of a
line, as is customary. This page should
contain at the top the name and num-
Der or location of the voter. Then
should come his occupation, place Of
business, ct cetera; then his politics,
religion, nationality, former political
affiliations and views on special issues
in the campaign. All these, expressed
by authorizations, will take up another
line. This will conform to the regular
requirements Of the committee, but
you should not stop there.
You should fill the page assigned to
each voter with all the information
you can obtain concerning him, most
Of which can be expressed in abbre-
viations. The following data should be
obtained: Married or single or widower;
number of boys and ages; number
of girls and ages; number at home;
whereabouts Of others; if married, to
whom; politics Of wifes family; rela-
'tives Of wife or Of the voter holding
Office or public contracts, full account;
habits, age and financial condition; if
tenant, who is landlord; if employee
who is employer; if employer, how
many men. Is he against any one on
his ticket? Is he a kicker? What
newspaper does be read? Is he ambi
tious to hold Office? Is he enthusiastic
or Indifferent? Was he soldier? Does
he draw a pension? Does he always
vote? Does he ever split his ticket
Does any one control him? Whom
does he influence in politics? TO what
secret societies does he belong? Has
he hobbies? And many other things OF
the kind that will occur to the stu
dent in special cases should be noted.
or course, in the case of q vel
known man, much of the above may
be omitted, but in general it will be
, found convenient to have all such in
formation regarding every one a
hand.
: should personally visit every house. Il
you find no one at home or find NJ
one who can give you the information
you desire, note the fact and cal
= again.
, Be careful to get the name Of every
: voter in each house and full infoSna
ton concerning him. Be particular tt
make such inquiries as will elicit til,
fact Of his being a legal voter ant
make careful note of the fact If tn
T head Of the family is at home, tell hin
your name and try to get we'll enough
acquainted so that he will remember
you, and you must prepare to remem
Der him. Do the same with the mem
bers of his family and try to create :
:, good impression upon all. You will, a.
a rule, find this easy to do.
If any voter living in the house Il
: absent, call on him again or see him a
q his place of business. Be sure that 70,
personally meet every voter and stud!
his face, form and manner so that 70,
can address him by name whenever
you may meet him. Do the same, s.
,, far as it is possible, by the members O
his family.
} You will be asked many politica
e questions, and your previous studies
will enable you to answer them cor
rectly and intelligently, and 70,
l should always do So
Pick up, so far as you can, the taste
OF his family, for you may be able t.
crafty them by sending them litera
l ture, seeds, etc., which you may b.
, able to obtain. In short, make ever,
effort to get we'll acquainted and o.
pleasant terms with every voter an