Arizona republican., 1903-06-02
Protecting the Weak Races.

At special election held in the SeV- enth Kansas congressional district few days ago. Victor Murdock' the republican candidate, was elected ny the stupendous plurality of l5.OOO over his democratic and populist opponents and his majority over all candidates against him was about 12,OOO. The former representative. Chester l. Long, was elected to the United States senate last January, and the district had been without a congressman since the 4th of March. The election of a republican by such a stunning majority from the district which for so many years sent "Sockless" Jerry Simpson to congress would of itself be worth the attention of the country as proving that Kansas has become altogether sane once more, but MT. Murdocks victory is peculiarly remarkable because of the fact that he did not make a speech during his cam paign.
 Mir Murdock, who is a young man oi the middle thirties. is managing editor of the Wichita Eagle, and while he IS one of the most brilliant writers in me profession he has the belief that he can't make speech. Oppressed oy this belief. he announced when nomi- mated that he would do no spell-bind- ing. but would make hand-shaking canvass of the district. Incidentally he remarked to some of his newspaper friends. he proposed to test the theory which he had long entertained namely, that votes are not made by speeches, and that individual hand shakes are worth far more than un- limited oratory. Accordingly, he traV- eled for six weeks and personally met every voter that he could. The dis patches have it that he has carried every precinct in the district. It having been widely advertised that MT. Murdoek was making an experiment. 1t is possible, of course. that the voters took advantage of the opportunity to give. on behalf of the long-suffering American citizen, Q broad hint to ora tors everywhere. No congress district has had q greater surfeit of political eloouence than the Seventh Kansas, and we surmise that MT. Murdock's wonderful majority should be confid- cred not only cumulative evidence of the sound republicanism of the Sun flower state. but a testimonial Of gratitude from the electorate.
 Seriously, we doubt if any party or any candidate gains anything, as rule. from speech making. Converts to a political creed are not made by speeches. They are made by fair presentation Of facts in newspa oers, and by editorial comment. To be sure. magnetic. popular speaker may gain a sprinkling Of personal adherents rom the opposite party. but he is quite as likely to lose supporters in his own party through indiscreet sentences in his speeches. Indeed, in every cam paign the candidate himself or some body speaking In support of him makes verbal breaks which drive away some of the faithful. At the end Of the canvass the tired candidate is lucky ii he can truthfully say that he is no weaker because of the speeches which have been made for him.
 We do not share in the belief tha: there has been a decline in the quality of oratory. The general average of education is much higher today than at any time in the past. and political speeches generally show more thought. culture and ability than the hamboyant eioquence to which Americans of a generation ago were treated. But there has been a marked decline in the effectiveness of political speeches. Citi- gems listen. interested and duly enter tained, and then think for themselves.
 Voters have also learned that the orator Is not the most useful man in congress. Congressional work that counts is done In the committee room and by quiet effort among the members individually. It is very probable that Victor MurdCck will be more success full In getting things" for his district than any of the members who place reliance on the gift of gab.
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