Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-24
primaries, and make list of important
ncpeRdpnfS eSfa hliShod

Study the forms prepared for use
In primaries, the forms of party plat
forms and the forms of official calls.
Discuss all these matters with men
OF experience until you have acquired
all the information possible.
It is in making nominations that the
eorruptionists of a party prove the
most subtle in trickery, and you should
endeavor to inform yourself on every
scheme they have in hand in order to
meet it.
In selecting candidates from the as
pirants for nomination you will fire.
quently find yourself embarrassed.
You will sometimes be compelled to
make choice between friends or be-
tween men SO nearly equal in every
way that you will find it difficult to
make up your mind.
A party candidate should always be
In full accord with his party princi-
pies as you understand them and
fitness for the position he seeks should
be unquestioned, and he should be
prepared to make a thorough canvass.
Do not be deceived into supporting
Tor the nomination a man brilliant in
one particular direction and weak in
others. Because a man is q good law
| yer, without business ability, do not
| support him for position where bust
ness ability is required. An all
around man of fair ability makes bet
! ter candidate and better public Off
Ger than a brilliant specialist. Avoid
| supporting mere theorists or extrem-
| lists. \ sensible. conservative man of
good standing is always to be pre-
ferred. And. above all things, avoid
supporting man too easily influenced
by others or whose obstinacy reaches
the stage of stubbornness.
| Having made up your mind as to
| which candidates are best, see as
many of the members of your party in
your precinct as YOU can and endeavor
to get them to view the subject as you
do. Call in your helpers in making the
| poll and enlist them in the work. Visit
every house in your precinct if it
seems necessary and rouse up your
people to the necessity for action. 1t
is not only necessary to secure a ma
jority of your party in favor Of your
men. but you must secure the active
cooperation of that majority. Four
| fifths of the members of your party
may sympathize with your views and
plans and still you may be defeated
through inability to utilize this aid.
If the nominations are to be made
by primary vote, the first thing for
you to do is to see that the primary
election officers are fair, honest men
who will permit no frauds in voting or
in the count If you have any doubt
of them, take measures to have good
watchers inside the voting place.
| Organize committee Of those who
agree with you for the purpose Of get
| ting out the vote. Hold frequent meet
ings and go over the situation careful
~ each time.
l will not at this time discuss the de-
tails of the work of getting out the
! vote, as the subject will be fully treat
! ed in the lesson on election day
work." with which it corresponds
fully.
If convention or caucus is to be
held. a full attendance of all those in
sympathy With you is necessary, and
they must come prepared to stand to-
gether.
You should, with your organization
plan a programme and carry it out. 4
capable floor leader should be selected
with corps of assistants. Men should
be selected to perform each part of the
work. and each should be fully in.
formed as 10 his duties. In selecting
your managers be careful to find men
who are clear headed and who will not
be alarmed by threats of violence.
Thus prepared you can enter upon
the final struggle with the assurance
that even should you be defeated yOl
will have gained experience and infor
nation that will be valuable in the fu
ture.
From the foregoing it is not to b.
supposed that you shall lead in the
contest in which you are engaged
You may be chosen for that position
but you are more likely to be fount
working in the ranks. Whatever duty
is assigned to you perform it faithfully
and, whether you lead or follow, take
an active part in all meetings, caucus
es and consultations. If you have car
ried out the work heretofore outlined
your opinions and advice will be valu
able and will be we'll received.
Copyright, 1902, by Lewis D. Sampson