Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09

ments; Mr. McKinIey's voice was certainly
a potent factor in deciding what should be
put out in his two campaigns. and there IS
at least a possibility that Mr.. Roosevelt
will have something to say about the re-
publican documents this year. But no mat
ter who else has finger in the document
pie, the chairman must necessarily exercise
the guiding hand If he is to be chairman
in fact as we'll as in name. Mr.. Hanna un-
derstood this very well, and exercised his
prerogative accordingly.
The Text Book.
The campaign text book Is beyond all
others the most important document of the
campaign, and Its preparation involves the
most anxious care. 1t must present prac-
tically all the strong points of the party
and the candidate. 1t must be packed with
.acts and figures. and the facts and figures
must be SO accurate and SO we'll arranged
that the opposition cannot easily pull them
apart or refute them. The book must not
only present the strong points of Its own
party and candidate, but 1t must select the
weakest points of the opposing party. 1t
must be well 1ndexed too, and 1t must cover
all loopholes, since it is to be used as
book Of reference both by the speakers who
go forth to convince the voters, and the
editors OF the party papers in all parts OF
the republic.
Generally, the text book is the product OF
many trained minds Senators and repre-
sentatives, famous political leader writer's,
hnanciers and tariff specialists all take
hand, each furnishing something for the
chapters about the subject on which he is
best informed. There was a text book one
year, however, which was produced almost
without help by politico-journalstic ge-
MUS, who shut himself utterly away from
the world for the space of fortnight while
he turned out the work.
No one in authority except the chairman
meant to have the text book got up In that
way. and there was much grumbling about
1t while the book was being put together.
The grumbling became a howl of dismay
soon after the first copies were received at
headquarters, when 1t was discovered that
the genius had forgot all about the index.
The bowling was redoubed when 1T was
seen that one Of the chapters took ground
on a certain important question in dia-
metr1cal opposition to the published and
known views of the candidate on that sub
tect. Naturally, there followed the most
frantic efforts to prevent the opposition
from getting hold Of an early copy an in
dex was at once prepared, and the objec-
ionable chapter was changed radically.
Planting the Seed.
The arrival of the first copies of the text
book at executive headquarters is a red
letter day in every campaign. Until then
everybody in the bureau Of publicity and
the bureau of oratory Is working somewhat
In the dark, because the keynote has not
yet been struck. AS soon as the books
come In there is a general re-energizng of
forces, SO to speak Copies are hastily sent
away to the intending speakers and to the
newspapers, and every one feels that the
real work of the campaign is about to
begin.
Naturally, each executive committee is
almost as anxious to get hold of the oppo-
sltlon text book as 1t is of it's own and 1t
has happened that advance COPIES have
round their way into the enemy's camp
through the literally tipped hands of en-
pioyes in the printing offices where the
books were turned out
Unlike most of the documents, the text
BOOK Is not always circulated generally
among the voters. Thus a party may have
definite financial policy which 1t is desir-
able to give chief prominence In one state
and definite tariff policy which should be
made the all-important feature of the cam
pafgn in another. The text book will en-
phasize both of these policies alike, but it
would be folly to force finance upon the
voters in a state which cared only for tar
iff, or to crowd tariff down the threats of
voters in a state where money was the
chief issue.
Scattered Carefully.
The w.se executive chairman, then, may
need to that the text book emphasiz-
ing all the party's policies, goes only to
the party leaders who are well rooted and
grounded in the true political faith, reserv-
ing for the general of voters In each
state those documents that enforce the doc
trines with which they are most in SYM
pathy. 1t is political tradition that an
important state was all but lost to one of
the big parties in one of the most recent
important elections because money docu-