The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-14
Travelling Men as Campaigners.

The travelling salesman is new fac
tor in politics. In quiet way the in
fluence of the fraternity has been felt
before, but nothing occurred to call
particular attention to it. In the spec
tacular state campaign just closed the
travelling men were an aggressive, pow
erful force in shaping public sentiment,
and it is admitted on all sides that they
are entitled to large share OF the
credit for the defeat of R. G. Dunn.
More than 80 per cent of the travel
ing men living and working in Mime
sofa enlisted themselves under the ban
ner of John A. Johnson, and, next to
selling goods, they made it their busl-
ness to make votes for johnson. They
talked johnson to customers whether
they sold them goods or not. On the
trains, in the hotels and on the streets
they did effective missionary work.
Their constant disinterested work was
at least an offset to the influence of the
spellbinders who toured the state in
behalf of Dunn.
Had it not been for the foolish mis-
take of the republican candidate in
publicly insulting the fraternity, their
work would not have been so unremit-
ting. He accused them of working at
the dictation of their employers. That
was an injustice that ranked, and af-
ter that speech the travelling men had
personal reason for their activity.
Before that time they had been oppos-
ing Dunn on principle.
There is no class Of men on earth
more independent. The travelling man
! is wide awake, resourceful and thinks
for himself. He does not take his opin.
ions secondhand, on politics or any
thing else, and the only orders he takes
from "the house, are those that tell
him how to sell goods.
AS class the travelling statesmen are
strongly against the railroad merger
They supported Van SAINT on that
ground two years ago, because they
knew the effect of railroad and othe1
consultations of capital on their bust
ness. For the same reason they were
against Dunn. They were also against
him because they did not like his rec
ord or the methods he used to secure
the nomination. These things and no
orders from headquarters led them tt
support johnson instead Of Dunn.
Some may see danger in class O.
commercial men taking stand togethe
in politics. There is no danger as Ions
as their stand is taken honestly, AM
the travelling statesmen are not the sor
of men who prostitute their opinions
They are not looking for political re
wards. They like honesty and fai
play in politics. It can only make 70
good results in politics to have such
class of men taking an active interest
If the office man had as lively a pa
Etical conscience as his peripateti
brother, it would be an excellent thing
The statesmen will never become a pc
litical machine. They may be factor
in future campaigns, but it will Away
be as volunteers and irregulars. The
will not spend their energies for dem
agogues or frauds, for they are me
with their eyes open, and they can Sc
thru a humbug as soon as any on,
Their Judgment is not infallible, an
on ordinary subjects sentiment anon
the fraternity is we'll divided Whe
they get together, as they did in tn
late campaign, there is some reaso
for it, and political managers will d
well to look and heed.
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