The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-05-15

taShlOnable club, making Wild gueSSeS
with the rest of them as to how ma
tional politics looms up At twelve
that night you may be addressing for
ty or fifty people in little hall back
of some saloon. You must be pre-
pared to meet all kinds of people at a
minutes notice, and you must be able
to understand them and adapt your
self to them instantly and easily, or
you will be lost in political society.
Suppose you happen to drop in at
downtown headquarters where they
are waiting for meeting to be called.
There may be twenty to thirty men
about, some sitting in chairs reading
or talking, some at a card-table play
ing friendly game of cinch, others at
pOol-table or a billiard-table. Can
you play cards? Now, of course, it is
not absolutely essential that you can;
but if you can make hand at one
card-table or pocket eight balls from
the break or play fair game of bill
lizards you are a more welcome men,
Der of society in that strata of politi-
cal existence
And if it should happen that you
joined group at some Enlightened
political club, where some topics such
as literature, art, science, invention or
similar matters were being discussed,
and could hold your own in conversa-
ton, you were making a hand" there,
the same as at the more plebeian
game of cinch. Nothing that a man
has learned with his head or his hands
but what will come in handy in poll
tics.
Political club meetings, in the case
OF the downtown organizations, took
place every Sunday in my time. They
were enlivened by the admission OF
new members, the reading Of reports
and making Of motions, speeches, and
always something in the way Of d
vaudeville stunt by either a member
of the club or some outside talent
These downtown meetings were valu
able in bringing the leaders of the
different wards together and affordine
them an opportunity to exchange Pc
litical news and to discuss the coming
spring or fall campaign. They were
always largely attended, and it was 2
disgrace for any ward to be called
upon for information of any sort anC
not have representative on hand. A
disgrace that never knew to harper
but once. No matter what the weathe!
was the faithful" were on hand.
The president opened the meeting
and the utmost freedom of discussion
was allowed in any debate which
might arise. Sometimes a recess wa:
declared, and the men talked ant
smoked until the meeting was callet
to order again. 1t was amusing to se4
how those of the gathering who wer'
otfice-holders were regarded. If thei
} position gave them no "distributive'
power, they were looked on as merel,
! happy accidents" and not ranking a
all with those office-holders who hat
Jobs to sort out In neither of m,
own positions did l have the appoint
ment of even SO much as day-labore
at my disposal, so l was merely g;
lucky guy" In fact l was lucky i,
more ways than one, for not havin!
anything to give out l was not both
cred by applicants.
These meetings always arrange,
for the parades, the marching trip
and the grand balls" which wer,
given. Don't imagine it did not cos
anything to mingle in political society
polite and otherwise. You were abb
to buy tickets to the balls, chances OF
everything that could be rallied 70
the benefit of some needy politician
badges and gloves. plug hats to marcl