The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1908-08-29

Hello, Arthur, is that you? Say, we
want you at Albany tonight to fill in
until the old man gets there at a
quarter after nine."a
But 1 can't go. won't be ready
until next week"
.Well, you'll have to go, that's all.
We need YOU"
81 can't get to albany; the last
train for there left at Il this morn
ing"
That's all right; we have hired a
special for you. Keep the crowd un-
til the candidate can make it, and we
will see that you have some good men
up in your district next month
Several times week this converse
ton or one similar to it goes on from
national campaign headquarters dur
ing the heat of the political battle.
Representatives and senators lind
themselves absolutely at the mercy of
the man in charge of the
speakers bureau and when he
says go there is nothing that can
change his decision. Those who re-
fuse, if they ever do, run the risk Of
having all help from outside speakers
cut off from their districts, and many
Of them need not only this but other
assistance to keep them in their
places at Washington
When a man has once put himself
in the hands of this speakers bureau
he may as we'll put away his own
wishes and prepare himself to be
whirled from one end of the country
to the other, sleeping on trains, eat
ing where he may, and almost invari-
ably without any compensation ex-
cept the help which is sent to him in
return when he needs it. Speakers
must be delivered at a certain point
at a given time, for a disappointed
crowd costs votes, and it won't do to
risk the loss Of even a few votes in
many OF the states. So the great
fights go forward, special trains car
rying speakers, often piecing out the
journey by means of automobiles, and
even sending speaker flying from
one point to another in an engine
cab.
Political campaigns for the election
of president for the last eight years
have been robbed of some of the spec
tacular features which attend them
when an election is looked upon as
very close. The campaign just be-
ginning will be one in. which every ef-
fort will be put forth on both sides,
and no opportunities overlooked or
bets lost which might mean success
in November.
Modern business methods have
been adapted to political campaigns
as to other lines of work. The cam
paign of 1904 was conducted under
George B. Cortelyou with a snap and
vigor which marked it as one of the
most systematic of recent years. That
of 1908 will be as far in advance of
that of four years ago as the adoption
Of every modern Improvement to the
conduct Of a great business enter
prise can make it.
American politics is in no sense on
a business basis" in the sense in
which that term is sometimes used,
but the men who conduct it are those
trained to know the value of system
and when to discard system to enable
the accomplishment of coup, and
the campaign of 1908 is going to be
full Of surprises.
William H. Taft, and William J.,
Bryan are universally recognized as
men who will be able to wage a very
strong battle against each other. The
situation is very different from that
created by the nomination of Theo-
dore Roosevelt after he had filled out
the unexpired term of President Nc
Kinley. Many believe Mr.. Bryan has
gained strength and popularity, and
Republicans are confident that Mr..
Taft will prove equal to the task and
carry the party standard to victory.
Whatever may be the result of the
election the methods by which the re-
suit is arrived at will give the tlase
student of politics something new to
think about. Present plans of Mr..
Bryan contemplate tour of Ill the
doubtful states and addresses without
number. An orator Of ability and
mr. -7~