Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-15
WORKING THE WORKING MAN
&ecollectiOns Of Ben Butler Presiden-
tial Campaign in 1884.
BOOST "wORKHGMAE's FRIEND"
HuwOru 90 the Circus as the
Noted Psiitteisn-How But
Her's Candidacy was
FHfy Easineered.

Y 6AEAENNEMa
Nearly n quarter Of a century AGO the
national political situation strikinHly re-
nembled that Of today. Two crest parties
Arraycd against each other. with the ever
present prohibition issue and one OF two
1easer ones on the outside, gave promise
Of a battle royal at the polls on the fol-
lowing November. Through the clever
m-anipulations OF two Of the most astute
politicians the country has ever produced.
h old greenback party began 10 sit NJ
and observe under the title OF 1.-THE peo-
pies party with General Benjamin p
Butler az its candidate and fusion for its
object.
Important headquarters were opened ~
80 Union Square, New York. and It was
soon evident that an experienced head was
81 the helm. Campaign literature began 10
flood the mails. and the knowing ones
began TO smile when the name of William
"A Fowler. as chairman Of the executive
committee, appeared on the circulars. W
A Fowler had been chairman Of the ex-
ecutive committee Of the democratic party
during q former campaign and his ability
and energy had at once been recognized
Speakers were engaged and sent out in
all directions; money flowed lavishly. A
sort Of underground connection between
10 union Square and the Fifth Ave.
nue. hotel and the interest shown in the
peoples party by some prominent poll
aicians eoon caused the report that the
campaign was a republican party side
show. thinly disguised.
One morning I went to the office of the
bid Park fheater. now Lew Fields Herald
Square theater, and was handed a note.
hsing informed that the messenger who
Ieft Il had called back for an answer the
second time. The note bore the heading
Of the peoples party and requested me
TO call at the Union Square office. As It
was signed by W. A. Fowler I at once went
60 the headquarters and was soon in con-
Buitaticn with the keen old manipulation
Of men n things.
{ Making n Noise.
SCharfey," said he, 1--WE want to make q
noise that viii be loud and long; that win
begin Rt once and continue until the first
of November. Meet me tonight at the
Fifth Avenue ana decide II you viii under
take q real oldsfashiuned circus boom for
khe peoples candidate for president. and II
SO, on what terms. This much is impOr-
tant. you are to begin at once. can have
all the help you want, and will not be
Etinted as to money for expenses"
One morning a switch engine kicked the
boudoir car EteIka Gerster down through
the road and into a quiet corner Of the
great shed of the old Forty-second street
railway station. The placard Private dis
played ON each platform kept the travel
or away, but supply wagons came and
went. Henry Pickett, porter in charge, with
cook and waiter. checked off. the supplies
as they arrived But it was not until Gen
erai Butler. with Colonel Abergher, his sec
Rotary. paid a visit and was entertained at
luncheon that the startling truth dawned
on the political world.
The New York daily newspapers gave
the outfit a column description each the
next morning, and, in spite OF the usual
press agents efforts at secrecy, kept it
mp, with remarks both humorous and lurid
according e the political creed Of the yari7
Gus editors
From a room In the FIFTH Avenue hotel
the Avork OF manufacturing a boom soon
extended to the offices Of the Mann Bou-
dior Car then TO the general
offices OF the New York Central railroad.
where bundles OF printing. all packed. were
addressed to station agents along the lines
on which contracts had been made for
the hauling of the General Butler Spe-
rAI." These agents Instructed from the
operating offices Of the different roads
summoned the local blllposters, and in one
weeks time the dead walls and biIIboards
of every city. town and hamlet in the state
were covered with great posters announ-
cling that the hero OF New Orleans, the
peoples candidate for president. would
speak eithey in or near the towns wherein
these announcements appeared. A score of
agents started through the state at had
been decided to ~confine the campaign to
the then supposed doubtful state of New
York.. organizing reception committees TO
work up interest IN the speaking dates.
engage bands Of music and. in fact. insure
. crowd. Thus. by the adoption Of circus
methods the candidate Of the peoples party
was eagerly expected all over the state.
and the cause OF the common people began
20 assume important proportions.
The general was billed TO speak at Sara
toga October 1t at II O'Clock a m. Where
hs would arrive from or how was not
stated
The country was then ready for the cam
paign 10 open IN earnest. The scare
headline For He is a Working Man" the
FUN descriptions OF the cost and elegance
pf the car. the fact that II cost s35 900 and
was chartered at $50 a day until election.
and the list OF supplies for the tour made
fhe people OF the state eager to see the
gilded band wagon OF the party and hear
Ahe grizEled old warrior speak: and the
stories flashed over the wires were ali
used by the upstate press and read by
Ahe upstate people, often to the exclusion
hf more important matter. The Boston
GLOBE and the New York Sun vigorously
buppOrteS the movement.
4 oil far the whistle.
On the occasion of the generals first
visit TO the car the suggestion that he sam
pie the liquids provided for the trip was
met with an inquiry as to what We had
On beard Anything you wish to order. -
was the reply, We'll give me a little
Medford rum" came the answer like a
flash Nov. although the. or rather a, list
81 our supplies had been published and
commented on IN no complimentary way
Afor We had an extensive stock, We had
hO Medford. and the quiet mile OF the
Did general showed his satisfaction. He
loved victory. The next day a cab halted
before the door of the largest provision
house in the city.
@Have you any old Medford rumTs