The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-07-09

a IA est of sophists. There is
usually little to be gained
n what he says, but, to "the
Poundlings," there is deep sig.
hincance in the way he saws
out, to the groundlings,' there is a
aeep significance in the way he says
1t. We had orators in the ward and
In the city, the common, native gar
den variety of "wind-jammers. and
the exotic, or imported variety of
"1aw-smiths." Oratory at its best is
rather lost art and the political ora
tor Is good example of lost artist.
we never expected to influence voting
in the ward on account of speech.mak-
ing. The Republicans went to Repub.
llcan meetings and the Democrats
went to Democratic gatherings. and
the applause that the speakers re-
ceived was simply the Jolly" that
their own crowd was handing them,
and there you had it.
Occasionally a man might drift in
where some really witty and able
talker was rousting out the "chin-mu-
Sic and be impressed little, but af-
ter he had gone home and slept over
1t, and appeared at the polls, he would
get the same old ticket and vote 1t in
the same old way. | heard the orators
In an early day who were orators, but
did not hear them in the political cam
paigns. Bob Ingersoll and Emory
Storrs were orators the like of whom
/ shall hardly hear again, but it was
not for me to be dazzled by the gilt.
tering generalities or clumsy plati-
tudes of these "silver-tongued' orators
of the hastings, no matter whether
they were of my own party or not /
liked good, sensible talk, but the
average line of bunk" handed out by
the ground and lofty tumblers of the
city campaigns was something to
make a man laugh.
And yet the custom had grown so
strong that nothing could apparently
mittee on halls, and the committee on
speakers, and there was racing and
chasing of cabs and a mounting of
platforms by anxious candidates, and
a great desire to present to the citi-
zens the tissues of the day and So
licit their suffrages on election day.
And who attended these meetings?
Why, mainly, the boys" The pre-
cinct captains, the members of the
ward clubs the hangers-on that only
knew Andrew Jackson as the name OF
a cigar, the men on the pipe-extension
gangs, the ward superintendent, the
men down in the city hall, the sewer
diggers, laborers, etc. who are work
ing for the city, and the payroll bril-
gade" in general.
And where was the private citizen?
Why, he was at home, reading the
evening paper, playing with the cat,
having a quiet little game of "cinch
at ten cents a corner five cents
a "set-up" and Tommy around to the
Dutchman's with the big white pltcher'
Much he cared for oratory If he got
n letter from the managers of the cam
paign, or maybe a letter from a may
orally candidate he opened 1t ana
read it, and possibly speculated III
tie AS to the truth of 1t, but, as a rule
he did not bother himself much ms 10
the meetings.
There was an exception TO TINS
however, when the candidate Tor al
derman or the candidate for mayor
anpeared in a ward. Then the citizens
generally went to the meetings buI
not to hear what were glDly terlheu
"issues" discussed. But to look at the
candidate. size him up, and see wheth-
er they liked him, and II he iookeu
like man who could fill the JOB
They didn't care for his 'oratory, I'M
less he could tell them a good story
or roast" the opposition Candidates
wittilv. and then he was indeed
star"
The appearance of the may;
orally candidate was, OF course,
tl.s great event OF a warn
campaign. and filled the halls
70 oyerfowing. Boys and women IN
the galleries. and even the alsies
tanned Perhaps some sitVel
tongue" would be making the "eiAlh
ring with a passionate declamatory
hurst about "the thirteen strusellhs
colonies" these are the times that
try mems souls" when in the course curse
of human events" or some o'ne '
Saue" borrowed from school history,
q war pamphlet or the deelara'io .poua
when all at once ''e'' !