The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-14

The management of a National campaign | is a matter of business well as politics Some of the most successful managers in the National as well as in local politics have been men who won their spurs in com. meroial affairs long before they took an | interest in things political Mark Hanna 1 is notable example. Prior to 1Sg6 he was looked upon as a successful business man rather than as a politician, Yet when he entered the field of politics, Hanna wal able to defeat such veterans as Joe Man ley of Maine, Platt of Nv York. Quay oi Pennsylvania and Clarkson of Iowa. What has been said of Hanna Is also true in the case of William F. Harrity who was Chairman of the Democratic National Com: mittee in 1892. He was known as bust nesss man rather than politician. Many thought that MT. Roosevelt made mistake in 1904 when, he named George B. Cor telyou head of the National Committee for the latter had experience in the game of politics, his work having been confined entirely to business and the Gov ernment service. But Corteiyou was sue cess.
 That the head of the National Com mittee is a ticklish position goes without saying. The Chairman is oft times blamed for results quite beyond his control A case in point Is that of Senator Carter of tionai Committee in 1892, a year in which the tide had turned strongly to the Democrats that the greatest or politicians could never have diverted 1t.
 The problem of success in the manage ment of National Campaigns Is divided into three parts. The first is how to hold
 
 and arouse their enthusiasm for the ticket. This can be done only by educating them so far as the platform and the great issues are concerned. The task is not usually a difficult one where the ticket has not been nominated after a bitter fight or Is sectional in character. The second is how too pre- sent arguments in manner so clever and ingenious as to convert voters from the other side as well as the great mass of wumps' These independent voters now hold the balance of power and much at tention is paid them by the party manag- CTS. The third is what mistakes the other advantage of for the sake of votes. The most costly mistake that any party man ager was able to take advantage of was in the campaign of 1884 when James G. BlGine, in reply to the greeting of the min isters. did not immediately repudiate the speech of Doctor Burchard characterizing the Democratic party as one of Rum. Ro- manism and Rebellion. It is true that the Plumed Knight did so later on, but not be- fore the Democratic managers had flooded the country with copies Of the Burchard speech, by which time 1t was too late. The advantage taken of the utterance of Gen eral Hancock characterizing the tarin as a local issue helped to bring about his de- feat. It will be readily seen, therefore. that the campaign managers have their hands full and upon the way they handle the propositions mentioned the result in a great measure depends.
 There are three ways of attaining the results The first is through mass meet ings. Most leaders claim that their value is limited to the arousing of enthusiasm of the rank and file, that mass meetings do not as a rule make votes An evidence it Is pointed out that Mir. Bryan in both his campaigns had large and enthusiastic audiences, many people coming to hear hi: wonderful oratory, although determined not to vote for him. The second is through the distribution of campaign literature This means the speeches of party leaders, leaf lets on the Issues and badges and buttons with the party emblem and portraits and the names of the candidates. The third is the insertion of articles and editorials in the daily and weekly newspapers through out the country. This is one of the most important and highly effective methods. Much attention is paid to it by the pc managers It came into vogue when the tariff was an issue back in 1888. The con- troVersy over free materials was then on. Both sides began to send articles on the subject to the press and then on other issues.
 The National Committee is aided in its work by Campaign or Executive Com mittee The information which the campaign is conducted comes from two sources First from the managers them selves and those close to them politically. As they are from every section of the country their knowledge collectively covers the entire field. It may be stated as a general proposition that each manager is presumed to be in charge of the campaign in his territory. The second source of in- formation Is the Chairman of the various State Committees They are supposed to