The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-10
PARTIES SHORT OF CASH;
FORCED TO QUICK FIGHT

financial exigencies. Mark Hanna prob
ably raised $5.O00G00 ia 1926 and certain
~ Ildt much more was spent by state
and local committees ia that famous
hBht; all OF it, really. bearing directly
on the national result Now, il 10 this
SO. 0OooO0 be added the tremendous sum
which would be necessary 10 represent
The value of railroad transportation.
Tree special trains. freights. express
privileges, telegraph and telephone tolls
provided free to he Hanna organiza-
Ilon, II viii be plain enough that 10
duplicate the fight made Dy the ReDun-
leans and pay cash for ali these things
-Whicn IS necessary in these anti
everything times-would cost from ST.
utlo09 10 Sl5.000,0OQ Where's IL TO come
nom? II isn't coming; and so both
committees are going 10 make short,
sharp campaigns.
Campaigning Reorganized.
The whole business of campaigning
has 70 be reorganized under the new
conditions. III 1886 Mr.. Mckinley STAYED
at home and on his front porch at Can
ton received delegations day by day
and made speeches to them which werS
sent lie the whole country That was
what Candidate Tart was going 10 do
this year, until it was discovered that
the scheme wouldn't work.
Free railroad TRANSPORTATION was what
made IT work IN 1896. The railroads were
all Tor Mckinley, and when Hanna got
the idea Jndt some particular cOmmuu-
lty really ought to send a delegation to
canton he got the proper railroads 10
provide the special train and free trans
porIatlon; then the Local leaders al the
point whence the delegation was 10
come did the rest II was easy as
rolling of log 10 drum up the party
when free transportation on a special
train was assured
Nothing ia the world looks So good
as a free pass. Give a man s. worth Of
free transportation, and he will lea Va
his business and spend go on Incidental
expenses. And nell feel sure he is get
ing something for nothing. he would
take the same trip, including railroad
fare, for $40 II he were doing IL on a
cash basis-
Such is-no. be 1t said in sorrow. such
was-the seduction OF free transporta-
Jiol. Hanna then furnished the transpOr-
tation, the prominent citizens were
willing enough to make up the parties
for pllgrimages 70 Canton. SO Mckinley
had daily visits from delegations, and
the front porch campaign made great
But there will not be another Ike f.
The front porch campaign went with
the free pass. The candidate who sits
at Canton or Lincoln or Cincinnati "a
this year Of grace and excessive NOR
ality, will sit lonesome. If he wants
talk. he'll have 10 80 and hunt up his
audiences.
Changed Their Plans.
That's what both Taft and Bryan
early discovered. Mr.. Bryan was going
to be q bit more dignihed about it, too;
he designed staying around Fairview
and talking 70 visiting parties. But ST.
wouldn't work; not while travel costs
2 cents the mile and the traffic man
ayers are so sQueakish about taking the
chance Of going 70 jail
The dignity business IS sadly at
discount too. Mr. Taft from all re-
ports. was just going TO be digHified
at all hazards. Not any chasing around
over the country for him. no uan real
ly fit for the Office would adopt such
methods Of running after q. The mad.
mean. frenzied scramble would so
cheaper the office that IL wouldn't be
worth having at such a price.
But the former Secretary has got over
these hign-tOned notions. He has dis
covered that when you run for office
you want votes more than dignity: and
the way 10 get EN-. he is assured. IS
70 get out and show yourself and talk
10 lot OF people who, not being very
long on dignity themselves, wifi over
look its sacrifice, IL that sacrifice graft
nes their ambition to sec the candI-
date. It's mostly curiosity, anyhow.
but II gratifying itU get the SCtes. why.
who cares for dicnftT. VVbersfors ne
dignity and front porch campaign is a
j. c. WELLIVER.