The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-09-10

fixed rules and statutory laws, and
that he must of necessity familiarize
himself with these things else remain
a mere tyro in the art.
This means that he will have TO
study books, read up the laws, keep
posted in the changes which are con.
tlnually occurring in the laws relating
to elections and nominations. and in
various ways get next" to the legal
aspects OF politics. Then he will have
to learn his ward; know its various
precincts and their boundaries, know
the location Of the polling places, and
who the people are In whose shops
or stores the polling places have been
placed, their politics, and everything
about them. He must serve as clerk
and Judge of election, and learn the
duties OF challenger. He must know
the poll list of his precinct as well as
his a, b, c, and keep tab" on deaths,
removals, new residents, etc.
Politics affords a shining example
of the wisdom Of the rule about open
ing hostilities yourself Never wait
for the other fellow to assail your abil
ity. Always start out by soaking
him. And by this Is not meant by any
| means to throw mud" or indulge I'm
abuse Far from IL. DO II In gentle
manly way. Get him on the defensive
and keep him there If possible. One
OF the surest ways to do this is to
prepare a lot OF questions, no matter
how irrelevant TO the questions at Is
sue, II there happens to be any lis
sue" and keep hammering away AT
him with these questions
Never answer any question yourself
Print your platform on your cards, Il
you are a candidate, but don't answer
any questions about II. The platform
speaks for itself, don't It? A proies
sional politician ought to be able IA
convince the most captious questionel
that his platform" faces every way
to the four corners OF the earth anC
was meant for the blessing of all men
When he starts on his career he mus
expect to go slowly, as a rule, emery
ing from one unlmportant position t
another until he has either become 4
power himself. or has been usefu
enough to some Boss" to be PLACED
on a ticket. Once fairly launched II
political office, and he becomes I
target for the press and public criti
cism. and his native ability Is sub
iected to the corrosive test Of HAVING
power placed in his hands.
A good politician must always b.
on the alert to catch the instant a
its forward top" and direct the cur
rent OF any popular movement into tht
proper channel. n there is a reform
movement in the air he must not onl.
champion It, but he must be In TN
lead of the crusaders. The public ar
the sheep, the politician is the bell
wether.
; remember a typical instance 0
this kind.
A certain paving scheme was be
, ing preached, and In the distric
where It was proposed to introduc
II, there were a great many Swedish
American citizens who opposed tn
Improvement. Nearly all OF them IN
derstood the English language a
well their own tongue. A gran
mass meeting was called for and hel
amid tumultuous enthusiasm. A we;
known Swedish-American was selec
ed as chairman, and a Swede Sc,
rotary duly installed Two speeche
were made in Swedish, and then
F, popular Irish politician made a RIM
ing address amid great applause. II
was followed by a German lawyt
who was even more fiery II anything
than his predecessor In denouncin
/, the outrage contemplated The Law
yer was also a politician.
call for names was started and
club formed There we're 367 swe
ish-Amerlcan members OF the club an
the Irishman and the German. 1853 mel
bers In all. And at the next meetin
postponed two weeks to elect officer
the lrlshman was elected presidei
e and the German secretary and trea
I urer. ERNEST M'GAFFEY.
Copyright 1905, by Joseph d. Bowlsl