The Washington times., 1910-10-26
FIREWORKS POLITICS
THING OF THE PAST
Banners, Torchlights, and
Spellbinding No Longer
In Campaigns.
LAST FOR BRYAN
AND MCKINLEY
Only Money Spent This Year viii
Be for Advertising, Says
Secretary Mason.

NEW YORK, Oct 26-There nav
have been Quieter political campaigns
than the present one, but old-tfrne poll
ticians, when asked about II yesterday.
could not recall them. All asserted that
this is the quietest campaign that New
York city. or even the State, has known
in many years. but Democrats and Re
publicans alike asserted that public
apathy had little OF nothing 70 do vito
II, that II simply meant the passing Of
the old-fashioned political campaign.
Campaign methods, old-time poiiti-
clans said, are undergoing a complete
and rapid change Red IRE. parades,
banners. bands Of music. and buttons.
10 say nothing OF spenbinders al every
street corner, and crowds struggling 20
get into already crowded halls 70 near
orators are giving place 10 QUieJer
saner methods Of enIightening the voter
Few Banners Are Seen.
In all New York there are not more
than half a dozen campaign banners
this year, no American flags are used
for campaign advertising, and the man
wearing a button with the name ana
( picture Of his favOrite candidate on IL
/ is a rarity.
With the passing Of the tinne-honOreI
| customs better vote-getting methods
| have sprung up, the oId-tine poIiti-
\ clans said Newspapers and campaign
/ literature have taken the place Of the
/ old devices. Appeals are now made 20
/ the voters reasoning faculties, not 10
/ their emotions Every one reads the
I newspaper nowadays. even in corners
! OF the State remote from railroads. f0r
] the rural free delivery reaches every
/ where and brings the daily paper 20
/ the door Farmers read their pape-
for the political news where in former
/ years they had 10 attend meetings.
| Many take two or three papers 10 learn
/ all sides OF the issues
McKinley-Bryan Scenes.
In the McKnley-Bryan campaign OF
1856 the American flag was used ex-
/ tenSively- That was a national cam
paign, but IN every campaign since
| there has been q constant tendency TO
get away from the outward and VS.
/ ible sign Of political activity. Last year,
| during the municipal campaign, there
| were the Statue Of Purity, the Chamber
OF HOrrors, moving picture shows. and
even the campaign drama This year
| there Is little sign Of any Of them
During the last mayoralty campaign
one party alone spent loo on campaign
| buttons Not a rent is being used for
this purpose this year Practically no
I money was used 10 get out this years
I registration The matter Of getting out
I a fun registration was put I'D 20 the
/ loyalty OF the district leaders. and this
! same loyalty viii be depended upon to
| get out the voters
| one reason Of course. for this change
/ Of things is that the Law regarding
/ campaign contributions is more closely
1 drawn than II has ever been before. L
! IS Illegal for corporation 70 give cam
/ paign fund
Less Law Breaking.
Every dollar expended in elections
has 10 De accounted for now, and with
e falling or IN contributions the money
received was put into literary bureaus.
In ordinary campaign years in New York
Il costs the Republicans at the rate OF S.
d voter for legitimate expenses
A district leader said yesterday that
there would be less money spent a.
legally this year than IN the history OF
New York city. Dishonest votes this
year, he said, would be reduced to a
minimum. On the lower East Side il
has always been considered legitimate
[ 10 give poor voters who live IN LODGING
houses at least 81 apiece 10 carry them
over but this year they were lucky
20 get drink or cigar.
I This year very little money IS 5eius
( spent for Autographs or posters The
! automobile also has played an important
part in changing the style OF cauI,7ign
Il used 10 be that the voter in o-,ier
|, / 10 see his candidate would have 10 trave
TO the nearest town or city and attend
, crowded meetings. Nov the candidate
regions and talks 10 the farmer in his
= I own ward