The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-07-16
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
lotion P ictureS to
Be Big Factors
in Political
Campaigns

One Of the big factors in the po-
Iticsl campaigns Of the future will
BE the moving pictures.
II perhaps sounds odd to state that
= thing like pictures will play an
important part in political meetings.
But IL is q fact and the various
smpaigE managers are realizing II
and are making their plans accord
lngly. There might be some mes
ton in the average mind is 20 just
what value the pictures can nave.
There is no doubt as - this among
astute politicians and -he plans they
have made are of a very wide
spread nature. Not the least i'm
portant work of the political or
ganization is the creation of senti-
ment in a community in favor OF a
certain candidate or q certain party
doctrine. or. which amounts to The
same thing. the combating and re-
mOval of a sentiment that exists
against an unpopular man whom il Is
desirable to place in office, or against
a popular man whom it is thought
best to shelve. All this is more or
less preparatory to the real cam
psisn. as the people see II, although
IL is the most important part of the
csmpaign as the party managers
view IL.
Within the past two or three days
here has been exhibited n Wash
nston a fiin of his character con-
'erning the work OF William Sulzer
While governor of New York. The
aim is supposed TO &c story of
suffers efforts to rule the State and
here very interesting picture play
Is shown. The film is more or less
political in every respect. Its prin-
cipal mission is to create q certain
political sentiment. 1t would seem
hat this is long time before the
beginning Of actual political hostili-
les for the starting of this sort of
Vork-out II Is not. 1t is necessary
70 have the new sentiment launched
md impressed upon the people be-
lore the active campaigning begins.
This is what the wise political gen
erals call building up the fences.
here are numerous fences to be
nuilt BEFORE active work can COM
menee, and the real worth of a party.
manager is shown in the way he
goes about this sort of work The
>ulzer film is only one Of many that
will be used for this purpose in all
sections OF the country. A large sec
ION OF the party campaign funds
VIII be utilized in. the fence building
process. And in the chaotic condition
OF things in the recognized parties
there are innumerable fences lying
fat on the ground that must be put
n first-class repair before the cam
paign can start in the open. It is
easily understood what influence a
cries of pictures showing what has
Oeen accomplished under certain con-
oiuons could have toward making
voters want to continue those condi-
lions or upset them, as the case NAV
be- 4 series of films Of the schools.
showing them to be in first-class
condition or the reverse, would have
dACidad AfANf -
caadidates for the position of school
superineendent. The same is true Of
road building in the rural districts.
he condition of streets in cities,
building operations. and civic i'm
orovements. etc. These all have
neir eject on the private citizen in
he pre-campaign period.
When the actual campaign begins
here is another e6jce open to the
moving picture-thst of actually pro-
icing notable speaker at q big
any. Colonel Roosevelt, during the
asst campaign, made a number of
Speeches thai were recorded on
monograph cylinders or disks, and
'Htse speeches were reproduced in
Ridely varied sections Of the coun-
~. During the coming campaign the
reaches and pictures Of the speaker
viii be recorded al the same time
nd the speaker will be reproduced
II the rallies as well as his senti-
-rents.
It is believed that In this way the
andIdstes for the high positions
Ike the national officers-will be
able to conserve their strength for
Greater effort at a time when IL is
Slost needed instead OF risking their
1eslth in getting over the country
IS Is now the case. The condition
u Colonel Roosevelt's voice calls at
tenuon TO the fact that public speak
ers have as delicate vocal organs
as great singers and are required
70 be very careful of their Threats.
II is well known here that on speech
making tours Presidents Roosevelt
and Taft almost invariably carried
throat specialist with them and
submitted 10 his ministrations be-
'Netn stopping points Of their trains.
With the free use Of the moving
picture and the photograph. il would
e possible for the candidates to
NIT their actual appearances on
he platform TO a few important en-
Eagements and yet be present in
person" by pictures. in a much
arger number of meetings than has
ever been possible heretofore. In
fact il would be possible for them
20 be present in this way at a hun
dred separate gatherings in different
parts of the country. And during
the campaign, also, the photoplays
or scene pictures could and will be
Used effectively.