The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-28
BECOMING POPULAR T0ST|CK ID THE JOB C0ngressmen, However, Are Nervous Over Campaign WANT TO GET HOME However, President Browns on Ne glect of Duty and People Seem
 to be Solidly Behind
 President

Washington, September 27.-(SpecialD Whether it Is better strategic policy to campaign in person or by the absent treatment" of the voters is a question now
 agitating many minds in the House. and bringing two divergent answers with equal emphasis. For, the congressional elections approach apace, and many statesmen are squirmng in their seats as they think of the crisis to come Hence the question.
 The problem is complicated and requires great thought. and as Gabriel Betteredge was wont to remark; There is a great | deal to be said on both sides On the one hand if a statesman sneak away from Congress to campaign for Ee-election his political rival may hold him up to scorn and derision, not to say oppro- | brium. by denouncing him as an "absen- tee" who prefers to devote his time to his own selfish interests instead of the interests of his constituents, which he Is paid s760o year to conserve.
 On the other hand, if he remain vir- tuousN, albeit reluctantly, on the job, he does not know what his rival may put over on him at home; how his record may be distorted by constituencies rogues of the opposition; how he may be ac- cused of bribery and corruption and ab- ject slavery to ''the .interests'-"the in- terests" in these days being something worse than his satanic majesty, and several degrees more horrendous than Sherman's description of war.
 From the results Of the primary cleo tions to date. the absent method of cam paigning appears to be highly effective,
 and it is recommended by successful can
 didates from New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts and Illinois. The first and
 most conspicuous indication that the
 virtue of. sticking to the job has its re-
 ward in the form of nomination was
 brought out in the Underwood Hobson
 campaign for the Senate in Alabama
 when Underwood stuck to his knitting at
 the capital and won easily from his rival
 who spent all his time campaigning So. too. in New Jersey. 'Chimmie Fadden" Townsend and Allen B. Walsh remained dutifully at their post in Washington and
 intrusted their fate to the hands of the
 uproletarat-an element tradtionally
 iclle and prone to forget those not on
 the spot and to cheer for the man in their midst. Yet, both Townsend and
 Walsh were nominated in their districts
 and by no uncertain margin.
 Again, Representative Mitchell of Mas
 sachusetts faced the political fight of his
 public career, but declined to take the field in person or even to direct his forces
 from afar. I've got all 1 can swing to right here in Washington said Mitchell, and his devotion to duty not only won him the nomination, but seems likely to carry
 him through the general election by an increased majority over his last figures.
 On the other hand. in the general cleo
 ton in Maine, the candidates thought 1t better to return to their homes and con duct their campaigns in person, and it
 was well that they did so. Only his per sonal appearance, it is said, saved Asher c. Hinds his seat, while the others at
 least made assurance doubly sure by minglng with the voters But Maine is
 regarded as a "queer state" by poiti- clans and statesmen, so must not be ac- cepted as a general criterion
 By politicians who profess to be shrewd observers however. the tendency of the
 White House to keep Congress in ses- sion is accepted as an indication that the titular leader of the democratic party who likewise is the actual positive and
 undisputed chieftain of the clan-opines that those candidates at least will lose nothing by staying in Washington. in- stead of returning home So the wise ones seeking reelection have ceased to
 grumble at being kept here and accept
 with resignation and increasing hope the