The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-14
Political Situation.

islnce campaigns were started both sides have used
newspapers and pamphlets to spread their respect
i've views. The novelty about this new organiza
ton is that it is not launched on the eve Of po
lltical contest when most Of the publicity agencies
! begin to get busy. This association begins now
in off year, its educational campaign.
| The organization announces very plainly that
its excuse for existence is desire to demonstrate
ITO the country the soundness and superiority OF
the constructive plans of the Republican party. 1t
asserts the belief that the return Of the Republi-
party the shortest road to the restoration of
permanent prosperity and to accomplish this end
there is to be the widest publicity OF the party's
achievements. No one question the absolute
Legitimacy OF this purpose. As matter of fact,
the changed conditions OF the political world to-
day make organization OF this kind essential
TO party success. The time has passed when in
every community. large small few seli-con-
stituted bosses can manipulate the political game
and feel assured that all the voters will follow like
herd OF sheep. Equally in the discard, also has
gone is going the old-time convention. where
again the many dominated by the few. In
more than dozen States there is nowadays the
new political system known the Presidential
preference primary. while practically every State
selects its candidates by the primary plan
This means. OF course, that it is the people who
must be reached in order 10 win elections, and the
best way to reach them is through the medium Of
printed matter.
This association is, therefore. evolution OF
The times. More and more the power OF the in
dNidual voter is being enlarged and and
more therefore. is it necessary convert the
individual voters to party principles.
And ii is good thing that the association
distinctly di>aNoWs any personal connections Its
work concerns principles and men. Ii it
maintains this position. is certain he the case.
II will be effective The people will be perfectly
willing TO leave to the personal bureaus OF pros
pecive candidates the inevitable culogicS which
always prcccdc campaign The heads OF the
sociation will certainly be wise enough to keep
closely to the policy which they have laid down.
Merely a matter OF warning they might recall
the famous experience OF Robert G.. Ingersoll at
Republican National Convention in Chicago. Dur
ing lull in the proceedings he called upon to
make speech. 1t was a wonderful opportunity,
With his great gifts orator. inspire Re-
publican audience with tribute to the party. In
stead OF tins, he began TO impress upon the gather
ing the ACCESSIBILITY OF nominating Gresham and in
stantlv 10000 people in an uproar. They re-
scented the injection Of the personal equation.
Ingcr>oll was literally driven from the platform
and the convention adjourned in disorder.
The temper OF the American people was never
better illustrated than by that incident And the
moment that tho publicity association iorgets
that II is established upon broad plane and in
Jccts the personal factor into its work that moment
its capacity for usefulness will disappear.
Publicity costs money 1t has taken hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars to popularizc various
commodities that are offered for sale to the public
II DoSSblr to DrrSODa11y address
i'll the United States the political party under
taking the vast work might be reasonably sure OF
victory, especially il it presented a mertorious |
case. 1t would cost enormous sum, however, !
to send speakers into every village, town and city
and the political managers adopt the next best |
policy and use the newspapers and the mails. The |
newspapers arc a most valuable agency. There
arc. in round numbers, about 5000 Republican
new >papcrs in the United States and their readers
aggregate many millions If these papers will
accept and print with anything like regularity the
matter which may be sent them the effect upon the
public mind cannot be ovcrcstimated. To go back
some years, it will be remembered that the renomi-
nation OF Grover Cleveland was largely brought /
about by newspaper campaign which extended
through the Jour years which followed his first
crm, and, more recently, the newspaper work done
for Woodrow Wilson during his preconvention
aided him very materially in securing his
nomination.
A I-cent postage stamp will carry two ounces
Of printed matter any voter in the United States
although where millions OF pieces of literature are
circulated the postage bill mounts UP enormously
Excess is saved, of course by the OF the frank
ng privilege to circulate speeches delivered in Con-
srcSS or matter which has been inserted in
he Congressional Record The point is however
hat it is cheaper to pay postage and printing bills
han is to pay speakers and railroad fares. even
hough the first two items may nccessitate the
expenditure OF large sums.
1t is evident that all political parties must
dopt the system OF publicity. campaign
), education steadily continued year after year
,ill certainly produce more results than hastily
onccivcd, hurredly executed program extending
vcr only two three months of campaign.
That the association has been established
With some idea of pcrmancncy is shown by the
act that its officers have been chosen for five
cars. Its originator and president. former SEN
tor Jonathan Bourne. jr, expects to build up
rcat organization which will last indefinitely He
clcvcs that the three vital factors in this republic
re religion commerce. and law the latter including
olitiCs inasmuch as the men who make the laws