Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-03
BUSINESS METHODS
USED IN CAMPAIGN
Democratic Headquarters in
Chicago for Western States
Presents Lively Scene.
EFFICIENCY REQUIRED
OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES

ASAoslAS OVHc w du Expert ana
Publicity Is in Charge of News
paper Man. !
Special From STAFF Correspondent
CHICAGO, September 2.-One Of the
liveliest places in Chicago Is the sixth
floor of the Karpen building. on Mich
gan avenue. where the democratic ma
tional campaign is being directed for
the western country.
Cnder the direction of Senator Thomas
]. Walsh Of Montana the western head
quarters Of the democratic nationa!
committee is giving a vigorous demon
stration of the practical application of
modern business efficiency to politics.
The speed with which the campaign for
President Wilson's reelection is being
launched in the twenty-four states be-
tween the great lakes and the Pacific
coast over which the western headquar-
ters has jurisdiction is attracting the at
tention of side-line observers. irrespect-
I've of political affiliations, as a reVela-
ton OF what can be accomplished by an
utter abandonment OF additionally
wasteful methods of campaigning and
the adoption of methods modelled after
those of highly organized commercial
organizations
Representative Scott Ferris of Okla
homa, director of the bureau of organi-
zation, started the organization by send
ing out a circular letter addressed to
each of the national committeeman of
the twenty-four states. requesting each
of them to supply him at once with
eighteen lists of names OF members of
political committees and other demo-
cratic organizations and classifcations
necessary to the proper conduct of the
campaign.
List of Organizations.
AS a result he is promising full lists
from the states of Arizona, California,
Colorado. Idaho. Illinois, Indiana. Iowa.
Kansas, Michigan. Minnesota, Missouri.
Montana. Nebraska, Nevada, New Mex
leo. North Dakota, Ohio. Oklahoma,
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washing
ton, Wisconsin and Wyoming-the
states allotted to the western organi-
cation, and embracing LAST counties.
averaging about thirty precincts to the
county.
From the bureau of organization each
of the other bureaus in turn is receiv-
ing lists of the county chairmen, which
are being made up on card index sys-
TENS, and in strict alphabetical order
for convenient reference. 1t is expect
ed that this work will be completed in
the record time of two weeks. despite
the fact that the territory covered ex
tends all the way from Chicago to the
Pacific coast. A special mailing de-
partment has been organized and every
sheet of stationery and every postage
stamp is checked with absolute ac-
curacy. Each and every expenditure
must be requfsitioned on forms print
ed for the purpose. be approved by the
head of the bureau authorizing the ex
penditure and finally must be o. KID by
Senator Walsh. who is conducting the
organization with the efficiency of
well managed bank.
Purchasing Done by Expert.
M. q. Kibbe. q practical purchasing
agent in charge of the purchasing de-
partmept, is astonishing old-timers in
the political game by calling for bids
on important supplies, such as printing.
on a strictly competitive basis. appar-
emily without consideration of the po-.
litical affiliations of the bidders. What
he is chiefly interested in Is price and
quality. The same stern business
methods apply to the employment OF
help. While well introduced assistants
naturally have preference. their compe-
tence for the work is insisted upon,
and nothing is more strongly indicative
of the new business methods than the
fact that some of the stenographers
were employed in the ordinary way,
following their plain applications for
jobs and upon the basis of their ef-
ficiency. There are no fancy salaries.
Most of the bureau heads work without
any financial compensation. Their as
sistants are on a plain business basis.
in sharp contrast to the olden days OF
political campaigns.
~
bureau is Senator Henry F. Hollis of
New Hampshire, one of the country's
foremost authorities on rural credits.
Complete List of Records.
The reference bureau is presided over
by Edward A. Fitzpatrick of the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin. coworker with DR..
Mccarthy, the head Of the reference bu-
reau of the Wisconsin institution. A
complete set of political and economic
records is being installed to enable the
reference bureau to promptly and author
itatively answer any important questions
that may develop in the course of the
campaign and settle disputes Its equip
ment includes the records OF Congress- and
of numerous democratic and republican
tons.
Representative Edward T. Taylor of
is in charge Of the naturalised
bureau and has a competent
corps OF linguists. Representative War
rem Gard of Ohio is actively conducting
the senatorial bureau, of which Senator
willard Salisbury Of Delaware is chair
man. J. Bruce Kremer Of Montana heads
the speakers bureau, which is getting
its organization well in hand.
Mrs. George Bass of Chicago, in charge
Of the woman's bureau. has the distinc-
ton of being the first woman to hold
such an office on national committee
In the annals of politics. Mrs. Bass for
ans Club and is prominently identified
with national suffrage organizations. Her
activities extend over the twelve suffrage
states. Francis S. Peabody of Chicago
and Charles Boeschenstein OF Illinois,
member of the national committee. have
The task Of financing the committee.
In Charge Of Publicity.
w. J.. Cochran, Washington CORE
'pondent of the st. Louis Republic. is
n charge of the western publicity bu-
eau, cooperating with the eastern
under the direction OF
he chief Of publicity. Robert w. Wool
ey. The publicity campaign is. being
conducted along intensive lines by met
opolitan newspaper methods, with
pecial attention to the requirements
ect telegraphic as well as mail service.
The prime purpose of this publicity
$ to drive home to the voters the rec
I'd of accomplishment of President
wilson and the notable achievements
f his administration. The twin key
otes are the Presidents success in
reserving peace with honor and the
ls.1a nf fry