The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-08-24

est financial rating concerns in the
world walked,into the Democratic head
quarters and sprang that question on
the publicity men. He wanted to know
whether the thing was corporation,
if so how much capital stock 1t had, and
what was the purpose of its existence.
They laughed at him, asked him if
he had ever heard of the great Demo-
cratic party, told him they were an
organization for the making of presi-
dents.
No doubt the man was either very
ignorant or unduly curious, but when it
comes right down to specific informa-
tiop, what do you know about these
national committees, who have consti-
tuted themselves of late and announced
their intention of providing US with a
chief executive.
Of course, you understand that
national committee consists of one rep
resentative from each state and terri
tory, and that campaign committee is
selected mot elected) from among the
members of this larger committee, and
also from the ranks of the faithful at
large, some men being chosen for their
money, some because of where they
live, and a few because they have
brains or some social knowledge. You
are also aware that chairman for this
campaign committee is selected and
secretary and treasurer ESPECIALLY
treasurer) and that the thing is then
organized into a series of bureaus, such
as publicity bureau, which dissem-
mates information by every means
possible; a speakers bureau which
selects from a host of volunteers a
battalion of orators and tells them
when and how to perform; and a foreign
bureau which has for its special duty
to explain to the untaught immigrant
in his own language why he should and
otherwise persuade him, to vote for the
right candidate for President.
You also know that there is a Chi
cago headquarters which does for and
to the West much the same things that
the New York headquarters does in the
East; and that the satellites of these
chief national luminaries are the state
headquarters, which do the local work,
and in turn carry the organization on
down to the counties, and from counties
to voting precincts.
Familiar as you are with this wide
spread and detailed plan or organiza-
ton, which covers the country like an
octopus, and lays persuasive tentacle
OF some sort upon every wavering voter
you do not really know what a national
committee Is unless you have seen the
| monster at work 1t is usually housed
upon an upper floor of downtown Of
flee building, and in general plan and
outline resembles the chambered nau-
titus, or the French defense at Verdun.
In the central chamber of strong hold.
surrounded by clouds of fifty-cent cigar
smoke, golden-haired stenographers
| and checks in from three to seven fig
ures. sits that man of destiny the
| national chairman. CAT least this is
the popular and hearsay impression of
him. He is protected by about forty
seven outer chambers of lines of de-
Tense in the shape of deputy chairman.
secretaries, assistant secretaries,
clerks, stenographers and office bows.
All of them are needed. For against
these bulwarks bravely hurl themselves
all of the patriots who are bent on say
ing the partY-country editors who
want to devote their papers to the
cause, would-be orators, leaders of the
Italian. the Lithuanian the Hindoo. the
African, the liquor, the labor, and every
other variety of vote in the country;
chorus girls, society women, prize
fighters and any number of other kinds.
They are all laden with large, bright
IDEAS and all of them are inspired by
deep devotion to the principles of the
party. The press agents say so. They
admit it themselves. And also most of
them are willing and even anxious to be
put upon the payroll or to spend fifty
or hundred thousand dollars of the
committees money for the good of the
cause
Receiving. sorting and ejecting this
mass of humanity in a tactful and
politicianly manner seem at a glance to
be the main Job of a majority of the
employees of a national committee. The
two great difficulties in the work of
the President-makers is that many of
those who are on the job. realizing that
it is political one, feel that it would
be violation of the best traditions of
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