The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-20
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKN. Director.
washington, D. G.
METHODS IN CAMPAIGNS.

is a matter of business as well as poll
tics. Some of the most successful
managers in the national as well as
in local politics, have been men who
won their spurs in commercial affairs
long before they took an interest in
things political. Mark Hanna is a
notable example. Prior to 1896 he
was looked upon as a successful bust
ness man rather than as a politician,
yet when he entered the field of poll
tics. Hanna was able to defeat such
veterans as Joe Maniey of Maine, Plat
Of New York. Quay of Pennsylvania
and Garrison of Iowa. What has been
said of Hanna is also true in the case
of William F. Harrity, who was chair
man of the Democratic national COM
mittee in 1892. He was known as a
business man rather than as a politi-
clan. Many thought that Mr.. Roose-
welt made a mistake in 1904 when he
of the national committee, for the lat
ter had no experience in the game of
politics. his work having been con-
fined entirely to business and the gov
eminent service But Corteiyou was
success.
That the head of the national COM
mittee is ticklish position goes with
out saying. The chairman is ofttimes
blamed for results quite beyond his
control. A case in point is that of
headed the Republican national COM
mittee in 1892, year in which the
tide had turned so strongly to the
Democrats that the best of politicians
could never have diverted it.
The problem of success in the man
agement of national campaigns is
divided into three parts-how to hold
the vote of the frank and file of the
party and arouse their enthusiasm for
the ticket; how to convert voters from
the other side as we'll as the great
mass of Independents; and how to take
advantage OF the mistakes the other
side is liable to make.
A Costly Error.
The most costly mistake that any
party manager was able 10 take ad-
vantage of was in the campaign of
1884 when James G. Blaine, in reply
to the greeting of the ministers. did
not Immediately repudiate- the speech
of Doctor Burchard chara cterizing the
Democratic party as one of Rum,
ROmanism and Rebellion. It is true
that the Plumed Knight did so later
on, but not before the Democratic
managers had flooded the country
with copies of the Burchard speech,
by which time it was too late. The
advantage taken of the utterance of
General Hancock characterizing the
tariff as a local issue helped to bring
about his defeat.
There are three ways of attaining
the results. The first is thru mass
meetings. Most leaders claim that
their value is limited to the arousing
Of enthusiasm of the rank and file.
that mass meetings do not as a rule
make votes. As evidence, it is pointed
out that Mr.. Bryan in his campaigns
had large and enthusiastic audiences,
many people coming to hear his ora
tory, altho determined not to vote for
,, =, II, 4
ton Of campaign literature. This
means. the speeches of party leaders,
leaflets on the issues and badges and
buttons with the party emblem and
portraits and the names of the candi
dates. The third is the insertion of
articles and editorials in the daily and
weekly newspapers thruout the coun-
try. This is one of the most impor-
tant and highly effective methods.
Much attention is paid to it by party
managers. 1t came into vogue when
the tariff was an issue back in 1888.
ials was then on. Both sides began
to send the press articles on this sub
ject and then on other issues.
Getting the Dope.
The national committee is aided in
its work by a campaign or executive
committee. The information on which
the campaign is conducted comes from
two sources. First, from the man
ayers themselves and those close to
every section OF the country their
knowledge collectively covers the en-
tire field 1t may be stated as a gen.
eral proposition that each manager is
presumed to be in charge of the cam
paign in his territory The second
source of information is the chairmen
of the various state committees. They
are supposed to continually keeping
the national managers posted. Their
information as to local conditions is
derived from the heads of local or
ganizationsS.
During the campaign of 1900. how
ever, Chairman Johnson of the Demo-
cratic executive committee revived the
idea of having a direct representative
in every election precinct thruout the
United States. Abram S. Hewitt origi-
mated it He did it in the campaign
of 1876 when managing the canvass
of Samuel J. Tilden for president Mr.
Hewitt had two sets of blanks pre-
pared for every election precinct. One
was a preliminary, the other a final
canvass of voters. The experiment,
| however, was not entirely successful
| For the work was found to be too vol
/ luminous for the national committee
] to undertake, hence the latter body
| continued to depend upon the state
! organizations for news as to the sit
uation. Chairman Harrity did so to a
great extent in the campaign of 1892.
! That year the information received by
! him was accurate enough to enable a
! calculation coming within two of the
! electoral votes that Grover Cleveland
/ received
Three Kinds of States.
For campaign purposes the states are
! divided into two classes. The first
are those that are doubtful, with
! chances favoring the ticket Much at
! cention is concentrated on this class.
/ There is usually one, and sometimes
/ even more than one member of the
/ campaign committee doing nothing
but attending to the campaign in each
4 such state. In the days prior to cleo
ton reports several times q day are
received The second class is of those
that are doubtful, tho more apt to be