Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-30
METHODS IN CAMPAIGNS
Business Men Frequently Great
Successes as Political Managers
Mark Hanna n Notable Example--Mis-
take which Cost james q. Blaine
the Presidency-Three ways or
Attaining Results

been men who won their spurs in com
mercial 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 business man
rather than as a politician. yet when he
entered the field of politics Hanna was
able to defeat such veterans as Joe Man
ley of Maine, Platt of New York. Quay
of Pennsylvania, and Clarkson of Iowa.
What has been said of Hanna Is also
true in the case OF william F. Har-
rity. who was chairman Of the Democrat
ic National Committee in 1892 He was
known as business man rather than as
IA politician. Many thought that Mr.
Roosevelt made mistake in 1904 when
he named George B. Cortelyou as head
of the National Committee, for the lat
ter had no experience in the game Of
politics. his work having been confined
entirely to business and She government
service. But Cortelyou was a success.
That the head of the national commit
tee Is a ticklsh position goes without
saying. The chairman Is ofttimes blamed
for results quite beyond his control.
case In point is that OF Senator Carter,
of Montana, who headed the Republican
National Committee in 1892. q year in
which the tide had turned so strongly to
the Democrats that the best Of politicians
could never have diverted Il.
The problem Of success in the man.
agement of national campaigns is divided
into three parts-how to hold the vote Of
the rank and file of the party and arouse
their enthusiasm for the ticket; how to
convert voters from the other side as
well as the great mass of Independents;
and how to take advantage of the mis-
cob - ~, ctI to 1iul TO NAL
A COSTLY ERROR
The most costly mistake that any party
manager was able to take advantage Of
was in his campaign of 1884 when James
G. Blaine. in reply to the greeting OF
the ministers, did not Immediately repu-
date the speech of Doctor Burchard char
acteriZing the Democratic party as ono
Of rum, Romanism and rebellion. 1t is
true that the plumed knight did 80 later
on. but not before the Democratic man
ayers had flooded the country with cop
les Of the Burchard speech. by which time
it was too late. The advantage taken of
the utterance OF General Hancock char
acterizing the tariff as a local issue help
ed to bring about his defeat
There are three ways of attaining the
results. The first is through mass meet
ings. Most leaders claim that their val
ue is limited to the arousing of enthu-
sasm 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 COM
ing to hear his oratory, although deter
mined not to vote for him. The second is
through the distribution of campaign lit
erature. This means the speeches of
party leaders. leaflets on the issues and
badges and buttons with the party en-
blem and portraits and the names Of the
candidates. The third is the insertion of
articles and editorials in the daily and
weekly newspapers throughout the coun-
try. This is one of the most important
and highly effective methods. Much atten-
ton Is paid to 1t by party managers. 1t
came into vogue when the tariff was an
issue back in 1883. The controversy over
free raw materials was then on. Both
sides began to send the press articles on
this subject and then on other issues.
GETTING THE DOPE
The national committee is aided in its
work by campaign or executive COM
mttee. The information on which the
campaign is conducted comes from two
sources. First. from the managers them
selves and those close to them politically.
As they are from every section Of the
country. their knowledge collectively COW
ers the entire field 1t may be stated as
a general 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 va
rious State committees. They are sup
posed to be continually keeping the ma
tional managers posted. Their informa-
| ton as, to local conditions ia derived
from the heads of local organizations,
During the campaign of 1890. however.
Chairman johnson of the Democratic Ex-
ecutive Committee revived the idea OF
having direct representative in every
election precinct throughout the United
States. Abram s. Hewitt originated 1t.
He did it in the campaign Of 1875 when
managing the canvass of Samuel j. TIL
den for president. Mr.. Hewitt had two
sets of blanks prepared for every cleo
ton precinct One was a preliminary, the
/ other a final canvass OF voters. The ex-
pertinent however, was not entirely sue
| cessful. For the work was found to be too
voluminous for the national committee
to undertake. hence the latter body con-
| tlnued to depend upon the State organi-
cations for news as to the situation
Chairman Harrity did so to a great ex-
tent in the campaign of 1892 That year
the information received by him wal
accurate enough to enable a calculation
coming within two of the electoral votes
that Grover Cleveland received.
TWO KINDS OF STATES
For campaign purposes the States are
divided into two classes. The first are
\ thosa hat O no do,t hf nj with oh ncou n
voring the ticket. Much attention IL con.
contracted on this class. There Is usually
! one. and sometimes even more than one
member of the campaign committee do
ing nothing but attending to the cam
paign In each such State. The second
class is of those that are doubtful, though
more apt to be carried by the opposition
The press bureau In usually composed
of two sets of men. FIRST those who dc
nothing but read the newspapers and
! magazines in search Of campaign mate
rial. This work Is both important ant
laborious. The second class Is OF the
men who write the articles sent out fol
publication by the bureau. During thu
campaign of 1900 the Republican headquar'
tiers in Chicago had seven men in IT.
press bureau. Five were readers. while
! two got up the articles. The countr,
weeklies get this matter In the shape
Of patent insides. the country dailies al
stereotyped stun, while proof sheets are
mailed to the more important papers ant
are apt to undergo extensive revision
prior to publication. During the 1900 cam
paign list OF country papers with g
circulation of 165, 900 received from one
side three and IL half columns Of matter
every week; another with circulation
.I..- uAft.