Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-07-13
'Front Porch" Us.
Speaking Tours
BY W. S. MANN.


OF a President Of the United States
10 likely TO develop into q contest
between two systems-one q "frcnt
porch campaign and the other a
swing around the circle" When
senator Harding was nominated, it
took him less than an hour to an
nounce that he intended to go back
to his home in Marion, Ohio, and
stay there. conducting his campaign
from his own house. IL seems q safe
bet that Governor Cox, the Demo-
cratic nominee. will adopt the oppo-
site plan and journey about the
country, much as other candidates
in recent years. have done.
There are advantages in both sys-
TENS. William Mckinley found the
front porch" plan Of campaign
worked well. He stayed q home
in Canton. ohio, and his friends and
confer with him. His opponent,
VIM. ]. Bryan travelled up and
down the land, charming thousands
with his oratory. But II takes more
than oratory to win IN election.
On the other hand. Theodore,
Roosevelt, President Wilson, and
President Taft were great travellers
and delivered addresses in many
cities during their campaigns. But
the last Republican nominee,
Charles Evans Hughes, had a disas-
trous time OF it when he journeyed
into the west. II Is a common say
ing that had Hughes stayed at home
he would nave been elected. His
fatal visit to California with the
subsequent alienation of the Hiram
fA4&t4. ~AaCfkIxr 1@aA ANW.
the election.
The Republicans are not anxious
to make a similar mistake this time,
and for that reason some of the
leaders have failed with approval
the plan Of Senator Harding to re-
main at home. They say that he Is
sufficiently prominent and has trav-
elled about the country enough for
the people to know him well. He
has campaigned in many states since
he became a United States senator.
He was chairman OF the Republican
national convention four years ago,
and he has been prominent as a sem
tor during the last five years.
The decision of Senator Harding
to run his campaign from his own
front porch. does not mean, how
ever, that If circumstances arise
which would make II advisable for
him TO go to me or two OF the big
cities to deliver addresses on partic-
ular occasions, he would not go.
Nor does 1t mean that there will
not be a host of Republican spell
binders on the stump this summe
and fall. Senator Harding is a fine
campaiFner II ne takes the stump.
He has q fine presence. a genial win
ming manner and the ability to con
vince people that he has sound
common sense.
In the days of Washington and
Jefferson, the political campaigns,
such "a they were. were confined to
q strip Of territory about 200 miles
wide from Boston to Savannah. The
population was under four millions.
Now the campaigns Y territory
ten times as large and a population
twenty-five times as great. At that.
however, 1t is easier to reach the
people than IL vas in the old days,
because of the vast improvements
made in transportation and the
Transmission of news.
There is one feature in the situa-
ton that may cause the Republican
leaders to urge Senator Harding to
abandon, at least in part, his deter
mination to remain al home during
the campaign. The people have
grown used to seeing Presidents and
Presidential candidates. They rather
expect to have the latest M served
up to them. to be looked ovsf and
dissected. It costs a considerable
the entire country. Congress,
realizing the desire of the people to
see their President and also the adj
visibility of a Presidents keeping In
actual touch with the various
sections OF the country, appropriated
$4,000 in R~oosevelt's ~administra-
.iori for the use of the President on
his travels, and in Presidential
campaigns, the national committees
OF the big parties dig down into their
jeans, or rather the campaign chests,
10 meet the travelling expenses of the
candidates as they very properly
should do.
Up to the day Of Andrew Jackson,
the campaigns had been conducted
with considerable decorum. But
when "Oid Hickory went into the
ace against Adams, the methods
were changed considerably. The
candidates had been inclined TO let
their friends do the work of
campaigning, rather than to seek
the ONCE Of President themselves
after being nominated. But Jackson
interjected considerable pep into
tho campaign. Scurrilous cartoons
made their appearance. Charges Of
all binds against the private and
pukilc life of the candidates were
made.
George Washington, the first Pre-
sident, was twice chosen unanimous
ly, but when he left Office, the line
Of cleavage were clear. and the poll.
teal parties had lined up. John
Adams and Thomas jefferson craved
office. They we're both politicians.
But they were not orators. They
kept quiet and of the stump. Henry
Clay was a great speaker, but he
remained silent while he was a can
didate for President. Jackson and
William Henry Harrison travelled in
their own states. Cass, Scott, Fill
more and Buchanan made a number
OF speeches while candidates, but
Fremont Z 1886 kept still and let
his friends do the campaigning.
Abraham Lincoln, the first Re-
publican President. remained at his
home in Springfield, Illinois, during
the campaign, and did not make
speeches or put out n political
document of n.oritnt. This was n.,t
because Lincoln could no take the
stump. He had proved himself in
his campaigns and debates with
stephen A. Douglas over the slavery
question in previous years.
In contrast TO Lincoin's attitude
was that of Douglas, one of the two
Democratic nominees in 1seO-he re-
presenting the conservative element
In the Democratic party-who
undertook a whirlwind campaign,
going into mary states.
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