Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-18
Methods in
Campaigns
Uy Frederic T. Haekju


Washington, y. c.. Sept. 49,
management of national campaign is a
matter of business ms well AS politics
Some of the most successful manakcfs in
the national, MS well ~ in local politics,
have been men who won their spurs in
commercial affairs long before they took
an interest in things political Mark
Hanna il notable example. Prior To
1891 he WINS looked upon as a successful
business man rather than as politician,
yet when hc entered the field Of politics
Hanna WIS able 10 defeat such veterans
ms Joe Manley OF Maine, Platt Of New
York, Quay Of Pennsylvania and Clarkson
of Iowa. What has been said Of Hannn is
also true in the case Of Willinm +. Harrity,
who was chairman of the Democratic
National Committee in 1892 He was
known az a business man rather than as
politician. Many thought that Mr..
Roosevelt made mistake in1904 when he
named George B Cortelyou as head Of the
national committee, for the latter had no
experience in the game Of politics, his
work having been confined entirely TO
business and the government service. But
Cortelyou was success.
That the head Of the national committee
is ticklish position goes without saying.
suits quite beyond his control. A case in
point is that Of Senator Carter Of Montana,
who headed the Republican National
Committee in 1892, a year in which the
tide had turned so strongly to the Demo
Gratis that the best Of politicians could
never have diverted il.
The problem Of success in the manage
ment 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 10
take advantage Of the mistakes the other
side IL liable To make.
COSTLY ERROR
The most costly mistake that any party
manager was able To take advantage OF
was in the campaign Of 1884 when James
c. Blaine, IN reply 10 the greeting OF the
ministers, did not Immediately repudiate
the speech of Doctor Burchard, character
ixing the Democratic party as one of Rum,
Romanism and Rebellion, Ii rs true that
the Plumed Knight did 80 later on, but
not before the Democratic managers had
flooded the country with copies Of the
Burchard speech, by which time 1t was too
late. The advantage taken OF the utter
ance Of General Hancock, charrterizing
the tariff as a local issue, helped 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 value
is limited 10 the arousing Of enthusiasm Of
the rank and file, that mass meetings do
not AZ a rule make votes. As evidence, IL
is pointed out that Mr.. Bryan IN hrs cam
paigns had large and enthusiastic audi
ences, many people coming to hear his
oratory, although determined not 10 vote
for him. The second Is through the distrl-
button 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 candidates. The third is the
insertion of articles and editorials in the
daily and weekly newspapers throughout
the country. This is one Of the most Inn
portant and highly effective methods.
Much attention is paid 10 it by party
managers. 1t came into vogue when the
tariff was an issue back In 1888. The con-
troversy over free raw materials was then
on. Both sides began to send the press
articles on this subject and then on other
issues.
rHE PARTY BIBLES.
Most Of the literature is written around
the cam paign text book which both sides
usually get out after the letter of accept
ance is made public. The text book is not
intended for general circulation. 1t IS
more OF a guide for the various committees
and spell binders. The book, however,
may be purchased by anyone. During the
cam paign of 1896 Mark Hanna sent out
campaign literature prior to the publication
of the text book, but that was because he
was fearful of the influence of "Coin
Financial School on the voter In the
West. That year two hundred million
documents were distributed by the Re
publican campaign committee. They
were printed IN English, French, German,
Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian,
Finnish, Dutch and Hebrew. Over 2,000,-
600 COPIES of the letter of acceptance of
President Mckinley were distributed.
The poster has come TO be big factor In
every campaign. The Republicans eircu-
lated 500 in the campaign Of 1896. Several
cartoons byHomer Davenport and Thomas
Mast have been widely used by campaign
committees.
All of these methods may be expected TO
crop I'D IN the present campaign.