The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-21
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Washington.o p. c., Aug. 19.--Life
Is being made harder and more
complex for the poor politician. at
any rate as far as speech making
is concerned. The trusty Grafton
that rocked nine counties in 1885
and any number Of years following
is almost useless baggage to the
veteran candidate now. In fact,
the country has reached stage
where a politician must write COM
paratiyely new speeches every time
ne takes the stump to reflect him
self or somebody else.
This Isl no doubt an annoying de-
velopment to some old-timers. For
years our political campaigns were
staged with one stock Grafton. To
be sure the Grafton wore DISCUSSES.
1t had various titles and subjects.
But if you took it apart and gazed
into its mechanism 1t was the same
tlme-tried speech, made up Ut the
same string OF metaphors ana rel
erences tnat coulu not taii to
Lraw Tears ana applause from any
400 per cent patriotic audience.
Thus, early III the opening para
graphs occurred the reference to
the eagle screaming denance AT
the dastardly enemies OF national
integrity and little later came
the dramatic announcement "tnal
the American nag waves proudly
over this sunny land; let US mol
darken its shores by the shadow
OF lnfamy". And so the speech
| went on with its rolling sentences,
i sure-hre sentiment, aud old, old
anecdotes.
There are politicians who say
that the country has changed less
than some people think, and thai
the old style Grafton is still a great
vote getler, especially in rura
districts. Others, however, holC
that the stump speaker who hasn'l
sensed a change in the times anc
the public is in for a shock.
There are several reasons why
spread eagle 0ratory has becom.
almost de1unct. One is that the
public takes more interest in plat
forms. Once, the American vOtcl
voted for a party and all the STUMP
speaker had to do was to arous,
partisan feeling. Waving tn,
bloody shirt was his job.
Facts Never Troubled Old Timers
In those times the politician whit
would allow himself to be pinned
down to facts on a troublesom,
issue would have been regarded al
a total failure. The expert was tn,
man who, when asked pointed,
what he thought OF question
would smile genially and wink a
his audience to show thatthey ha,
joke together.
Now really" he would draw
gcod-naturedly, the members o
our great and glorious party ar
so we'll aware of our attitude to
ward this question tdramati
pause), and the adherents of tina
other misguided and unenlightene
, party would scarcely be able t
grasp the finer points of the issu
tpause), that l am reminded OF
story in this connection which re
fleets in true light the attitude o
: our party at all critical stage
when the honor of the nation Eest
in its hands" Then followed tn
story of the irishman and the othe
t COW.
But now the rivalry between pc
litical parties no longer seems
sufficiently great issue to hold part
E members true to their clan. Nor
l and more in each campaign the yo,
ers demand proof of a constructiy
S platform and insist on knowing tn
exact position Of the party on pub
e lie affairs.
/. This tendency has affected ora
), tory sadly. 1t is next to impos
Il sible to drag in high-flown allu
: sions to the flag, a mighty cause, an
C our sacred trust when one is spea;
ing to farmers on the price of cor
Il and hogs. Nor do these allusioI
: seem TO fit in with other timel
t topics such as tie ship subsidy. tn
| tarC or labor problems.
Prohibition might seem a sui
able field for emotional appeal
: but even when such a theme is b.