The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-24
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC }. HAskN. Directsr.
wAshington. d. o.
THE STUMP SPEAKER PASSES.

WaSnlnBLOns L. S-s AuB- -A%4AC -
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 1895 and any number or
years following is almost useless bag
gage to the veteran candidate now.
In fact, the country has reached
stage where a politician must write
comparatively new, speeches every
time he takes the stump to re-eleet
himself or somebody else
This is no doubt an annoying de-
lveiopment 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 it was the same time-tried
speech, made up of the same string of
I not fail to draw tears and applause
from any 100 per cent patriotic audi
ence.
Thus. early in the opening para
graphs occurred the reference to the
eagle screaming defiance at the
dastardly enemies of national integrity
and a little later came the dramatic
announcement that the American
flag waves proudly over this sunny
land; let US not darken its shores by
the shadow of infamy." And so the
speech went on with its rolling SEN
tences, sure-fire sentiments, and old,
old anecdotes.
There are politicians who say that
the country has changed less than
some people think, and that the old
style Grafton is still a great vote
getter, especially in rural districts.
Others, however, hold that the stump
speaker who hasn't sensed a change
in the times and the public is in for
shocx.
There are several reasons why
spread eagle Oratory has become al
1nGf dnfH &c hok he 1fr
takes more interest in platforms.
once, the American voter voted for a
party and all the stump speaker had
to do was to arouse partisan feeling.
Waving the bloody shirt was his job.
Facts Never Troubled OId-Timers-
In those times the politician who
would allow himself to be pinned down
to facts on a troublesome issue would
have been regarded as a total failure.
The expert was the man who, when
asked peintedly what he thought of
question, would smile genially and
wink at his audience to show that they
had Q joke together.
Now really" he would drawl good
naturedly, the members of our great
and glorious party are so well aware
of our attitude toward this question
dramatic pause.) and the adherents
OF that other misguided and unen-
lightened party would scarcely be able
to grasp the finer points of the issue
(pauSe,) thac am reminded or a story
in this connection which reflects in
true light the attitude of our party at
all critical stages when the honor of
the nation rests in its hands" Then
followed the story of the Irishman and
But now the rivalry between po-
litical parties no longer seems a suf-
ficiently great issue to hold party
members true to their clan. More
and more in each campaign the voters
n nf a 1S-fr TTf44i i've 1af
form and insist on knowing the exact
position of the party on public affairs.
This tendency has affected oratory
sadly. 1t is next to impossible to drag
in high-flown illusions to the flag, a
mighty cause, and our sacred trust
when one is speaking to farmers on
the price of corn and hogs. Nor do
these illusions seem to fit in with
other timely topics such as the ship
subsidy. the tariff, or labor problems.
Prohibition might seem a suitable
field for emotional appeals. but even
when such a theme is being ex-
pounded audiences grow restive under
flood of sentiment. Facts and fig
ureS are expected now in political
speeches. Even speakers who have
always been masters of the art of
evading definite statements are find
ing that language in all OF it's sonorous
beauty fails to awe the modern au-
dience.
A stump speaker used to be as
much of an entertainment feature as
the circus. People would sit en-
tranced as long as a speaker would
wave his arms and go thru his list of
tricks. But ever since the movies be-
gan to provide more regular entertain
ment, audiences have been less ready
to be spellbound.
Women Demand Facts.
The entrance of women into politics
may be cited as one of the most recent
contributing causes to the change in
oratory. At the headquarters of the
League of Women Voters they tell
you that the questionnaires which
have been sent out to candidates have
affected political speechmaking, indi-
rectly at least. These questionnaires
inquired the candidates definite
stand on important issues. Refusal to
fill out an answer to any question was
taken by the women questioners prac-
tically as an admission that the cam
didate held views of which he was
ashamed. or that he was not suffi-
GENTLY acquainted with the subject
to express himself. A few candidates
baked at the idea of such an inquisi-
ton, but only at first. The necessity
OF pleasing the. suddenly powerful:
woman voter soon turned the most
eYasive candidate into a supporter
of the QUESTIONABLE system.
Then, too, candidates have been
asked frequently to speak at women's
clubs and women's meetings. Women
as a class have not had the back
ground of political knowledge that
men have. They wanted to remove
that handicap, so they sent for po-
litical speakers to explain important
situations. AT first blarney and ho-
KUN were Sprinkled in plentifully
thru the speeches made at these meet
ings. But the alert politician soon
found that the women were not used
to the glittering generalities and that
! they waited politely but eagerly for
the point of the speech. The speaker
who seemed anxious to explain his
viewpoint in plain English was the
candidate VINO scored.
Altogether, the orator of the old
school. who banked on his dignity and
his sonorous voice to impress his pub