Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-24

Washington. D. c., Aug. 21.-Life is
being made harder more onpi
for the poor politician, at any rate as
far as speech making is concerned. Inc
trustv Grafton that rocked nine coun-
ties in 1895 and any number OF years
following is almost useless baggage 70
the veteran candidate now. In fact, tne
country has reached a stage wnere q
politician must write comparatiVeiy
new speeches every time he taxes t1e
| stump to re-elect himself or somepoay
else.
This is no doubt an annoying oeVei-
opment to some old-timers. FOL years;
our political campaigns were staeeo
with one stock Grafton. To De sure
| the Grafton wore DISCUSSES. IL mao
various titles and subjects. But II you
took it apart and gazed into its
mechanism it was the same tlme-trleo
| speech, made up of the same string
Of metaphors and references that could
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 tne
| eagle screaming defiance at the dast-
ardly enemies of national integrity ano
q little later came the dramatic an
nouncement that the American nag
waves proudly over this sunny iano
let us not darken its shores by the
shadow of infamy." And so the speech
went on with it's rolling sentences
sure-fire sentiment, and old, Old anec-
dotes.
There are politicians who say that
the country has changed less thar
~o-,o ,aoDfn &h,pE. and that the 0IC
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 a shock
There are several reasons why
spread eagle oratory has become al
most defunct. One is that the puoht
takes more interest in platforms. Once
the American voter voted for a partl
and all the stump speaker had 10 d'
was to arouse partisan feeling. waving
the bloody shirt was his JOB.
Facts Never Troubled Old-Timers
In those times the politician whc
would allow himself to be pinned dow
to facts on a troublesome issue woul'
have been regarded as a total faliure
The expert was the man who, whel
dSheu pOluLtulS WudL hC thoNSAn "
question, would smile genially and winl
at his audience to show that they ha'
a joke together. /.
Now really" he would drawl good
naturally, the members of u grea
and glorious party are so we'll awar
of our attitude toward this question
dramatic pause, and the adherent
of that other misguided and unenlight
ened party would scarcely be able {
grasp the finer points of the issu
(pause) that / am reminded of a stor
in this Connection which reflects in tru
light at attitude of our party at a
critical stages when the honor of tn
: nation rests in its hands" Then follow
ed the story of the Irishman and tn
other COW.
( But now the rivalry between poll
teal parties no longer seems a suffi
GENTLY great issue to hold party mem
{ bers true to their clan. More and NOR
) in each campaign the voters deman
proof of a constructive platform an
insist on knowing the exact positio
!. of the party on public affairs.
, This tendency has affected orator
sadly. 1t is next to impossible to dra
, in high-flown illusions to the flag
, a mighty cause, and our sacred trus
when one is speaking to farmers o
: the price of corn and hogs. Nor d
these illusions seem to fit in wit
other timely topics such as the shi
subsidy. the tariff, OF labor problemt
Prohibition might seem a suitabl