The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-11-10
IN THE OLD DAYS AND NOW.


Lord. 1922. is onspicuously different
from what election days were llfty
years ago, and it is pleasant ana
praiseworthy difference. In the days
of yore political feeling ran Nigh
Men belonged to parties, they were
proud of 1t and let few opportunities
escape to announce their pOliticai
preference even from the house TOP.
Men took an interest In politics anu
were loyal to the point OF battle 10
the candidates that represented the
party VITA which they were arfiilated'
A political campaign and the election
that followed the campaign was not
in the nature of pink teas. People
were keyed up to the most intense
excitement and the heat of argument
usually was merely the forerunner OF
fistic encounter. 1t was hot STUFF, we
are telling the voter of the present
generation.
Campaigns were not like the present
day campaign Fifty years ago organi-
zation followed closely upon nominal
ton of candidates, marching CLUBS,
torch light clubs, musical clubs ana
any old kind of club that would tend
to arouse the followers OF candidates
was organized. And more over the IN
dividual usually bore the expense at
tached to such organizations. There
was no such fund of any moment
and candidates were not expected 10
throw themselves into bankruptcy by
financing campaign. II meeting
was held in the day time, which was
frequent, delegations would come in
to the town or city where the meet
ing was to be held from all parts OF
the country, and each locality would
vie with it's neighboring locality in
turning out the largest delegation and
the most attractive procession. These
professions would be headed by
young ladies in white, on horseback,
representing the states. Then would
come scores of two. four, six and eight
horse wagons carrying huge flag poles
or banners bearing insulting messages
| to the opposition or encomiums upon
the virtues of their own candidates.
There would be floats Of all kinds,
possibly considered crude in this age,
but all representing some feature In
the life of the presidential candidate.
Everybody turned out and the orator
of any reputation was assured OF q
mammoth crowd. If the speaking was
at night great torch light professions
would march through the streets to
the blair of brass bands, houses would
be illuminated and red fire and rock
cts would light up the darkness.
On election day crowds would hang
around the polls from the opening to
, the closing hour Both parties would
have challengers on the ground, and
the challenger was usually selected
from among men Of Drawn who would
fight at the drop of the hat, and the
insult conveyed by the dropping of
the hat was frequent. Men peddled
tickets and solicited votes, and regret
table to state sobriety was not always
conspicuous.
AS stated at tle beginning it is diff
ferent now. Party lines are not so
closely drawn. There Is an independ-
ent vote nowadays that was negli-
gible fifty years ago. There Is now a
large number of citizens who do not
take the trouble to vote, evidently TAX
ing no interest in the government I'M
der which they live. A man had to be
at the verge of death in the old days
to keep him from voting. Now can
didate comes to town alone and un-
heralded. The hot air is about of the
same brand as fifty years ago, and 1t
even fools some Of the people all of
the time, as in the good old days, but
there are no professions, no torch
light, no red fire. no pretty girls on
horseback representing states, or
even in automobiles, no zip, nor pep,
nor condiment Of any kind in a cam
paign to stir up party feeling and
draw distinct line Of demarkatiOn
between parties.
And so at elections. In former days
a scratched ticket was curiosity. To-
day straight ticket occasions COM
ment among the election judges. The
Australian system has barred out the
old time challenger to large extent.
Votes cannot be solicited within 100
| feet Of the polls. So little general in
terest is taken in the election that
hardly ever Is the full registration
voted. Election day is as calm and
peaceful as a Sunday school picnic.
We have lived long enough to see
the changed conditions, and while re-
GREETING that the citizen does not take
more interest in the selection Of can
didates for office, we much prefer the
new to the old Way.