Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-24
THE STUMP SPEAKER PASSES
BY Frederic J. Haskln.

washington, Aug. 24s--IAfe is being |
rnado harder and moro complex for
the poor politician, at any rate aa far
as epeech making is concerned. Tne |
trusty Grafton that rocked nine coun-
| ties In 1895 and any number OF years \
/ following IL almost useless baggage 70 1
/ the veteran candidate now. In fact /
| the country has reached a stage where 4
n politician must write comparatively 1
new speeches every time he takes the |
stump to re-elect himself or eome-
body else.
This is no doubt an annoying de- /
velopment 10 sorne old-timers. For /
years, our political campaigns were /
etaged with one stock Grafton. To be /
sure the Grafton wore dlsguisee. II |
had varus titles and subjects. But II
you took II apart and gazed into it's /
mechanism Il was the same time
tried speech, made UP OF the same
etring OF metaphors and references
that could not fail 10 draw tears and
applause from any 100 per cent pa
triotlc audience.
Thus, early In the opening para
eagle screaming defiance at tho dae-
tardly enemies OF national integrity
and n 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 80 the
, speech went on with its rolling sent
, ences. surc-fre sentiment, and old. old
, anecdotes. There are politicians VINO
say that the country has changed
less than some people think, and that
II the old style Grafton is still a great
vote getter, especially IN rural dis
, tricts. Others. however, hold that the
, stump speaker who hasn't seDsed
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 public
takes more interest IN platforms. Once,
the American voter voted for a party
: and all the stump speaker had 70 do
was 70 arouse partisan feeling Wav-
. ing the bloody shirt was mis- job.
Facts Never Troubled Old Timers.
= In those times the politician who
Q would allow himself 10 be pinned
down 10 facts on a troublesome issue
r would have been regarded as a total
!; failure. The expert was the man who,
d when asked pointedly what ne
Z thought OF a question, would smile
: genially and wink at his audience 70
Il show that they had joke together.
g Now really" he would drawl good
@ naturedly, the members OF our
Q great and glorious party are so well
aware Of our attitude toward this
? question dramatic pause). and the
r. adherents Of that other misguided and
unenlightened party would scarcely be
II able to grasp the finer points Of the
! Issue (pause), that I am reminded Of
a story in this connection which re-
- fleets IN true light the attitude OF ouI
. party at all critical stages when the
honor Of the nation rests in it's hands.
> Then followed ne story OF the Irish
: man and the other COW.
70 But now the rivalry between poati.
!, cal parties no longer seems a suffi.
:" GENTLY great issue to hold party
members true 10 their clan. More and
ie more in each campaign the voter
demand proof OF a constructive plat
act position OF the party on publt
he affairs.
In This tendency has affected orator
ed sadly. II Is next 70 impossible 20 dra
in highhown illusions 10 the flag,
be mighty cause. and our sacred trus
S. when one is speaking TO farmers o
ny the price OF corn and hogs. Nor d
,st these allusions seem 10 fit IN wit
Fast,1 .4y
er subsidy, the tarir. or labor problem
IT, Prohibition might seem a suitab
he field for emotional appeals, but eve
in when such a theme is being expounC
ne ed audiences grow restive under
mt flood Of sentiment. Facts and ffgur,
he are expected now in political speeche
to Even speakers who have always bee
II masters OF the art OF evading defini
nd statements are finding that languae
le- In all of its sonoreus beauty fails
ce. awe the modern audience.
ar- stump speaker used 70 be Z
op much OF an entertainment feature :
the circus. People would sit Ell
tranced as long as a speaker wou
waive his arms and go through h
list OF tricks. But ever since Il
movies began 70 provide more reguls
entertainment, audiences have bee
less ready 10 be spellbound.
NO Women Demand Facts.
The The entrance Of women into politi
mt, may be cited as one OF the mo
nj recent contributing causes to Il
change in oratory. At the hea
M quarters OF the League OF woms
os- Voters they tell you that the que
sep tionnaires which have been sent O.
irs. TO candidates have affected polite
speechmaking. indirectly at lea.
These questionnaires inquired q
er- candidates definite stand on In
wn portant issues. Refusal IN All o,,+ .
Ut answer TO any question was taken
nat the women questioners practically
ton an admission that the candida
held views OF which he was ashame
or that he was not sufficient
the acquainted with the subject TO EXPIRE
sht himself. few candidate. hal,,es
us the idea of such an inquisieion, b
only ar first. The necessity OF pleasil
the suddenly powerful woman vot
DC soon turned the most evasive candida
nei into supporter of the Questionnai
oss system.
re- rban COO oaa,s,, 49,
asked frequently 10 speak at wome,
clubs and women's meetings. w
men as a class have not had the bac
- ground OF political knowledge tn
man have They wanted TO reno