The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-07-31

ney was not employed Dy heyeS,
but by the people. The office was
not his to bestow; 1t was theirs.
It was the same in the fight for
Congress. After I had won the
nomination and election it gave me
still greater confidence in the peo-
pie. But while the district attor-
ney did his work in the county
where the voters could see how
they were being served. Washing
ton was a long way off. How were
ceedings of Congress, and the
work Of their congressman?
I thought it all over. 1t was
clear to me that the only way to
beat boss and ring rule was to
keep the people thoroughly in
formed.
Machine control is based upon
misrepresentation and ignorance.
Democracy is based upon knowl-
edge.
Starts System
Immediately following my cleo
ton to Congress 1 worked out a
complete plan for keeping my con-
stituents informed on public is
sues and the record of my services
in Congress; it is the system 1
have used in constantly widening
circles ever since.
There were five counties in my
district. La Fayette. Grant. Green.
Dane and Iowa. I secured from
the county clerks offices a com.
plete list of all the voters who had
voted in the last election.
had the names written on
large SHEETS, one township, some
times two. TO a sheet Then 1
sent the sheets to a friend in each
county who filed in all the infor-
nation he could. indicating espe-
cially the strong men in each
COMMUNICATIONS who were lead
ers OF sentiment. To this infor-
nation I added the results OF my
own acquaintance in the district.
This gave me a complete descrip-
tive poll list OF my district.
When some Congressman made
a speech on sound money-Reed or
Carlisle would get the necessary
number Of copies OF that speech.
and send them to those interested
in the money question.
When the oleomargarine bill, the
interstate commerce bill, and other
important legislation was pending,
I sent our speeches covering the
debates thoroughly. In this way
I suppose l sent out hundreds of
thousands OF speeches, my own
and others.
It is not generally known that
Congressional speeches, reprinted
from the Record for distribution.
must be paid for by the Congress-
man or Senator ordering them at
a cost equal to that of any first
class printing establishment. The
size Of the bills paid the Govern
ment printing office for many years
was one of the reasons why
found myself so poor when I left
Congress. A Congressman in those
days received only $4,000 a year.
and no secretarial or clerk hire
whatever unless he CHANGED to be
chairman. OF a committee.
The bulk of the actual mechani-
cal work OF keeping upall this
correspondence and pamphleteer-
ing fell upon Mrs. La Toilette and
myself Occasionally we INDUCED
in the extravaganza Of hiring a
stenographer for a few weeks, but.
as a rule. while I was engaged in
my congressional duties, Mrs. La
Toilette worked until the late
hours, writing letters, addressing
envelopes and sending away stacks,
Of speeches.
We do not look upon those days
With any self pity. We were both
young and vigorous, and they were
among the happiest and most hope
full years we ever spent. We gave
ourselves comparatively few
amusements, but those that we
did take we enjoyed supremely.
Interest Keen
Our interest in the drama has al
ways been keen, and l remember
that whenever Booth and Barrett
came to play in Baltimore-they
never came to Washington owing
to Booths aversion to the scene Of
Ssthe tragedy with which his brother
was connected-Mrs. La Toilette
and I threw discretion utterly to
the winds and went over to every
evening performance while their
engagement lasted.
The task of building up and
maintaining an intelligent interest
in public affairs in my district and
afterward in the State was no
easy one. But it was the only way
for me, and I am still convinced
that it Is the best way.
OF one thing l am more and
more convinced with the passage
Of the years-and that is, the seri-
Gus interest of our people in gov
eminent.
Never in my political life have
derived benefit from the two
- sources of power by which ma
chine politics chiefly thrives-I
mean patronage, the control of APP
pointments to Office, and the use
of large sums of money in organi-
zation
If you are going direct to the
people,. you have no need of pat
ronage. Moreover, you have no
need OF organization in the COM