The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-07-24

in this state, with wonderful gift for
organization and an uncanny power
of locating the strength and weakness
Fof the opposition.
Taking my meager accomplishments
as q foundation, he turned his imagi-
nation loose, compiled for me record
cast it over the district. (That is the
case of most candidatial qualifications
and records, one-tenth fact and nine
tenths imagination.)
There were 200 voting precincts in
the district and Republican club
was organized in each, no matter how
| small the vote OF the precinct and
how few Republicans it contained. A
Central Republican club was estab-
lished in each of the eighteen county
seats, to which the precinct clubs re-
ported at stated times.
These clubs. were frequently visited
on their meeting nights by some one
from the central club. and the situa-
ton in that precinct thoroughly gone
day arrived, Chairman Adams had in
his possession complete list of every
resident voter in the district CLASSIFIED
by political affiliation,z as Republican.
although there were but few doubtful
voters at that time, every one knew
where he stood and was usually will
ing and anxious to proclaim his party
The voters were also listed by ma
tionality.. occupation and religion. So
thoroughly was this organization per-
fected that few days before the. cleo
ton the chairman went over his re-
ports and correctly predicted the result
within 200 votes.
an, not Eddy clubs, Adams was far
too shrewd for that. They were Re-
publican clubs pledged to stand for
Republican principles and for all the
fees were on party basis Gas, they
should be now, that meant all Re-
publican candidates for office from
county commissioner to President of
about a perfect CO. ordination between
all the candidates and working mem
bers of the party, creating an organ
lied, cohesive, enthusiastic force inn
bued with an "All for one and one
for all.' spirit that was powerful
factor in bringing about the success
full result in this campaign
So thoroughly was this organization
carried out that nearly every Repub-
lican voter in the district was club
member. In the village of Warren,
for example, the Republican vote in
membership of the Republican club.
Each member of the club was taken
into consultation on campaign matters
and about campaign procedure, was
assigned some campign task and in
vited to make a campaign contribu-
ton to the club treasurer for cam
paign expenses. No definite member
ship fee was imposed NJ fsd It was left
what he could afford. None Of the
contributions were very large. but
practically every member contributed
about SO cents, as 1 now remember.
1t was during that campaign that I
learned three fundamental principles
of practical campaigning:
That one voluntary political worker
was worth ten hired ones.
That the best way to make enthus-
iastic party workers out of voters, es-
pecially young voters was to consult
freely with them, give them something
to do and induce them to make a cash
contribution, no matter how small, to
the campaign fund. Make your con-
stituents partners and then they will
paign.
That campaign fund of $4,000
contributed by 5000 different people,
$50. 900 contributed by ten people
These precinct clubs took care of
all the meetings held in their pre-
cinct, provided places. furnished the
music, if any was furnished, enter
tanned the speaker and when a drive
was necessary for him to raech his
next appointment, provided him with
transportation.
In those days political speakers of
all parties were supplied with rail-
road passes, so there were no railroad
fares to pay, but the precinct club
/.
During that campaign, which / be
gan early in May and closed the night
before election, I made 235 set adj
dresses, one or more in each incorpo-
rated village and at many country
school houses in the more populous ru-
raj districts, and innumerable i'm
promptu ones whenever We met up
with gathering of voters and were
given an opportunity to address them.
| traversed the. entire length and
breadth of the district several times,
travelling thousands Of miles by team.
There were no motor vehicles in those
days. Often travelled over roads. that
present time. I visited every voting
or more of it's prominent citizens.
During all the five and half
months Of constant Campaigning. l
pay single hotel bill, settle for hall.
cidental expense Of a meeting, nor did
Grafton. This I consider a most unique
parallel it in any other one of the
twenty two campaigns in which 1 have
participated, nor do I believe it has
ever been parallel in the political his
tory of the country.
There were but few outside speak
ers sent into the district. Hon. Ros-
we'll G. Horr Of Michigan, wonderful
speaker, made us a few effective ad-
dresses; Congressman McCleary, whose
exposition of Sound Money" has