Evening star., 1952-08-12
Candidates Used to Run Much Harder
By Robert K. Welsh


tumn of conflict and campaign" though
neither will yet concede winter Of dis
content. But, in all political justice, they
shouldn't claim too much for the rigors
Of campaign travel this year.
What If they had been presidential
candidates In the era of the horse and
buggy, real stumps instead of radio
stands, the caboose and cinder circuit,
and pistol packing and character assas-
sination!
In some respects, running for Presi-
dent in 1852 is still more physically de-
manding than it was for Thomas Jeffer-
son, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln
or William Mckinley. Those successful
and relatively silent campaigners had no
streamliners, private planes. television or
mimeograph machines. They managed
to win without leaving Monticello hill
top, a Hermitage, centrally located
house in Springfield, ILL.,, and a front
porch in Ohio.
From the time Of William Jennings
Bryan in 1896, however, the road to the
White House during an election year
summer and autumn usually has had to
be paved with more than avowed good
intentions. Personal appearances by
nominees and outlays Of travel and
speech-making schedules as well as out
lays Of cash became progressively
greater.
Even Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1910
and 1914, had to adopt more direct travel
methods after abandoning plan for
only a few "non-political inspection
trips"
Almost up to 1896 presidential can
didate really was supposed to seem re-
luctant. It had been a tradition that
the candidate remain aloof while lieu
tenants fought it out with every available
travel device and every effective weapon
deadly or otherwise.
Thus the master political organizer
and leader, Thomas Jefferson, having
mustered and deployed his forces. let
Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and
others do the touring and exhorting.
Hamilton literally stumped New England
by stagecoach and on horseback. He
and Burr frequently appeared on the
same platform to address polling place
crowds in New York City.
Jefferson, during all those prediction
weeks in 1900, was away from Month
cello only twice. Then he went only as
far as Charlottesville.
Gen. jackson, who took part In many
a fighting" campaign, stayed mostly
at the Hermitage near Nashville during
1923. The place was overrun with Wis
itors. His only trip remotely resembling
campaign travel was a steamboat
voyage down the Mississippi for an
anniversary celebration of the Battle of
New Orleans.
Lincoln, who gained national notice
from his debates with Stephen A. Doug
las in the 1858 Illinois senatorial cam
paign, remained In Springfield in 1860.
He made one speech, a very brief one,
to crowd that gathered in front Of
his home in August.
Outwardly he seemed to do little in
the campaign. He had never met his
Maine. Actually, he took major role
by writing letters, conferring with party
leaders and others, and standing firm
on policy in the national crisis.
Presidential nominees, it is true, did
considerable travelling before Bryan be-
gan the all-out custom Of showing
himself and sounding his voice where
ever possible or practical throughout the
country. Some Of the earlier trips
seemed q bit too restricted. James G.
Blaine, for example, must have regretted
q ride to New York in October. 1884.
The same day that the rum. Roman
ism and rebellion" phrase fell upon his
unfortunate ears he also attended a
Embarrassing dinner held by more than
200 Of New York's ffnanciers. Mr.. Blaine
wasn't helped when the paper Of Joseph
Pulitzer. the elder, came out the next
morning with ferocious blast against
"Belshazzar's Feast"
In any event, when Bryan started
transforming in 1896. he was accused
Of acting like circus performer and in
a manner undignified for any presiden-
tial aSpirant.
ST would rather have 1t said that I
lacked dignity" he retorted, than that
lack backbone to meet the enemies
of government who work against its
welfare"
The Bryan railroad pilgrimage
which eventually included rides in ca
booSes, buggies and buckboardS-began
August /. 1t began with the candi-
dates acceptance speech in old Madi-
son Square Garden Gin the heart Of the
enemy's country" Nearby streets were
SO CROWDED C1aC ne naQ TO pause several
times to make impromptu speeches from
his carriage.
The three-months tour covered more
than $4,000 miles and produced almost
600 speeches. Sometimes they were
heard by 100000 people. Bryan spoke
many times a day and set something
Of whistle-stop record by making "a
speeches in "a hours. Far ahead Of the
day of the fireside chat, he later had
his "cross Of gold" speech recorded for
phonograph use.
'sf crowds were votes Bryan would
have been elected three times" Alfred
e. Smith. no mean speechmaker and
campaigner, once observed.
In contrast to the Boy Orator of the
Platte, Mai. William Mckinley stuck
to his front porch in Canton, Ohio, and
addressed visiting delegations. That
was not as easy as it sounded. The
aStute Mark Hanna arranged the visits,
occasionally as many as dozen a day.
TI;~ ~~I IT,