Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1893 — HOW DEMOCRACY WON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW DEMOCRACY WON.

MANNER OP CONDUCTING THE LATE CAMPAIGN. •The Western Branch of the Democratic National Committee and How It Did Its Work—A Recital from Which Politicians May Gather Hints. A Campaign of Education. Chicago correspondence: 'When a great "political victory has been gained immediately the victors seek some individuals pon whom to lavish their praise for the result. Thus, when the late .political revolution left only scattered relics «of a ogee formidable —and a once honored—party, there were those who believed the event due to the strategy of single minds who had organized victory for the people. But as the glow of enthusiasm settles into the calmer study of the campaign, its results and possibilities, thoughtful minds look deeper and discover that praise is due rather for the organization . of the ipeople for victory than for the organizing of victory for the people. The political revolution in Illinois is worthy of study by dll who would take part in American politics. A generation had passed away since the people of Illinois had -elected a Democratic -governor. Illinois Democrats had so long been accustomed to nominate candidates for State officers only to meet defeat that they had come to look upon the quadrennial struggle as one of the efforts' to be-made to preserve their organization! Other Western States had, in off years, rebuked the dominant party by electing Democrats tp office, but the heat of a Presidential election had always fused the old elements and given the electoral vote to the party of monopoly. Into the campaign of 1892 the Democrats brought a ’new factor. They appreciated the impossibility of conducting the contest in the west from a headquarters on the Atlantic coast. To aid the State organizations of the west a branch of ’the National Democratic Committee was established in Chicago. The work of that branch was to co-op-erate with the local committees and bring to the polls the largest 'possible Democratic army. Let those who have believed that the result in Illinois was due alone to the work -of one man -or one committee during the short campaign of nine weeks note the progress of the contest as it developed at the western headquarters. Let fl|.ose Who have despaired of American institutions because of the power lodged with (a federal administration note how easily the people triumphed when-a fair issue

had been presented and % campaign marked out in which they were to be trusted. But let no one imagine that the purpose of this record is to detract one iota from the praise lavished upon the active head of the western committee. It is to belittle his w®rk to say that he carried Illinois. It is ihis'due to record the fact that he helped show the people of Illinois how to overthrow 'the ■ entrenched Republican party. The name of Ben T. Cable has been upon many tongues. Those best appreciate his services to the nation who understand the nature of the campaign he marked out and carried to .a -successful conclusion. Head of the Committee. Ben T, Cable is still a new hand in the Democratic army. Not yet forty , years of age, he has achieved what is called political succes, rather through his keen insight into popular thought than by the arts of the merely practical politician. He entered Congress as the successful candidate from a Republican stronghold after a campaign In which there had been a signal lackiof bombast ana red fire. Studying the result of his effort in a Congressional district, he believed it could be extended over the State and into other States. He believed the people were tired of excessive taxation, and that, on the issue presented by the Chicago convention, they would rally to the support of'the Democratic party. He appreciated the nature of the contest and the necessity of utilizing every possible factor for its accomplishment. There remained but two months for work when his. committee had organized and chosen their headquarters. So far as the.contest in Illinois was concerned, he had the advantage of work already done by the State committee through its secretary, Theodore Nelson, who had been continuously at work since the close of the campaign of 1890. Placing

himself in close touch with that committee, he selected ih i s personal staff from .a mo: n g Democrats who had proved.their capacity tor the duties t o ib e performed. Having a strong nucLueus ~~ for a perfect r organization in the v a r ioiu -e county committees and their appointees i m townships and

school districts, Mr. Cable determined to extend this inlo every precinct in the State. Nearly half a million voters were to be r ache 1. The task was herculean, and a veritable Hercules of organization was chosen in the person of the secretary of the committee, Mr. 'W. J. Mize, formerly for many years secretary of the Illinois State Democratic Committee. Mr Mize demonstrated as the campaign progressed his .full sympathy with the plan of work marked out. He is not given to fuss or •feathers. He cares little for the old-fash-ioned methods of campaigning. Taking the lists of county chairmen furnished by the secretary of the State Committee,his :flrst work was to send to each a personal letter asking for the names of the local committeemen, and assuring each that the committee had determined to make a vigorous effort to carry the State. The responses can.e with encouraging promptness, and those who lagged were reminded by urgent appeals for haste. Then other letters were drafted and sent to the school district and product committeemen calling for active canvass of their localities. Soon a communication was sent to the school district and precinct committeemen asking for the names of Democrat! of the various professions and industries - Then vtfaere (lowed to the Secretary's desk piled of latter# opening a pewfleld lor cprnsepon'daace. The old workers

were urged to give their time to the cause. New recruits were advised to consult at once with the chairmen of their local committee and place themselves at their disposal for actual campaigning. Men who had been prominent as speakers were asked to correspond with the headquarters for assignment. Those of less note were urged to devoto themselves to work in school-house meetings. This active correspondence was continued until the last days of the campaign. The responses were /Such as to impress upon the committee the propriety of conveying to the workers throughout the State the gratifying intelligence coming to headquarters tpo late for further use of the malls. Therefore, on Monday, the day before election, over fifteen hundred telegrams were sent to correspondents in the State. The event justified the course, as from all directions have come assurances that the workers were thus inspired to renewed efforts. The above outlines the work of organization. From it resulted enormous demands for campaign literature. This demand came from men who showed their intelligence and zeal by explaining just what they needed in their localities. Some asked for arguments to demonstrate to farmers the methods by which they had been robbed under Elea of protection. Others wished to ave further proof for workingmen in factories that the enhancement of the cost of the material upon which their labor was expended must necessarily decrease the possible return to labor and capital employed in production. The Literary Bureau. At the head of the literary bureau Mr. Cable placed a volunteer who brought with him a degree of earnestness and enthusiasm which proved contagious in all departments. Nat S,

Brigham, of Utah, accepted the responsible position, and filled it to the ful 1e s t possibility. With a corps of able assistants, he planned the work, main-' tained a full supply of the, documents most needed, reprinted from the newspap e r s

such short and pithy arguments as be -deemed most useful in the campaign, and to the last day of the contest 'made the document-room look like a section of a metropolitan postofflee. And there was still another department over which Mr. Cable had the good fortune to place one perfectly fitted to the arduous task. It Was known that large numbers of Democrats and of persons inclined to support the principles of the party were still "Unnaturalized. They had come to look 'Upon a political contest in Illinois as hopeless and neglected taking out their final papers. To reach th se persons, even in Cook county alone, involved unceas-ing-effort, and could only be well performed by one as faithful, honest and reliable as he was intelligent and untiring. For this most important position Mr. Cable selected a Democrat tiied in other positions and never found wanting. Mr. Reuben E. Spaiigler had come to Chicago from McDonough County, and here had taken up the work for his party with the enthusiasm which had characterized his efforts in a less populous community. It was his duty to note the work of the local committeemen and to see that ways a#id means were provided for bringing out every voter'to bo naturalized and registered. Figures That Were Verified. Though a comparatively young man and a new-comer to Chicago, Mr.

. Spangler impressed himself upon the campaign and made an enviable record in his department There were those who belie ve d the enormous registration in Cook County be"tokened ltepublican gains. There were others who asserted

that only the count of the votes could furnish reliable information as to which party had the advantage on the face of the registration. But there was never a doubt in Mr. Spangler’s mind. Though accused of being a “rainbow-chaser” he was convinced that ho had figures to prove his assertion that the Democrats would have over 20,0ut) majority in Cook County. And on election night, as the returns began to come tin from the city precincts, “Spangler’s figures” were verified. He had been only too conservative in his estimate of the always large doubtful vote. There were sights worth seeing during the closing weeks and days of the campaign. In the Secretary’s room thirty typewriters rattled continuously under the deft fingers of yowng women who seemed to thus compensate for their lack of power at the ballot-box. They were addressing the circular letters to tens of thousands of Democrats in the State. Piles of the letters were 'Constantly being brought to their desks and other piles removed for stamping and mailing. In this recital men of all parties may gather some h:nts as to what will be the best methods of conducting future campaigns. Here is marked the decadence of “flambeaux clubs” ; and brassbhnd politics. The country .is now interested in the solution of economic questions. letit be recorded that, by his early recognition of this ifact and his courage in acting upon kfe convieition, Ben Cable has earned a large

shore of the gratitude bestowed by sensible folk long since disgusted with Chinese methods In American politics. Homeb says the Greek how was used t>y placing'pfce end on the ground, to feeure steadiness ts aim.

BEN. T. CABLE.

N. H. BRIGHAM.

R. E. SPANGLER.

HOW TAE wonK WAS DONE.