Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 112, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1904 — "THE BOVS IN THE TRENCHES” [ARTICLE]

"THE BOVS IN THE TRENCHES”

Senator Beveridge Says President Roosevelt Is Familiar With Their Work,, Senator Beveridge has a good word for county and precinct committeemen in his latest Saturday Evening Post article on "Following Roosevelt as President.” In writing of the real work of the campaign the senator says: "The country is full of precinct and county committeemen in the country districts. These are usually farmers whose inducement is nothing more than their desire to help manage the actual work of campaigns. They take the poll. They keep informed of what each of the neighbors in their community is thinking on political questions. They see to it that they who are in agreement with them politically get out to the polls. They are careful that those who belong to the opposition party but who ar/j open to argument receive literature that will help them to change to the right side. They do those countless things that keep interest in politics alive among the masses. This is the concrete way in which our democratic institutions work. "These men are known in common parlance as the ‘boys in the trenches,’ But for them, not one third of the vote would be polled in any except the most' exciting and critical “elections. And it cannot be too often repeated that these men are ‘in the trenches’ because they like to be there, and not for reward —and especially not for monej* reward. They simply enjoy the work of popular government. Incidentally they like to be consulted as to who shall .be appointed to any office from their county. ‘Why do you waste your time jn politics?’ was asked of an old and wealthy farmer in a certain county in Indiana. ‘Oh,’ he answered. ‘because somebody must do it, or the country would go to the dogs. Besides, I enjoy the game.’ And this man could not be corrupted By money, and has never asked for office. "Not all of these local politicians are of so high a type, but many of them are. And at any the tens of thousands of them throughout the land are the forces that make conventions, ‘get out the vote,’ and, in the last analysis, run the government. Very well, these men will be surprised to Jrnow how thoroughly the president is informed of their elfo?? generally and in many cases knows individually about the specially excellent work of a man here, there and yonder.”