Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1904 — CAMPAIGN WARMING UP. [ARTICLE]

CAMPAIGN WARMING UP.

Its Last Days May Sea Some of the Old Time Enthusiasm. The remaining days of the campaigs of 1904 will occupy the public mind pretty much to the neglect of everything else. The voters and those who read the newspapers, the Utica Globe says believe two weeks is plenty as it hai been impossible to arouse enthusiasn at an earlier stage and a herculean ef> fort has 'been put forth to start it even now. This campaign differs from others ii the’absence of accessories—the uniformed marching clubs, the big meetings, and the things which contributed to move ment and color. When the spectaculai feature is* omitted, the distinguishing mark of the presidential canvasses sine* the 60’s, the life is gone. When it ii left to the press and the spellbinderi to importune support for the candidate* the glory of electioneering has departed In the old days the cost of carrying ot a campaign was small compared to now In 1860 the Wide Awakes and the Littl* Giants wore an oil cloth oap and caj* costing 40 cents and -this placed it withi; the reach of everyone. Now the unifornu cost all -the way -from 510 to 825 and only the few can afford them. A battalion oi 200 dressed this way ia one month expend from $4,000 to $7,000. The old fashioned torch has been superseded bj an expensive lantern, and musicians who received $1.50 per night now ask $4 and $5. The increased cost has had a good deal to do to make this campaign th« listless one it has been up to the ev< ajmost of election. While the omission of the spectaculai has disappointed the boys and girls it has served a good purpose in that the heated arguments, the bitterness aroused among the parties to them, has not manifested itself in anything like the proportions of ye olden time. The discussion of platforms and candidates has been carried on with respectful deference in nowise calculated to anger those who seek enlightenment. This is as it should be and ia a distinct gain over tjie old way of abuse and villification which marred so many campaigns heretofore.