The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1912. ELECTING A PRESIDENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 2 November 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1912. ELECTING A PRESIDENT.

Though we are just on the eve of the Presidential election of the United States, very little news is reaching New Zealand by cablegram regarding the final spurts made by candidates and their supporters. The sensational shooting of Mr Roosevelt emphasised the already largely dominating personal factor which had made itself in this contest so prominent in the TaftRoosevelt quarrel and in other ways, hut, nevertheless, it is the opinion of those well versed in the political mind of America that it is the forces behind the candidate which have most to do with his election or failure to win the place of chief citizen of the United States. How Party managers in

America work is dealt with by a cor

respondent of the London “Times,” who points out that it is the rule rather than otherwise for a candidate during a presidential campaign to keep more or less in the background, since in the view of tlie “best opinion” in America it is deemed to be more becoming and dignified in him, instead of stumping the country, to stay at home, and there receive the monster deputations that are all too anxious to visit him and receive hk hospitality. This being so it is the Party organiser who really commands the campaign and who plans and directs his nominal master’s battles. Naturally the Party

unager is a person to be reckoned with and, of course, not an entirely disinterested supporter. “Jf anything more were needed,” the correspondent referred to, says, “to induce the rival commanders to exert themselves to the uttermost, it would ho the knowledge that the victor becomes the second and sometimes the first personality in the politics of the nation, establishes a claim on the President whom he has elected which is always acknowledged, and may be sure of a seat in the Cabinet, or a nomination for a Senate, or the offer of an Embassy; while the loser falls like Lucifer, never to hope again.” Therefore to strenuous men the position of campaign manager is desirable as one with immense possibilities and almost autocratic power. He has many difficult duties, among them being to heal Party fends and to provide a sufficient fund for the fray. The chief sources of contributions are the business corporations, especially such as are affected by the fiscal, economic, and currency questions, never far from the front in American politics. After them come the Federal office-holders, who are usually assessed a percentage of their salaries. Then, the intimate friends of the candidates are zealous-

ly canvassed, and from tlio rank and file of the party money 'is collected by popular subscription. How much it all comes to is never really known or stated, but possibly some day somebody will publish a book of revelations which may contain a portion of Ike truth. The cost of a campaign has been variously estimated at figures np to £3,000,000, but tin's is probably a little high even for America. Just now the Party manager for each candidate will be having a feverish time, the Taft, Roosevelt or Wilson Clubs (established as a part of the campaign in every centre of any size) will be good and busy, and everybody wil) be booming things along. When the fight is over, whoever wins, the Party manager will have earned his reward.