HOW TO GET VOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13673, 11 April 1908, Page 7

HOW TO GET VOTES.

|/T^B "CADGING" OF CLUBS.

A POLITICIAN'S CONFESSION.

An interesting side-light is thrown on the • roiigli-andrtumble of British polities' by the confessions, contributed to Blackwdod, of 'an unsuccessful candidate- in the elections of 1906. His was a country constituency, with four small towns in it, and he was a country gentleman, with few convictions, but pound, by the political traditions of his family. For two years before the election he "nursed" the constituency assiduously, holding meetings regularly, and canvassing quietly but systematically. No sooner was his candidature announced than he/ became the target for al lsorts^of clubs and institutions in need of money. Athletic clubs, volunteer corps, literary societies, elorgyjn&n- whb perhaps had thundered against him a few days before, and a host of other bodies and people wanted., subscriptions or gifts. The first year these calls on his purse cost him £750. The. sjeoond he spent £1500 in this way — "ground bait" it is called- ' Altogether, the election cost him well over, £3000. Imagine, then, his feelings when* after the election, he heard two men discussing his defeat jin a club. "XI, Would have got in all right if he hadn't been so horribly stingy." He knows .of one member who is accustomed to spend about £4000 a year in "keeping his constituency sweet." The law against bribery is useless; the bad old practices still flourish in new guises. The aspirant to political honours will learn a good deal from this article, but it will not improve his opinion of the intelligence of the free and independent voter. "Heckling" is one of the candidate's greatest trials, and he must- have either experience or a natural gift for repartee to feel safe when questions begin to be asked. One night a young fellow camQ forward at one of' this candidate's meetings, and, holding/up a loaf, ' asked whether, it was a free-trade or a tariff reform loaf. The candidate had .no idea what was meant, but, fearing a trap, he took the loaf, divided it int*wo, and, holding up the pieces, declared that the large one represented $is party and the small one the other party. Of course, he scored. Another night an old gentleman read out a long rigmarole by a man we will call Porfenhauser, and asked the candidate what he thought, of that. "I think. Herr Poffenhauser is a blithering idiot," said the candidate. Effect of this extremely rude reply — extreme delight of the intelligent voter., . •' >