Ohio History Journal

Suggestions for a Plan of County

Organization: Charles Dick Lays the

Groundwork for the Campaign of 1896

 

Edited by THOMAS E. FELT*

 

 

CAMPAIGN "textbooks" for the party faithful have been

used to inspire electoral success for close to a hundred years

in this country, and were the document published below just

another one of this familiar species it would deserve no par-

ticular notice. But this is a campaign textbook with a differ-

ence. Where its more conventional brothers are heavy with

biographical sketches of party saints, excerpts from the elo-

quence of party spokesmen, and reprints of party platforms,

this is a manual devoted entirely to the difficult matter of

local party organization and action.

"Suggestions For Plan of County Organization" is the

title as printed on the cover; the Republican national com-

mittee is the sponsor, if not the author; and 1896 is the date.

Not printed as a pamphlet, it has the physical appearance of a

legal brief. The present copy, which is the only one known to

the editor, is from the papers of Charles Dick in the library

of the Ohio Historical Society. It is printed in an unusual

fool-the-eye typewriter face, following advice given in the

text itself. How many copies were printed is not known.

Readers who may learn of other copies or of references to

the document can help to clear up the point. But whether it

was widely distributed or not, this handbook of vote-getting

* Thomas E. Felt is an instructor in history at the College of Wooster. Another

political document from the hand of Charles Dick that he has edited was published

in the January 1958 issue of the Quarterly (LXVII, pp. 50-62) under the title

"Organizing a National Convention: A Lesson from Senator Dick."

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368   THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

tips has an authoritative ring that deserves a respectful

hearing.

Its authority derives as much from its author as from its

sponsorship. Though not signed, it must be attributed to

Charles Dick himself for a number of reasons. It was writ-

ten by an Ohioan, for the street names listed in the text are

clearly taken from Columbus--"West Gay," "East Broad,"

and others. Dick was not only an Ohioan but assistant sec-

retary of the national committee, with his office at its Chicago

headquarters, from where, according to the letterhead included

on the first page (but omitted below), the document originated.

Then too, a remarkably similar document, the same except

for minor additions and adaptations, may also be found in the

Dick papers. It is dated 1902 and was issued under the

sponsorship of the Republican state executive committee, of

which he was chairman that year. Finally, the work itself

represents precisely the approach to campaigning that char-

acterized Dick throughout his career.

Only thirty-eight years old in 1896, Dick was still learning

the political game as it was played on the national level, but

he had long since mastered the Ohio style in state and local

politics. Ten years previously he had been elected auditor of

his native Summit County (Akron), and in the intervening

time had served in a succession of party posts leading up to

the chairmanship of the state executive committee in 1892.

The position he played on the team headed by William Mc-

Kinley had been defined by then, and it was a crucial, if not

a colorful, one. McKinley himself was never adept at organ-

ization work or in self-promotion of any obvious sort. Legis-

lator, orator, executive, and inspirer of a devoted following

of friends, he needed the talents of others to propel his career

toward the presidency. Marcus A. Hanna, still primarily a

Cleveland businessman in politics, contributed his genius for

raising funds, persuading and holding shaky allies, and fitting

together combinations of factions that might carry the election

at hand. But Hanna was something of an improviser. How-

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A PLAN OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION              369

ever thoroughly he studied men and interests, he lacked the

patience for detailed, painstaking organization work. So in

turn he needed Charles Dick. Dick's flair for just this kind

of assignment was soon recognized and trained to near per-

fection. This is not to deny that he had other capabilities.

Later, serving in congress, he showed himself to good advan-

tage on the stump and in legislative work. But it was in

recognition of his astute management of the party machinery

that Dick was promoted to the secretaryship of the Repub-

lican national committee during McKinley's first administra-

tion. That he continued to find favor with McKinley and

Hanna--and he did--suggests that he knew his business

well.1

Some factors are constant in the politics of a democracy,

and in its outlines much of Dick's scheme as given below was

entirely conventional then and is even yet.   More to the

historian's point, however, the document suggests a good

deal about the nature of the presidential campaign of 1896.

Here was Hanna's "campaign of education" at the graduate

level. If the "Suggestions" was sent out in quantity--some-

thing not yet proved--it represents an unusually frank com-

munication from the national to the county levels of the party.

To the extent that they were adopted -- and they are too

obviously counsels of perfection for universal application--

they help to clarify such questions regarding the campaign

as how the largest campaign fund in history to that time was

spent (on postage!), why the voter turnout was the largest

known, and how, in a time of rapidly shifting sentiments, the

Republican headquarters' forecasts proved as accurate as they

did:

 

 

1 The foregoing sketch of the McKinley-Hanna-Dick relationship draws upon

the Dick papers and upon Thomas E. Felt, "The Rise of Mark Hanna" (un-

published Ph.D. dissertation, Michigan State University, 1960), especially pp.

252-253, and Margaret Leech, In the Days of McKinley (New York, 1959), pp.

68-69. See also Francis B. Gessner, "The New Senator From Ohio," Munsey's

Magazine, XXXI (1904).

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370    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

The following suggestions as to plans for County Organization are

issued by the Republican National Committee for the information and

benefit of County Chairmen and their subordinate committeemen:

 

COUNTY ORGANIZATION.

 

1st.--A County Central Committee.

 

Members.

The County Central Committee shall be composed of one member

from each voting precinct, chosen in such manner as the Republicans

of each county may prescribe.

 

Officers.

The officers of the County Central Committee shall be a Chairman

and a Secretary.

 

Duties.

As soon as the County Central Committee is organized, the full

names, occupations and P. O. addresses of its members, with the pre-

cinct of which each has charge, shall be reported, either direct or

through the Chairman of the County Executive Committee, to the

Chairman of the State Executive Committee.

The County Central Committee shall choose a County Executive

Committee and the officers thereof, unless some other method of select-

ing said Executive Committee shall be deemed advisable. When chosen,

the name, occupation and P. O. address of each officer and member

of the County Executive Committee shall be reported to the Chairman

of the State Executive Committee without delay.

Each member of the County Central Committee shall appoint a Pre-

cinct Committeeman for each Sub-District in his precinct, and immedi-

ately report the full name and P. O. address of each Precinct Commit-

teeman so appointed to the chairman of the County Executive Com-

mittee on the blank provided for that purpose.

The Central Committeeman shall, under the direction of the County

Executive Committee, have full charge and management of the canvass

in his precinct. He shall distribute Poll Books and other supplies to his

Precinct Committeemen, and properly circulate all campaign literature

placed in his hands. He shall see that a Rallying Committee for each

Sub-District in his precinct is appointed, and that the names and P. O.

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A PLAN OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION                 371

 

addresses of the members of such Sub-District Rallying Committee are

reported to the Chairman of the County Executive Committee. He

shall see that Challengers and Inspectors of Election are provided

according to law. He shall hold frequent meetings with his Precinct

and Rallying Committeemen, supervise the polling in each sub-district,

and see that each Precinct and Rallying Committeeman is instructed

as to his duties.

He shall copy alphabetically the names of the voters returned to him

by his Precinct Committeemen into the Canvass Books provided for

that purpose, returning one to the Chairman of the County Executive

Committee, and keeping one for use at the polls on election day. He

shall carefully revise his Canvass Book about ten days prior to election,

striking off the names of all voters who have died or who have removed

from the precinct, and adding the names of all those who have become

residents of the precinct since, as well as those, if any, whose names

were omitted in the first canvass. He shall forward a list of the changes

and corrections to the Chairman of the County Executive Committee,

giving the names and present addresses of those who have removed

from the precinct, and also the names and addresses of those who have

moved into the precinct. He shall also notify the Chairman of the

County Executive Committee of any voters who may be temporarily

absent, so that steps may be taken to bring them home to vote.

 

2nd.--A County Executive Committee.

 

Members.

The County Executive Committee shall be composed of not fewer

than five members.

 

Officers.

The officers of the County Executive Committee shall be a Chairman,

a Secretary and Treasurer.

 

Duties.

The County Executive Committee shall have entire control of the

campaign; provide ways and means for conducting the canvass; dis-

tribute all supplies received from the State Executive Committee in

accordance with instructions; forward the lists of Precinct Committee-

men to the Chairman of the State Executive Committee as soon as

they are reported by the County Central Committeemen; report the

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372     THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

result of the poll of the county, as soon as completed, to the Chairman

of the State Executive Committee; meet with the Committeemen in

every precinct and see that they are instructed as to their duties, super-

vise the polling and other campaign work therein, and arrange the

times and places of all political meetings in the county.

 

PRECINCT ORGANIZATION.²

 

lst.--A Precinct Committee.

 

Members.

The Precinct Committee shall be composed of one member for each

school district in township precincts, and one for each street, block or

other subdivision in city and village precincts, to be appointed by the

County Central Committeeman of each precinct.

 

Officers.

The County Central Committeeman of each precinct shall be Chair-

man of the Precinct Committee.

 

Duties.

Each Precinct Committeeman, under the direction of his County

Central Committeeman, shall have control of the canvass in his Sub-

District. It shall be his duty to appoint a Sub-District Rallying Com-

mittee, consisting of one member for every six Republicans and doubt-

ful voters in his Sub-District, and give to each member of such Rallying

Committee the names of the voters he is expected to look after, as

follows:

For City Precinct:

"Mr. John Doe, Rallying Committeeman, Sub-District No. ........,

Precinct ............,...........Ward, City of..............."

The following named voters are assigned to your especial charge

to see that each understands how to properly mark and fold his ballot,

and to make sure that each goes to the polls on election day and votes

the straight Republican ticket:

John Baker,                  No. 100 West Gay St.

2 This scheme leaves the precinct organization as the only link between the county

and the door-to-door workers, although in the cities there was always an interven-

ing level organized by wards. In such cases the "ward heeler" was given the main

supervisory responsibilities, and precinct committee heads were correspondingly

less important in the hierarchy.

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A PLAN OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION                 373

Christopher Dodge,                             No. 48 East Broad St.

Frank Gilmore,                                     No. 10 West Broad St.

Henry Jenkins,                                     No. 15 No. High St.

Jacob Kilgore,                                      No. 10 No. Front St.

Lewis Metzger,                                    No. 40 No. Front St.

For Township Precinct:

"Mr. Richard Roe, Rallying Committeeman, School District No ...."

The following named voters, etc. (Same as for city,)

Abner Benson,                                     P. O. address.

Chas. Daily,                                         "      "

Elmer Ferris,                                            "              "

George Holmes,                                       "              "

Ira Jackson,                                          "      "

Karl Lampson,                                         "      "

It shall also be the duty of the Precinct Committeeman to report the

names and addresses of the members of such Sub-District Rallying

Committee to his County Central Committeeman; to see that his Rally-

ing Committeemen are instructed as to their duties; to make a poll of

the voters in his Sub-District, and ascertain the sentiment of each in

reference to the candidates; to make two copies of his poll in the books

provided for that purpose, retaining one for revision and correction,

and sending the other to his County Central Committeeman, with sug-

gestions as to the best means of securing the support of doubtful voters;

to report to his County Central Committeeman all absent voters, with

their present addresses, if known, and also all unnaturalized persons,

with Republican tendencies, who are entitled to citizenship.

 

2nd.--A Sub-District Rallying Committee.

 

Members.

The Sub-District Rallying Committee shall be composed of one mem-

ber for every six Republican and doubtful voters in each Sub-District.

 

Officers.

The Precinct Committeeman of each Sub-District shall be Chairman

of the Sub-District Rallying Committee.

 

Duties.

It shall be the duty of each Sub-District Rallying Committeeman to

consult personally every voter assigned to him and see that each under-

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374     THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

stands how to properly mark and fold his ballot; to ascertain and report

if any conveyance will be necessary to get the voters in his charge to

the polls; to make inquiry and report to his Precinct Committeeman

what conveyances in his vicinity will be available for use in getting out

the Republican vote on election day; to transmit all the information he

can that will aid his Precinct Committeeman in making the canvass of

his Sub-District; to use his influence with doubtful voters, and do all

he can to secure a full Republican vote.

 

IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS.

Immediately upon its organization the County Executive Committee

should appoint the following standing Committees, viz:

A COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION, whose duty shall be to

see that every precinct in the county is thoroughly organized and polled,

and to report any weak places to the County Chairman, with suggestions

as to the best means of strengthening the same.

A COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, whose duty shall be to devise

means of raising a Campaign Fund, disburse the same and audit the

books of the Committee.

A COMMITTEE ON SPEAKERS, whose duty shall be to super-

vise the Speaking Canvass, ascertain what speakers will be acceptable

to each community, and arrange the dates and places of holding

meetings.

A COMMITTEE ON DOUBTFUL VOTERS, whose duty it shall

be to receive the Canvass Books from the County Central Committee-

men, ascertain who are the doubtful voters in each precinct, and the

best means of securing their support.

A COMMITTEE ON REGISTRATION, (where registration is

required), whose duty shall be to see that all Republicans are properly

registered.

A COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION, whose duty shall be

to see that all foreign-born persons with Republican tendencies, who

are entitled to become citizens, are properly naturalized.

A COMMITTEE ON MESSENGERS, whose duty shall be to pro-

vide bicyclists as messengers and general campaign workers; enlist the

services of wheelmen to distribute campaign literature, organize cross-

roads meetings, do quiet electioneering in the country districts, act as

scouts on registration days and on election day, and perform such other

work as they can accomplish more easily and quickly than others.

A COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, whose duty shall

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A PLAN OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION                 375

be to provide carriages to convey to the polls on election day such Re-

publicans as require conveyances.

The Chairman of the County Executive Committee should write a

better to all Committteemen as their names are reported, defining the

duties of the Committee to which each belongs, as herein set forth, and

?? County Central and Precinct Committeemen he should state the

importance of early organization and the appointment of good, active

Republicans to the work of the canvass in their respective precincts and

sub-districts.

As soon as the County Central and Executive Committees have or-

ganized and the report of the full name, occupation and P. O. address

of each member has been received, the State Executive Committee will

then furnish the Precinct Committee Blanks and Canvass and Poll

Books.

As soon as these supplies are received from the State Executive Com-

mittee, the Chairman of the County Executive Committee will send to

each County Central Committeeman one of the blanks for the report of

his Precinct Committee, two large Canvass Books and enough of the

small Poll Books to supply two copies to each of his Precinct

Committeemen.

With these supplies a letter should be sent by the Chairman of the

County Executive Committee, urging an early, thorough canvass of each

precinct, the result to be carefully recorded in the Canvass Books,

according to the instructions printed thereon.

All letters to Committeemen should be marked "Personal and con-

idential."

As soon as the Committees are reported, the Chairman of the County

Executive Committee should write a confidential letter to each and every

Committeeman, calling attention to the necessity for immediate canvass-

ing among the voters in the precincts and ascertaining their political

Feelings. In this letter to Committeemen always be sure to include two

points that are essential: First,-- Invite each Committeeman to write

you frequently about the condition of affairs in his precinct and sub-

district. This causes him to take a personal interest in the matter, and

he feels complimented by being recognized as an influential man. Sec-

ond,--Always specify the number of votes you want his precinct to

poll, for instance:

"Your precinct polled 200 votes for (Here insert name of head of

ticket at last election), but we are satisfied, with your influence and

active support, you can poll 240. We must have 225 votes in your pre-

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376     THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

cinct. Do not leave a stone unturned. See every Republican in your

precinct, and get him to pledge you his word that he will come out and

vote the Republican ticket. Stir up your neighbors and get them to help

you, and will you kindly write us frequently, and let us know how things

are going in your precinct."

Communications of a confidential nature sent to the various Commit-

teemen by local candidates have an excellent effect. A communication

addressed to every voter by the candidates will also bring good results.

In sending out circular letters do not have them printed in old style

type. If they must be printed, have such work done in imitation of type-

writing on good paper. The effect is much better.

The signature of the County Chairman or candidate can be printed

in fac-simile. By this means you can conduct a large correspondence

with little labor or expense.

About ten days prior to election have a personal letter from a lead-

ing candidate sent to each and every man who ever voted the Republican

ticket, and also to all indifferent and doubtful voters, stating to each

that he is known as an influential man, and asking his most active sup-

port. If you hear of any Republicans who are going to scratch the Re-

publican ticket, get letters to them from leading Republicans.

Be careful in sending out documents and literary matter. It is not

wise to send out cartoons or literary matter if it contains any sugges-

tion of race, creed or nationality to an offensive degree. Pictures should

always portray the elevation of American workingmen through Protec-

tion, their degradation through Free Trade, etc.3

Horses and wagons should be provided without stint. This is very

important if the weather is bad. Write to each County Central Com-

mitteeman to send you a list of ten or twelve good Republicans in his

precinct who own horses and wagons. When election day is near write

a good, strong, "confidential" letter to each something like this:

"We can surely win if we have a few horses and wagons in your pre-

cinct to help us get out the vote. As a good Republican, we want you

to help us in this fight by allowing the use of at least one of your teams

on election day. Don't say no. We know you will not, but that you will

 

3 Although the best remembered issue of the 1896 campaign was that of the

gold standard versus unrestricted silver coinage, McKinley's pre-nomination record

was made largely as an advocate of high protective tariffs. Religion was a minor

issue from time to time throughout McKinley's political career, for though a

Methodist himself, he was considered in some quarters to have been insufficiently

anti-Catholic. See Leech, McKinley, 11, 38-40, 76, 77, 106, 107.

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A PLAN OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION                 377

cheerfully contribute this much to the triumph of the principles of the

Republican party."

If you can arouse a feeling among owners of teams to such an extent

that they will volunteer them for use on election day, the probability is

that they will also volunteer their personal services, and this once

obtained, you have another effective organization.

Frequent meetings of the County Executive Committee during the

campaign will aid materially in maintaining the interest of the members,

and for this reason such meetings should be held as often as practicable.

The County Central Committee should meet at the Headquarters of

the County Executive Committee at least once a month during the cam-

paign for a full report and discussion of the outlook in the county, and

the progress of the canvass in the various precincts.

Frequently send committees consisting of candidates, members of

[the] County Executive Committee and other prominent Republicans to

the townships to confer and advise with the local Committees as to the

progress and condition of the work. City Committeemen should be in-

vited to frequent conferences with the County Executive Committee at

headquarters.

When holding public meetings never let anything occur to affect the

regularity of the proceedings. Start on time, have your speakers ready,

and keep your best speakers for the close, except in cases of emergency.

No speaker should be assigned without the consent of the Chairman of

the County Executive Committee.

A good method of conducting a local speaking campaign is the

following:

Send about four speakers, accompanied by a vocal quartette, into the

townships as often as necessary. Have the speakers make fifteen-minute

speeches, each upon a different political subject, interspersed with cam-

paign songs. This method is found to be more agreeable than long

speeches by a single speaker. Send circular letters to good Republicans

in the neighborhood of proposed meetings, urging them to attend, and

to take their friends and neighbors of all parties. This has a good

effect.

Early organization of all Committees is urged as important to complete

success. All Committeemen shall serve until their successors are

elected, thus keeping the organization active and intact.

The organization of Campaign and permanent Clubs, where practical,

is strongly recommended as an efficient aid in arousing enthusiasm

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378    THE OHIO HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

among the voters, distributing documents and instructing voters in

marking and folding the ballot.

There is no more effective campaign document than the reliable party

newspaper. The County paper deserves the support of the Party, should

go into the home of every voter, and during the campaign at least, the

County Executive Committee should see that every Republican and

doubtful voter who is not a subscriber for, is supplied with a Republican

paper. The investment will bring good results, and at the same time aid

in the support of the Party organ.

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