CHAPTER VI

ORGANIZING THE CAMPAIGN

The modern age is an age of organization. "In commerce," says J. S. Lloyd, "a successful organizer builds up a big business; in politics, he wins elections. Organizing capacity and organizing energy are essentials in one as in the other, although the objects to be attained are widely different." In fact, it sometimes requires greater skill and better tactics to arganize an electoral campaign than a commercial undertaking. First of all, politics is of a far more intricate nature. To win over voters is not such an easy job as to win over customers. In commerce, it is a proposition of exchange; the business men exchange their goods for the money of their customers. In politics it is not so; the electors are asked to give their votes, but are supposed not to take or receive anything in reward. Second, in a commercial organization, the employer can command his employees more or less at will. The fact that the latter are paid workers implies a sense of obligation to obey the master. In an election organization, the majority of the workers are volunteer supporters. Because they render their services voluntarily, it is a question of personal feeling and personal friendship. It is therefore easier to maintain discipline and order in the first than in the second case. The task is rendered so much the harder in an election campaign when we realize that "every constituency has its own peculiarities and a method which would win success in one would achieve nothing but failure in the other. But in every district and in all constituencies some touch of diplomacy is essential.”1⁄2

It is very important at the outset to distinguish between party organization and election organization. In reality the two may be

1 J. S. Lloyd, Elections and How to Fight Them. p. 1.

2 ibid.

practically identical, but in the eyes of law, they must be made at least seemingly separate organizations. According to law no payment can be made and publication matters can be distributed for an electoral campaign through any other agency except the candidate himself or the election agent he appoints. Thus to avoid unnecessary legal complication, all parties suspend temporarily their party organizations and establish nominally an independent and separate machinery to run an election. Whether such a transformation, which is to all intends and purposes a matter of formality, has its real necessity, does not concern us here. It will suffice to recognize that there is such a transformation. And such a recognition will help us to understand the election organization better.

As a modern electoral war is short and sharp, the result depends on the efficiency of the confronting armies. In an election campaign, as in a military battle, when the opposing forces are equal in all other things, the final victory depends upon "staff works." The success or failure of the "staff work" is in turn dependent upon the one who is the commander-in-chief. The commander-in chief in an election campaign is of course the election agent.

The election agent, in the present statutory meaning of the term, is created by the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act of 1883. Prior to that date, the term was generally applied to the person who managed the business of election contests, and who might or might not include in his functions those of the officers (one or more in number) who were known as the expenses agents.3 The Act of 1883 made it definite that there can be but one election agent and on him rests all the duties which were formerly carried out by several persons of the same name. This person can be the candidate himself or his appointee.

Upon this agent depends greatly the result of the election and also the political future of the candidate. Any mistake in selecting the right personality may mean disastrous consequences. "It is therefore of paramount necessity that the person selected as an

3 Parker, Election and Returning Officer, p. 2-3.

election agent should be a person of position and responsibility of business habits, . . and of sufficient strength and force of

character."'4

In organizing the staff and directing the campaign, the agent must have the keen sense to inquire into the integrity, liability, and suitability of his subordinate workers. He must be, as some have put it, "a respectful gentleman," so that he will be duly obeyed; yet he must be a "jolly good feller" so that he will have the greatest amount of cooperation from his army. As we have pointed out already, the majority of election workers are voluntary supporters; as such, unless they are properly induced, inspired, and treated, they are free to quit the job at will. Party enthusiasm may be transformed by the bad management of an agent into a sort of political apathy. An apathetical attiude among the rank and file not only defeats the candidate, but hurts the party as well.

The agent must be a man who can cooperate with the candidate. "Petty interference on one side or neglect of duty on the other can only be followed by the most serious results, for throughout the period of the contest the two are thrown into an extraordinary position of mutual responsibility and authority."'s On one hand, the appointee should have the full confidence of the employer and on the other, he should understand the psychology and spirit of the latter. In addition, when a campaign opens, the candidate himself in some respects becomes a mere puppet whose mock drama can be a success only when the agent knows how to pull wires. If the candidate is a poor speaker, a wise agent will keep the candidate away from the platform and send him to canvassing. If the candidate is to receive deputations, it is the agent's duty "to brief him well so that he is not caught unaware. ""Relieve him of all unnecessary worries. Give him a cheery assurance if he is anxious that some particular thing should be done and see that it is done. Don't let the other people bother him. He must always appear in a good spirit. You cannot afford to have a harrassed candidate."

4 6 O'M and H., p. 163.

5 H. J. Houston, Modern Electioneering Practises, pp. 57-64.

6 ibid.

Such is the advice given by writers to election agents and scuh should be the relation between candidate and agent.

As the commander-in-chief of the organization, the agent is responsible for the campaign plan. Examining the battle ground, organizing the committee rooms, preparing the working time schedule, sending in the nominations, checking and controlling the election expenditures, etc. are all at the discretion and direction of the head of the army. On what issues should the party direct an attack, and on what a defense? From what ward can the party withdraw some of its forces, and in what ward is there need of a reinforcement? For all these matters the agent is responsible. The candidate is only a soldier whose duty is to obey and to fight.

The agent has to deal with the thousands of voters. Although his important position prevents him from personal canvassing, his contact with the electors is nevertheless very close. Therefore it is said that a pleasant manner, not essentially what is generally called free and easy, but one perfectly free from any tinge of consideration, helps the agent to go a long way. In the old time he was expected to accompany the candidate wherever the latter went. Today he is not able to devote his whole time to playing such a "bodyguard” role; an agent, if he knows his business well on many occasions must make a tour, together with the candidate, around many meeting places and committee rooms. In such tours the agent's capacity for remembering faces and names will win much favor for his cause. A handshake with a barrister or a solicitor sometimes means an unexpected honor for an ordinary villager; therefore by casual greeting and chats an agent may gain additional votes for his candidate. As the number of those who have to be dealt with has been increased enormously, an understanding of the rudiments of mass psychology is indispensable for a successful agent. Victory in an election contest goes invariably to those who are most skilled in the art of appealing to the emotions and the intelligence of average men and women. With knowledge of this art as his guidance, he approves or disapproves matter for publication, assigns speakers, and dispatches canvassers. In one

word, the whole campaign is a game founded on human psychology, and one who does not appreciate this is ill-qualified to be an election agent.

Without a sound knowledge of law, an agent may win the poll, but not the seat for his candidate. Worse than that, he may kill his candidate's chance to run again for a seat in Parliament and his own privilege to be such an agent for a number of years. There are thousands of small legal points for an agent to remember, if he wishes to avoid corrupt and illegal practices.

To sum it up, the existence of such an agent means "that the affairs of the election shall be carried on in the light of the day; that there shall be a responsible man, responsible to the candidate and to the public, who shall do all that is necessary; who shall be the whole legitimate paymaster; who shall be effectively responsible for all the acts done in procuring the election; who can be dealt with afterwards; and who can be looked to afterwards for an explanation of his conduct in the management of the election."7

8

The law provides that certain persons cannot be appointed as agents. A candidate cannot appoint a person, whether paid or unpaid, whom he knows to have been found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices at a parliamentary election. Furthermore, a candidate cannot appoint the returning officer, or any deputy returning officer or any partner or clerk of either of the above said officers, as an election agent; if the candidate violates such a prohibition, he commits a misdemeanour and consequently is punishable by law. Nor can a candidate appoint as his agent anyone who is at the same time an officer appointed by the returning officer or deputy returning officer under the Ballot Act of 1872. A violation of this law means the voidance of the election and the party is under a legal penalty.9

The time when an agent should be appointed is again provided by law. The agent must be appointed "on or before the day of

7 4 O'M and H., Election Petitions, p. 82.

8 Vict., c. 125, s. 44.

9 H. J. Houston, Modern Electioneering Practice, pp. 201-202.