Schroeder ponders Cooper’s suggestions for getting Hanson endorsed by a political party and decides to explore the possibilities. Schroeder knows Frank White, chairman of one of the local parties. He makes an appointment with White.
A number of his friends agree Hanson is a good man for the City Council, and pledge their support. Schroeder feels White would probably agree, too, and want to run him on the party ticket.
White receives Schroeder cordially but after hearing his story, shows no interest in running Hanson and gives his reasons:
1. As Mr. Cooper has explained, running for office is more than just getting your name on the ballot. To reach voters, interest them in the election, persuade them, and get them to vote, you need an organization to carry on a campaign.
2. We have such an organization in your political party here in Mapleville. With many years of hard work, we have built it into an effective organization with a good record for electing competent officials — some bad choices, perhaps, but by and large mostly good men and women. At any rate, it’s the best means we have for getting good people elected.
3. In order to be effective, we have to hold the organization together –not always an easy task. To hold it together we have to:
A. Promote from within, when possible. Like business firms, we have found this a good policy. Bringing in an outsider, while occasionally necessary, causes resentment among the loyal party members.
B. We have to win. Workers lose confidence in an organization that loses elections — they drift away. To win, we have found that candidates must not only qualify for the job they are after, but they also must qualify as good candidates. Generally, the best candidates are those who know the most people — joiners, members of a number of civic groups. It’s better, too, if the candidate is politically experienced and knows how to handle himself when under attack by the opposition. Politically experienced men are also more effective public officials as a rule. They understand the system and how to work in it.
4. In concluding, White suggests that since Schroeder and. Hanson are interested in politics, he would like to have them help in the campaign or with precinct work. He also suggests that if Hanson would become better known — join a variety of organizations and participate in civic activities — he might well develop into a strong candidate in some future election.
Schroeder had never before realized that there was so much involved in all this.