University of Virginia Library

FOREWORD

For years the writer of Tattlings of a Retired Politician has enjoyed a somewhat wide and intimate acquaintance with those men who play the game of politics and who have, in various degrees, demonstrated their skill and leadership in that kind of contest. He has listened with unfailing entertainment to the anecdotes, stories, and incidents of their struggles for place, power and preferment. But most of all has he enjoyed the bits of homely philosophy, the picturesque aphorisms and the shrewd observations which have dropped from the lips of these Americans who, from varied and complex motives, have been drawn into the game of popular government.

To focus this phase of American character as faithfully, as vividly and as entertainingly as possible into the following pages has been a pleasing and a fascinating task. Looking back upon it from the final word, the author believes that the actual motives, conditions and methods that obtain wherever a caucus is held or a ballot box opened have been fairly portrayed and that the viewpoint he has presented is the one actually taken by any American who has had a wide and first-hand experience in practical politics.

This is not so much because many of the stories embodied in these familiar letters from William Bradley, the retired political veteran, to his friend Ned are drawn from actual experience and have a substantial foundation in fact, as because the observations of the former legislator, Congressman, Governor and United States Senator reflect the spirit of the practical politician and reveal his motives, methods and characteristics.

That form of literary expression known as the "letter" has been chosen for this work because it affords the most natural medium for terse, homely and unconventional expression in strict keeping with the character of the subject. In writing to a familiar friend one may go directly to the theme in hand without formality or introduction; epigram, anecdote and story come naturally within the scope of the friendly letter and the handicap of conventionality is less upon the pen of the writer of such a letter than upon the hand of the writer who uses any other literary medium.

During the serial publication of a portion of the papers which make up this book, the writer has been cheered by expressions of approval and appreciation from many men who have achieved places of high political distinction.

To this generous and discriminating encouragement from such authoritative sources he is especially indebted, for it has helped him to hope, with increased confidence, that, in some measure, he has been able to put into the letters of William Bradley something of the humor, the philosophy, the romance and the tragedy of actual politics as the game is played in every portion of our Republic, and also that this delineation will have interest for the men who are intimately familiar with the game as well as for those for whom it has a touch of mystery.

Chicago, April, 1904.