in our great
National committees, headed by masterful captains of popular
government, under whose generalship the enormous work of National and
state campaigns is conducted.

Very well. If you appreciate your Americanism, young man, show it by
being a part of American institutions. Be one of these precinct
committeemen, or a county committeeman, or a state committeeman, or a
worker of some kind. If _you_ do not, a bad man will; and that will
mean bad politics and bad government.

You see, this whole question of good government is right up to _you_.
_You_ are the remedy for bad government, young man--_you_ and not
somebody else, not some theory. So be a committeeman or some sort of a
"worker" in real politics. Help run our institutions _yourself_, or,
rather, be a part of our institutions yourself.

If you have neither the time nor aptitude for such active work, at
least be a citizen. That does not mean merely that you shall go to the
polls to vote. It does not even mean that you shall go to the
primaries only. It means a great deal more than that.

At the very least be a member of an active political club which is
working for your party's success. There are such clubs in most wards
of our cities.

They are the power-houses of our political system. Party sentiment
finds its first public expression there--often it has its beginnings
there in the free conversations which characterize such American
political societies. You will find the "leaders" gathering there, too;
and in the talks among these men those plans gradually take form by
which nominations are made and even platforms are formulated.

These "leaders" are men who, in the practical work of politics,
develop ability, activity, and effectiveness. There is a great deal of
sneering at the lesser political leaders in American politics. They
are called "politicians," and the word is used as a term of reproach,
and sometimes deservedly. But ordinarily these "leaders," especially
in the country districts of the Republic, are men who keep the
machinery of free institutions running.

The influence of no boss or political general can _retain_ a young man
in leadership. Favoritism may give you the place of "local leader";
but nothing but natural qualities can keep you in it. The more we have
of honest, high-grade "local leaders," the better.

Whether you, young man, become one or not, you ought at least to be a
part of the organization, and work with the other young