, and many influences
modify even one's everyday decisions.

To find the main issues--which are really the critical ones on which
your audience will make up their minds--is a matter largely of native
sagacity and penetration; but thorough knowledge of your whole subject
is essential if you are to strike unerringly to the heart of the subject
and pick out these pivotal points.

A simple and very practical device for getting at the main issues is to
put down on paper the chief points which might be made on the two sides.
Then with these before you, you can soon, by stating them and
rearranging them, simmer down your case into arguable form.

In the argument on introducing a commission form of government into
Wytown this noting down of the chief points which might be urged on the
two sides would be about as follows:

Contentions on the Two Sides. On the affirmative the following points
might be urged:

1. The plan would make the individuals who hold the power directly
responsible at all times to the citizens.

2. It would make the responsibility for all municipal action easy to
trace.

3. It would get abler men to serve the city.

4. It would take municipal government out of politics.

5. It would hold municipal administration up to the same standards
of honesty and efficiency as private business.

6. It would make it difficult to elect representatives of corrupt
interests.

7. It would make possible advantageous dealings with public-service
corporations.

8. It would make possible the immediate removal of an unfaithful
official.

9. It would tend to interest the citizens intelligently in municipal
affairs.

10. It has worked well wherever it has been tried.

On the negative side the following points might be urged:

1. The plan is a complete departure from the traditional American
theory of government.

2. It throws away a chance for training in public affairs for a
considerable body of young men.

3. It might put very great power in the hands of unworthy men.

4. Corrupt interests, having a larger stake, would work harder to
control the city.

5. Past experience gives no reason to expect the constant interest
on the part of citizens which is necessary to make so great
concentration of power safe.

6. With further increase in the foreign population of the city there
will be dange