The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-11-14
COST oF THE CONTEST.

cash OF Presidential contest. Yet it is real
y something enormous. The vast machinery
necessary 10 carry on such n canvass-the
NUMBER Of organizations which il requires
Tie amount of printing, of writing, of postage,
and labor of every kind which is brought into
service, is far beyond any estimate usually
formed. Let us state few facts which may
aid in forming an opinion. st.lf.
There are about 800 counties, and not far
from 1900 towns, in the thirty-one States
comprising the Union. Every town has one
political club of each party-and many towns
have many more. There were undoubtedly
during the last canvass over $4,000 organized
clnbs, belonging to each Of the political par
ties within the United States-ihe number of
Fremont clubs may have been 5000 less, since
the Republican organization did not extend
into the slave States Each of these clubs
was in active operation for at least three
months. Each of them required rooms, print
ing, postage, more or less travelling of their
officers and committeeman these, with
other incidental expenses, could not have
amounted, on the average, to less than 500
Il month, or $500 for the canvass. The labnrs
performed by their secretaries, presidents and
committees would certainly amount to the
steady services of at least three men each,
worth not less than 300 each for the whole
three months Not less than 1000 persons
have been actively engaged, for nearly the
whole Of the canvass, in making speeches and
public DEMONSTRATING from place to
place, and always at an expense which must
be met by somcbOdy-and entitled, of course,
to have their own service estimated at II fair
pricc:-prob IDLY $500 Tor each, including
their expenses, would Not be a low estimate.
Then on election day, there are opened in
the United States not less than $4,000 polls
at which each party stations not less than
fire men, besides the Inspectors, policemen
and other legal officers, who average, perhaps,
fire more, making ten in all, whose services
are worth at least two dollars each.
lie: US sum up the aggregate of all these
items:
Incidental expenses of 10000
clubs at $500 each Sl2000,00O
Services of three men each, for
three months at 500 Sl2OOO,o0o
One thousand speakers three
months at $500 100000
Officers, chalIcngvrs, &c, Mt the
polls l 100000
Total S25 5OO,0U0
Here is n total Of more thnn tuenty fire
millions of dollars, expended in the canvass
all of it the voluntary offering OF the pco-
pie, to secure the choice of such President
M they desire to see elected The aggregate
is much more likely to exceed This estimate
than to fall below ii,-as it does not include
the money raised by exacions upnn office
holders, nor for The purchase of the New
York Herald, Times, Mirror, and other FIRE.
mont papers in the Northern States.-Ed.
NSUS or contributed in large sums by can.
didales, 20 he USED for purposes less lrgii
mate, but more costly, than thosr we have
enumerated. Much .! il goes into The hands
Of working men-printrrs, laborers. and 9th
ers, who lairly earn it. But immense amounts
90 to fill the pockets of political gamblers
and swindl"rs, who look upon Presidential
election ms the barveo: Of their profession.-
Neu York Times.
Tue 1NCoMISG ADNINlsTRATIoN.-Th New
York Express, of the 18th, in an article upon
the result Of the Presidential election, closes