Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-20
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 20, 1884.
COSTS OFTHE ELECTION.


COSTS OFTHE ELECTION.
What the Candidates and Parties in New
York Had to Pay.
From the New York World
In the gray dawn Of election day
about 300 express wagons ratified over
the pavements of New York. carrying
little Punch and Judy boxes to the cleo
tion precincts. AS the ticket peddlers
are not allowed close to the polling plac-
es, these stalls had to be furnished by
the candidates for office, but their work
ers might be on the spot. TO acc0mmO-
date the several parties and factions re-
quired about five booths in each election
district. which made total of $500 in
the city. and at five dollars apiece the
cost was $17,S00. Around these were
gathered the party workers, who num-
bered twenty-five for each box, making
total of 1880 men. They got So
apiece, which called for $4,000 for their
services alone. When they found an un.
decided man they did not lead him IN
der q tree and talk him to death,
but took him directly to the nearest sa-
loon and gave him all he wanted to
drink. The good man was grateful and
did as he was directed, but the heller
drew on the candidates for the money
expended. Fifty dollars was not a very
big roll yesterday, and supp0sing that
each of the 1880 workers had that much
the total fund was $890,000. Eech work
er had handful of ballots, and it was
estimated that the cost Of printing them
was $230000. This Was arrived at by
computing that fOrty-siX candidates of
each of the political parties expended
about 81 COO for personal tickets to be
distributed at the polls. The combined
candidates had to meet the following
expenses:
Boxes for ticket peddlers. 8 1880
Services OF workers o9O0O
Fund for the .............,.. 1901
Cost OF printing tickets...... 23O,0O0
Total. 81 I'D, oUU
This was the cost of the gO-as-yOu-
please race of Republicans, Democrats,
Butterflies, PrOhibitiOnists, and faction
lists anxious to be Congressman, Mayor,
Comptroller. Alderman. judge, coroner,
district attorney, civil justice or assem-
blyman. Each candidate was in the
hands Of his friends who spent his mon
ey for him, and his only trouble was
drawing checks when the saveral COM
mittees made their demands. The ex-
pense varied greatly for the several can
didates. being greatest for Mayor Con-
gresham, comptroller and judge. 1t is
said that Grace and Grant were called
upon for about 100000 each, and Gibbs
for about $4,000. The judges Of the
Court of Common Pleas were assessed
$4,000. Congressman had to pay ac-
cOrding to the clOsenesS Of their districts
Some were assessed $50 for each cleo
tion district. and there are II in some
Congressional districts, making an item
of $3.50 which some had to pay to one
fraction of their party. IL the County
Democracy had the most power in a pa
ticular district they assessed the candi-
date for Congress very heavily, Tam
many being cOntented with less and r.
wing Hall with still less. The same was
true of the Republican factions, and
this money was placed by committees OF
these several organizations in the hands
of trusted workers who used it to the
best advantage. The printing bills
were paid by the candidates in person.
or by their right hand men, who had
charge of the canvass for them. The
boxes were paid for by the party or fac
tion interested, but with money collect
Ell lTOm bue Cduuludl6S. ASSeu1Dly
aspirants paid about $500 into the gen.
sral expense fund, and Aldermen paid
the same, except the would be Presi.
dents of the Aldermanic Board, who
were assessed $1,000. The private eX.
penses incurred by these minor candi.
dates in dinners and other favOrs were
so great that few escaped with less than
$4,000 expenditure. The MayOrality
aspirants were put to the additional ex.
pense of Autographs of themselves,
The city, county, and state bear the
expense of receiving and counting the
votes. At each polling place are four
inspectors at $3.50 each for five days, OF
$3.50 for each booth. Two clerks at $7.5(
for one day makes SIS and the rent
which is S. day increases the total eX
pense of polling place to 1920. FOl
New YOrk's 7I2 booths the cost was $156
640 The total amount Of money neces-
sary to worry through the day was as
follows;
Expenses of candidates. 226. SOt
Expenses to the state and county....... 1854
Total... S43'
Previous to the election the National
state, and local committees and candi
dates probably expended 100000 fol
printed documents and postage stamps
which were sent to new York voters
making grand total of $1,483,440 o.
nearly q million and q half dollars.