The Portland daily press., 1888-07-31

be Informed OF the progress of the campaign
and to look out for the disputed points. as a
General wonld support weak spot in his ar
my. linen There is vast amount of tele-
g sid ~ 70 De done, and to prevent expos
ure 20 tne enemy much of this must be done
n clpner. Secrecy is absolutely necessary
LOT political movements, as it is military
movements, and there probably never was a
NATIONAL Committee that did not use the CT
pher more or less.
tional Committee is to determine where to
place the forces at their command. 1t will
not 90 TO throw away exertlon where 1t is
not needed. 1t is the doubtful points that
become the battle ground. The committee
makes up Its mind to use greater efforts in
this or that State. This always makes
trouble. The Committee is often accused of
failure to appreciate the situation, of a lack
OF correct information as to which is the real
battle ground, of wasting its energies, or of
neglecting the essential point of offense or
defence. The committee is likely to be ac-
cused of diverting the finances to favor this
or that local candidate at the expense of
some other more in need of support. But
every National Committee expects this sort
OF criticism. In case of victory won, the
committee has no trouble in proving that ev-
erything was done for the best.
Where does the National Committee get
its funds 1t depends upon what kind Il
National Committee it is Time was When
there was little, if any concealment about
leyying tribute upon officeholders; when the
collector stood near by on pay day and took
his per cent of the money paid to the office
holder as regularly as the salary was paid,
but that sort OF thing is now changed, and
whatever the oficeholder gives must be done
in the form of voluntary contribution. OF
course, otficeholders contribute. President
Cleveland has not scrupled to send his 81 900
check, and other officeholders of less note do
not permit themselves to forget. twas said
that the late Edwards Pierrepont gave 500
900 toward the National campaign fund of
the party that made him Minister to Eng
land and Cabinet Minister. Good author
ity reports that Edward Cooper and Mayor
Hewitt gave 100000 apiece for the first
Cleveland campaign, although it does notap-
pear that they got any special recognition
from the Administration.
The Committee raises its own plan and re-
ports to nobody. II must find its own ways
/ and means, and seldom fails to find out the
men who are willing to pony up quietly,
either on account of favors received or
lively sense of favOrs yet to come.
Generally the Executive Committee of
National Committee comprises some rich men
who are expected to at least advance money
in anticipation OF receipts, and not a few Of
ficlals OF National Committees have done
this to their sorrow. August Belmont had
some memorable experiences in this line
when he was Chairman of the Democratic
National Committee during the years when
the party was struggling against fearful
odds, with no Custom House, Post Office, or
navy yard to appeal to. There was a yery
widespread notion that the rich banker could
afford to contribute literally, and so had to
take as contributions OF Others. many prom
lses to pay, which were never kept He had
to take great deal of abuse, and got little
thanks, and no recognition since the party
| got into power. Somehow the favors often
| did not go TO men who furnished substantial
| aid in time of need. Banker s. V. White.
the Trpa 0f the last Ckot
Committee, had so much of this that he did
not care to be reelected this year.
A very expensive feature of all Presiden-
tial campaigns is the cost Of great meetings
Of course. torchlight parade, in New YORK
costs on the average $500 per election dis
trict. or from $12, 600 to $4,000. The music,
the flags and banners. the torches, the fire.
works, the uniforms all cost money. to say
nothing of the pay of the men. who parade.
1t has been alleged that there are boys who
turn out in all professions, and figure one
night as Republicans and the next as Demo-
Gratis.
A large public meeting in New York costs
hall, music, expenses of speakers, decora-
lions, advertising, printing, and ct ceteras.
Conversing with well-informed men who
have for years handled the political funds
used by, the great parties in this city. and
ments, we conclude that it costs about
$4,000 an Assembly district to run
a. Presidential campaign in New York
city, or about S250,O0e. This is ex-
elusive of the official election expenses,
| which foot up $4,000 for city and United
| States officials. Chamberlain Twins, in hi S
book on the cost of elections in the city, esti-
mates the total cost of an average year at
| S700,o00 exclusive of personal expenses of
Candidates 1t is said that Tammany and the
| County Democracy spent together about
| $4,000 to nominate Cleveland the first time.
| 1t is no secret that Mayor Hewitt gave his
whole salary as Mayor, amounting to $40, 900,
to the party and $4,000 more, and in the
| Tilden campaign he gave as much as $4,000.
There are widely varying ideas of the ex-
| penses of National Committees. Col. Bob
Ingersoll, when asked, said he did not know,
but he supposed it would cost a party from
| 81, 900, 900 to 100000. Mayor Hewitt said
that a National Committee, working
| paign for about 100000. No National
| Committee ever published bill of particu-
lars. Taking all the expenses of all the
States, it may be roughly estimated that a
Presidential campaign costs the country
about $20,000,000.