The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-18
NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.
The Men Who Are Supposed to
Manage Things
The Chairman OF National Committee
Has Anything hut Pleasant job
and Gets No Reward for
His Hard Work.
tcopYnIGHr. 1892. I

presidential campaign? This is q
question that have often heard asked
but never satisfactorily answered. In
every campaign there are always stories
circulated on both sides concerning the
use of money. These are nearly always
colored by partisanship, and are invaria-
bly, exaggerated.
l have been through three or four
presidential campaigns, and in those
campaigns have learned enough 10 mako
Just estimate concerning the amount
OF money employed on both sides. In
one or two instances the figures that
give arc practically official. In $50 the
hational committee of the republican
party received in the way of subscrip-
tons some S45o,00O. This money was
dlsbursed through the craftsmanship of
Marshall Jewell, the former postmaster
general of Gen. Grant In the cam
paign of 1851 some $500, 900 was raised.
Is. L. Jones, of Pittsburgh, was tho
chairman OF the committee that col
lcctcd the money and spent it. In 1883
Senator Quay had the disbursement of
some SS00,0oG This was the largest
sum ever raised and spent by national
committee.
In each one of the years above named
amount of, money. In 1850 and 1881
they had an equal amount. 1t can be
said generally in every presidential
campaign that the democrats raise as
much money rs the republicans. In the
year lSSS they had perhaps 800 900 less.
The two committees disburscd in the
last campaign over IL million and IL half
OF dollars. Some of the democratic
subscriptions came from individuals
rather than organizations. One demo-
cratic leader, Il very rich man, told me
personally that he contributed TO the
campaign fund in 1855 the SUN Of
S250,OOO.
1t is said by those who arc experienced
In such matters that it is always easier
to raise money for the party which is
out than for the party which is in.
This may account for the deficiency in
the democratic treasury in 1883.
For what purposes are these vast sums
employed? may properly be asked
have never seen any evidence or heard
any responsible person directly
charge that the chairman of
the national committee of either party
ever authorized the use of this money
Tor the purpose of purchasing votes
know 1t has often been charged in par
tisan speeches and i'll the heat of the
campaign, but l have never seen any
one who possessed reliable information
who was willing to affirm the correct
ness of such charges.
Something of an idea of where tho
money goes can be obtained by running
over the disbursements of the rcpub-
llcan national committee in 1855 In
this year 100000 was spent in directing
documents and circulating them An
other 100000 was spent on speakers
and their expenses. In the direction of
congressional contests 100000 more
was disbursed Wherever IL congress,
sional district was close money would
be sent to the republican candidate to be
used for legitimate campaign purposes
These campaign expenses comprise the
hiring of bands, the furnishing of
uniforms to societies. the paying of the
cost of parades, and other things of
like character. Some 5000, 900 more
was disburscd in the close states like
New Jersey, Indiana, Connecticut and
New York. About 100000 was spent
at the national headquarters for main-
tanning that Office in first-c!ass STYLE
and defraying the cost of the campaign
in the city of New York. a great many
of the parades and professions in New
York are arranged and prepared by
the two national committees 1t is an
element IN the campaign which really
counts for very little. OF course as nm
evidence of enthusiasm and interest
such parades have no value unless they
are the result of a spontaneous feeling
OF interest among party followers Such
parades, however, cost money, and
where the enthusiasm is not sufficient
to raise all the money required the no
tional committee generally comes to
the rescue.
Both national committees know near
~ to penny the amount that the other
has. They keep such close watch on
each others movements and there are
SO many small chattcrboxes employed
around the committees that it is not at
all difficult for the chairmen to find out
what the opposition is doing. Indeed,
half the energies of the employees of the
committees appear to be devoted to Cos
sip and talk. The ideal chairman never
talks and is never interviewed in the
newspapers. He neither discloses his
hopes nor his fears. In this respect
Senator Quay was model chairman.
He kept his plans to himself and let the
lesser lights of the committee to the
talking.
There is n great deal of work done in
every campaign by national commit
tee which is of routine character and
has no pcrceptible effect. There is
tradition around every political head
quarters which favors the circulation
of documents. This circulation is slim
Lao 7