The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-31

III S<<A Centlai campaign! his
u ~ lN lEA isl question that have
&7N often heard asked. but
7gff%af59 % never satisfactorily an
81 SEyx12NS1 swered. In every cam
(&3LGMfII paign there are always
TA4 ~ stories circulated on
both sues concerning the use of money.
These are nearly always colored by par.
tisanship. and are invariably exaggerated.
have been through three or four presi.
Dental campaigns, and in those campaigns
have learned enough to make q just estI-
mate concerning the amount of money en-
ployed on both sides In one or two III
stances the figures that give are practi-
calIy official. In 1850 the national commit
tee of the Republican party received in tho
way of subscriptions some s450000. THIS
money was discussed through the chair
manship of Marshall Jewell, the former
Postmaster general of General Grant. In
the campaign of 1884 some $4,000 was
raised. b. F. jones. of Pittsburg, was the
chairman of the committee that collected
the money and spent it In 1888 Senator
Quay had the disbursement of some $780,
600. This was the largest sum ever raised
and spent by o national committee.
In each one of the years above named the
Democrats had about the same amount Of
money. In 1880 and 1884 they had an equal
amount. 1t can be said generally in every
presidential campaign that the Democrats
raise as much money as the Republicans.
In the year 1883 they had perhaps 500, 200
less. The two committees disbursed in the
last campaign over q million and half
dollars. Some of the Democratic subscrip-
tions came from individuals rather than
l.
very rich man. told me personally that he
contributed to the campaign fund In 1888
the sum of s250,O0O.
ITEMS THAT COME HIGH
1t is said by those who are 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 &C
count for the deficiency in the Democratic
treasury in the year 1888.
For what purposes are these vast sums
employed may properly be asked. have
never seen any evidence or heard any re-
sponsibie person directly charge that the
chairman of the national committee, of
either party ever authorized the use of this
money for the purpose of purchasing votes.
1 know 1t has often been charged in parti-
san speeches and in the heat of the cam
paiRn. but have never seen any one who
possessed reliable information who was
willing to affirm the correctness of such
charges.
Something of an idea of where the money
goes can be obtained by running over the
disbursements of the Republican national
committee in 1855. In this year 500, 600
was spent in directing documents and cir
culating them. Another 500, 600 was spent
on speakers and their expenses. In the di-
rection of congressional contests 500, coo
more was disbursed. Wherever q congress
sional district was close money would be
used for legitimate campaign purposes.
These campaign expenses comprise the hir-
ing OF bands, the furnishing of uniforms to
societies. the paying of the cost of pa
rades and other things of like
character. Some 100000 more was dis
bursed in close States like New Jersey, In
diana. Connecticut and New York. About
100000 was spent at the national head
quarters for maintaining that Office in first
class style, and defraying the cost of the
cam palgn 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 It is an ele-
mont In the campaign which really counts
for very little. Of course, as an evidence
of enthusiasm and interest such pa
rades have no value unless they
are the result of spontaneous
feeling of interest among party
money. and where the enthusiasm is not
sufficient to raise all the money required
the national committee gener ally COMES to
the rescue.
GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE ENEMY.
Both national committees know nearly to
penny the amount that the other has.
They keep such close watch on each 9TH
er'a movements, and there are so many small
chatterboxes employed around the commit
tees that it 10 not at all difficult for the
chairman to find out what the opposition
is doing. Indeed, half the energies of the
employees of the committees appear to be
devoted to gossip and talk. The ideal
chairman never talks and is never inter-
viewed in the newspapers. He neither dis
closes his hopes nor his fears. In this re-
spect Senator Quay was model chairman.
He kept his plans TO himself and let the
lesser lights of the committee do the talk
ing.
There is a great deal of work done in
every campaign by d national committee
which 10 of q routine character. and has no
perceptible effect. There 10 tradition
around every political headquarters which
favors the circulation of documents. This
circulation is stimulated by the demand of
local speakers. Undoubtedly these docu
ments have decided value In furnishing
arguments and authoritative statement of
facts 10 the speakers throughout the
country. The information conveyed
by the publications reaches the voters Ia q
practical way only through the speakers.
oW pcopic nave pdbfcnCc VI lutcIcet SUI
ficient to read political documents
of any length. The publications
which have had the greatest effect
have been very brief paragraphs represeDt-
ing great concentration of facts upon one
sheet of paper. Sometimes damaging ex-
tract from an opponents speech can be cir
culated with great effect by having &c
printed upon little card. The Rum,
Romanism and Rebellion" of the Rev. DIR.
BuIchard, which was used SO effectively In
the Blame campaign. was printed upon
little cards and given out by adroIt agents
to members of various Catholic congrega-
tlons throughout the country as they came
out of their churches on the Sunday pre-
cedlng the election. There was no possible
way of overcoming the effect of these cards
before Tuesday, the election day, had ar.
rived.
TOO MUCH MONEY FOR DOCUMENTS.
In the main. however. too much money 10
spent on documents. Elaborate documents
are printed and sent out by the carload to
vari0us sections Of the country. The per-
sonal vanity of Senators and members of
Congress has O good deal to do with swell
ing the bulk of these publications. A Sem
atOr or member of Congress viii often
make speech in Congress for the purpose
of influencing the cam paign. He will then
come to the national committee afterward
and ask TO have his speech circulated as
one of the committees documents This
request is nearly always acceded TO TO
please the member.
1t is not customary TO pay speakers for
their services in the campaipn liz ia usuaf