Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-02
NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.

NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.
How much money does it take to run
q presidential campaign? This is
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.
have been through three or four
presidential campaigns, and in those
campaigns have learned enough 70 make
just estimate concerning the amount
of money employed on both sides In
one or two instances the figures that
give are practically official In 1880 the
national committee of the republican
party received in the way of subscrip-
tions some $780, 200. This money was
disbursed through the Craftsmanship Of
Marshall Jewell, the former postmaster
general of Gen. Grant In the cam
paign of 1884 some $500, 900 was raised.
b. +. Jones, of Pittsburgh, was the
chairman of the committee that col
lected the money and spent it. In 1888
Senator Quay had the disbursement of
some $s00,00O. This was the largest
sum ever raised and spent by q national
committee.
In each one of the years above named
the democrats had about the same
amount Of money. In 1850 and 1884
they had an equal amount It can be
n ral
campaign that the democrats raise as
much money as the republicans. In the
year 1888 they had perhaps 500, 900 less.
The two committees disbursed in the
last campaign over a million and half
of dollars Some of the democratic
subscriptions came from individuals
rather than organizations. One demo-
cratic leader, q very rich man, told me
personally that he contributed to the
campaign fund in 1858 the sum of
$3.50, goo.
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 account for the deficiency in
the democratic treasury in 1883.
For what purposes are these vast sums
employed? may properly be asked. l
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
for the purpose of purchasing votes i
know it has often been charged in par
tisan speeches and in the heat Of the
campaign, but / 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 the
money goes can be obtained by running
over the disbursements of the repub-
lican national committee in 1858. In
this year sl00, 900 was spent in directing
documents and circulating them. An
other 800, 900 was spent on speakers
and their expenses In the direction of
congressional contests 100000 more
was disbursed. Wherever 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 e2o0, 900 more
was disbursed in the close states like
New Jersey, Indiana, Connecticut and
New York. About 5000, was spent
ut the national headquarters for main
tanning that Office in first-class style
and defraying the cost of the campaign
In the city of New York A great many
of the psrsdes and professions in New
York are arranged and prepared by
the two national committees. IL is an
element In the campaign which really
counts for very little. OF course as an
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
10 raise all the money required the ma
tiond committee generally comes to
the rescue
Both national committees know near
" to penny the amount that the other
has They keep such a close watch on
each others movements and there are
50 many small chstterboxes employed
around the committees that il is not at
all difficult for the chairTnen 10 find out
what the opposition Is doing Indeed,
half the energies of the employees of the
committees appear 10 be devoted to gos-
sip and talk. The ideal chairman never
talks and " never interviewed In the
newspapers lie neither diseioses his
hopes nor his fears In this respect
Senator Qaay WA q model chairman.
lie kept his plans Ia himself and Lee the
le<~rr lishts Of the committee ~ the
talking
There IL . great deal ef work done In
every campaign by national commit
te~ which 10 of routine character and
has 10 p~rr~ptsble effect There h q
tradition around every political hood
| ansrter- which ssvsss the csrcuissson
- documenss This c<sgnlstsssn - ssirn-
MATED by shs defssnas ~ local speak
er@ rnsisuh*csily th~se Documents
have decided vsiec in furnishing
ar0unsenf. AMI Authoritative statement e