The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-31

often tare male in bulk only toward
the latter part of the campaign.
Chairmen have sometimes advanced
upward OF $1,000 and 500. go either from
their own resources or through pledges
given by them. Often there Is a deficiency
IN the account at the close OF the cam
paign for expenses incurred at the last mo-
ment and which were beyond the control
OF the auditing officers of the committees.
Il is said upon good authority that u. T.
Jones had TO make I'D over 500, 900 at the
close OF the Blaine campaign. He was I'M
able TO make any collections after the
campaign was over and had to bear the
loss.
Chairman Brice, who conducted Mr..
Cleveland's last campaign, had much
larger deficiency than this TO make up.
This deficiency was between $4,000 and
$4,000. 1t is said that Mr.. Brice paid
this out of his own pocket. If he did it
will naturally explain his reluctance to
take hold of another campaign.
Politics, however, has a strange fascina-
ton for active-minded men. 1t after all
represents the science OF human govern
ment. Its possibilities Of power and OF
personal advantage temptneariy ell men
of ambition. The result is that men can
be found who are willing TO make these
tremendous personal sacrifices OF time
and money for the purpose OF making
name.
Great corporations can nearly always be
relied upon for subscriptions. The So
called business interests nearly always
contribute most freely TO the side that is
in. The majority of the people in busi-
ness desire no change in the adj
mlnistration. When Mr.. Cleveland was
IN the business interests would have
been better satisfied with his re-elec-
ton. Now that Mr. Harrison has proved
a safe president the same influence would
undoubtedly desire his continuance in
office. Many corporations contribute TO
court In any event. None of the great IN
terests OF the country ever give any money
TO the third party movements. These peo-
pie have to rely exclusively upon the
eccentric people of the earth. Their cam
paigns are conducted exclusively upon
basis of sentiment. They obtain help
only from those who believe as they do.
Their cam 2aignS in the main are very in
expensive ones.
One of the great elements of cost in a
campaign is outside of any work of the
two committees. This is in the check to
business during a presidential year.
Everything in a business way is IN an ex-
peetant state during campaign. The
loss in this way would foot up many mil
lions. However, the best men of both
sides favor these great political campaigns.
They say that Ii is q good thing TO get the
people away from business every once in
four years and to make them think of
other things. In no other way would 80
per cent. OF our people learn anything about
government or administration affairs. 1t
is four years school crowded into one.
The outdoor meetings are healthful and
the parades are good forms of exercise.
All of the uproar and confusion do no
harm. The campaign unsettles nothing
in reality.
There is small class that would extend
the presidential term SO as not to have q
presidential election oftener than once in
seven years and make the president ineli-
gible to reelection. 1t is possible that
some such an amendment may prevail.
but it will take time, and there must be
some peculiar combination of circum-
stances and conditions to convince people
Of the desirability of such change.
T. c. CRAWFORD.