Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-07-17
COST OF A CAMPAIGN.
TO CONDUCT A RESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN NOWADAYS.
Where the Money Comes From-Who
Pays 1t and What They Pay 1t For
Why So Much Money Is Used.

Topeka Co-Operator: Although most
of us have an idea that millions OF dol
lars will be spent in electing the next
president of the United States, few can
say definitely where the money Is to
come from, who will collect it and how
1t will be spent. The record of these
transactions is not kept for obvious
reasons but it can be dispensed with
Methods do not vary.
When the national committees of the
two old parties assemble after the con-
ventions make the nominations, the
first thing to be done is to estimate the
expense of managing the campaign.
These expenses run into fortune.
Therefore they will make list of the
very rich men whose interests are most
affected by the result. To these men
the chairman sends personal letters
asking for subscription.
The Twentieth Century says William
C. Whitney is expected to contribute
$4,000 to his party fund, or his hackers
do it for him. But the most expedient
method is to have the trust magnates
from a pool and make the raise by
themselves in one great amount. The
Pennsylvania manufacturers, led by
Tom Dolan, will organize a committee
and agree to raise million among
themselves for the Republican fund.
John Wanamaker raised 100000 all by
himself in 1892.
AS a rule the tariff barons are eX-
pected to hand over two millions, be-
cause they are great beneficiaries when
the Republicans are in office. The diff
ferent trusts are then dealt with sep
arately. For instance, the sugar trust
will pay half million to the national
committee, receiving in return a
pledge not to be interfered with should
the party attain power. A concern like
the sugar trust pays money to both the
old parties and then does not bother
it's head about the result of the cam
paign.
But sometimes two trusts find their
interests opposed. Thus the beef trust
cannot contemplate without a shiver
some legislation which the sugar trust
wants. Thereupon the two bid against
each other, for the support of the party
most likely to win. That is why the
Republicans have so much money just
now. There is a general impression
that the next president will be a Re
publican, and all the corruptionists are
Fastening to secure the friendship of
that party.
Here we have the real explanation of
the growth of civil service reform. In
former years the parties found their
chief revenues in struggles for Office.
The only rewards of victory were the
emoluments of Office and the opportuni-
ties of robbing the treasury. But with
the growth of trusts, the creations OF
vast monopolies and the necessity of
securing the franchises, the politicians
began to find that the rank and file of
the offices were poor gain. What the
politicians found important was the
possession of the executive and legisla-
live branches of the government. There
fore the clerkships and inspectorships
and the police and postoffice positions
have been allowed to pass under civil
oCi WIG lESuidtioHs iuCy uo uOL yltlU
the rich rewards to be gained by be-
traying the people to the capital
Many people do not understand this
and are ill-informed enough to imagine
that politicians want the offices. What
politicians want is power. Some of our
most influential politicians care very
little whether they are in office or not.
When The vast campaign fund has
been collected it is distributed among
the doubtful states. A good organizer
forms campaign club. He inveigles a
lot of young counter shippers and ILL
informed wage earners who are given
uniforms and torches or gewgaws of
The kind and are sent parading and at
lending mass meetings in order to
catch voters as addle-headed as them
selves. The politicians pay for the
noisy work, such as printing, music.
hall hiring and so on, but their chief
expenditure Is in the bribing Of voters.