The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-12-09
AOW DEMOCRATS MADE
clmPNeN COLLECTIONS
Had Canvassers Out
Operating on Com
mission.
REASON FOR CONTINUAL BtUFFlSe
SUCH WORK HELPED TIE So
lIclToRs 10 BLEED TIE
FAITHFUL.
National Committee Had Plenty Of
Money to Use a, headquarters in
New York and Chicago Through
out the Campaign.
Especial Correspondence

WASHINGTON. D c., Nov 2S--A
force Of over 500 collectors, scattered
so as TO cover the entire country, col
Iected funds for the democratic na-
tional committee. They were organ
lied thoroughly. They worked the
field Systematically. They received
a percentage upon ali sums obtained.
II begins TO look as IL the financial
feature of the late democratic cam
paign management partOok OF the "a
ture of huge confidence game. or
course confidence in ultimate success
would be strong stimulus 20 contri-
buttons. And naturally the conylcc
ton that the cause was hopeless IT
nearly so would operate to discourage
giving. The better me financial or
gauization OF the democrats is under
stood the easier 1t is TO account Cor
the series of preposterous forecasts
which were put out by ChairmaS
Jones and his associates Perhaps
never before was there a presidential
campaign upon which formal state
ments based upon absolutely no
grounds were issued. Assertions
shown by the returns to have been o.
utterly absurd character were made
periodically. They deceived some.
and the flow OF funds from the bureau
solicitors and collectors continued up
! 10 the very eve OF election day. An
| ex-member OF congress who is in
| Washington was asked IL the demo
| Gratis of his state really had faith IN
the claims of their national commit
| tee
Il think" he said. that many II
our democrats. especially in the small
er towns and in the rural sections.
really thought Bryan was going to be-
elected. In the cities it was differ
ent. While some OF US hoped there
was fighting chance. not many ex-
pected success"
The collectors OF campaign contri-
buttons worked their districts with
the approved methods OF profession
ais in like employment. They kept
lists. They took pledges for monthly
payments. They gave receipts.
Buck" Hinrichsen. the former sec
rotary of state OF Illinois. member Of
congress from the Jacksonville dis
trict. and schoolmate OF William J.
Bryan. had charge OF the national nj
reau of campaign fund collections.
| He is authority for the statement that
the 800 collectors had 10000 contribu-
tors on their books. fhe commission
allowed TO collectors varied somewhat
according TO the richness OF the field
assigned. About 10 per cent was re-
tanned by most of the collectors rs
was 70 be expected. these 300 ener-
getic men. travelling about the coul,
/ out from time TO time By the national
/ committee. For every dollar they COL
1 Ieeted they turned in. or were sup
posed to turn in. So cents. Monthly
payment was the popular plan, and
/ the amount thus contributed peTiodi-
caiIy by each person was from 81 20
$40. This insured a steady revenue
for the democratic treasury Those
conversant with the conditions say
that the percentage system proved the
most satisfactory OF any ever adopted
for raising campaign funds Certaid
il is that the absence OF complaints
Of poverty around democratic head
quarters in Chicago and New YORK
was one OF the noteworthy features
OF the campaign
Subordinate officials unguardedly
boosted OF plenty OF money and ar
sued that II would tell in the returns.
At one time as many as thirty-fye
Arkansas democrats were reported -
be on the payroll Of the democratic
national committee. Income was de-
pendent upon the prospects. There
was the strongest kind OF financial
reason for encouraging hope. In this
sense the continuous bluff OF the dem
ocratic managers was business