The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-19
FUNDS Low.
Wellman Says Republicans Find
Trouble Raising Money.
Democrats Likely to Have the
Larger Campaign Resources.
BUSINESS NEUTRAL.
BUSINESS
World of Trade Not Inclined to
Make Contributions.
Feels Safe This Year No Matter
Which Side Wins. 90. -

| Chicago, July 19.-Walter Well
man in a special to the Record-Herald
from Washington says:
1t is no secret here that President
Roosevelt, Chairman Cortelyou and
other managers of the Republican
campaign realize that they have a
fight on their hands. They are not
nervous and they expect to win, but
they are alive to the fact that the
conditions with which they are now
confronted viii require the hardest
sort of work on their part if the cleo
| ton is not to be uncomfortably close.
To start with, the Republican man
ayers are having a good deal of diff
Guilty about raising campaign funds.
They have made beginning at this
part of the work, and they already
have discovered that it is going to be
a difficult task to amass even the
modest sum they had set their hopes
upon
Months ago President Roosevelt
and his friends caused it to be made
known through these dispatches that
they did not wish a large war chest
this year. Elihu Root, then secre-
tary of war, spoke out frankly. He
said there was danger that the ten
dency to use enormous sums of money
in presidential elections, a tendency
which had run riot in recent years,
might result in a very serious national
scandal of it was not checked, and
that he believed now was the time to
call a halt. That the secretary echoed
the sentiments of President Roosevelt
was a natural inference, but after
ward improved an opportunity to
make doubly sure on this point. The
selection of Mr.. Cortelyou to be his
campaign manager was in one way
an indication of the presidents wishes
in this respect. 1t meant clean,
businesslike honorable campaign, in
yrh Ch ga d.
ing part.
Whereas Mr. Hanna disbursed very
nearly $6,000000 in the first Mckinley
campaign and more than half as much
in 1900. Mr.. Roosevelt's friends said
weeks ago they would be we'll content
if they had in sight this year ha1f as
much Mr.. Hanna used four years
ago, or about 81, 000, 600.
Hard to Get Money.
Now they are learning that it is go
ing to be ali exceedingly difficult mat
ter to raise even that much. OF course
it is as yet too early to get much of
line on campaign subscriptions or any
of the other probable features of the
struggle, but it is not denied. that up
to this time the indica lions are any
thing but encouraging The few efforts
that have been made to raise money i
in New York city have not met with |
warm response. Where thousands were |
expected hundreds only have been Of |
fered, and these somewhat grudging1y. |
made themselves uncomfortab1y clear: |
One is that this year the leading men /
of the business and financial world are
not alarmed as to the result of the |
election. They feel tolerably safe, no
matter which side wins They are feel |
ing SO secure that their interest in the /
campaign is somewhat languid and is
more personal than of business ma
ture.
The other depressing fact, as viewed /
from the Republican standpoint, is that
in New York city at least. the city
where the Republicans usually get so
per cent of all their campaign contribu-
lions, the indications arc that this year
the subscriptions will run about two
dollars for Parker to one for Roosevelt
In truth, looking ahead from this pre-
liminary survey of the field. the Re
publican managers believe that in 1904
the Democrats will have the larger
fund, thing which has not
since 1892 when William G.
Whitney had more money than he !