The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-07-21
Republican
Campaign Managers
Realize the Fight
VIII be Hard

from Washington says:
It Is no secret here that President
Roosevelt, Chairman Cortelyou and
other managers Of the Republican
campaign realize that they have
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 will require the hardest
sort of work on their part If the cleo
tions 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 a beginning at this
part Of the work, and they already
have discovered that It is going to be
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 large war chest
this year Elihu Root. then sscre-
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 Row was the time to
call a halt. That the secretary echoed
the Sentiments of President Roosevelt
was a natural inference, but I 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. It meant clean.
businesslike. honorable campaign, In
which money should not play a leading
part.
Whereas Mr.. Hanna disbursed very
nearly $5.0O0.oO0 in the first Mckinley
campaign and more than half as much
in 1900, Mr. Roosevelt's friends said
weeks ago they would be well content
II they had in sight this year half as
much as Mr. Hanna used four years
ago. or about s2,G0O,OOO.
Hard to Get Money.
Now they are learning that It is go
ing to be an exceedingly difficult mat
ter TO raise even that much. OF course
it is as yet too early to get much Of a
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 indications are any
thing but encouraging. 'rhe few efforts
that nave been made to raise money
in New York city have not met with
warm response. Where thousands
were expected hundreds only have
heen offered. and these somewhat
grudgingly TWO important facts al
ready have made themselves uncom.
fortably clear.
One is that this year the leading
men Of the business and financial
world are not alarmed as to the re-
suit of the election They feel toler.
ably safe, no matter which side wins. (
They are feeling so secure that their
interest in the campaign is somewhat
languid and is more personal than of
a business nature.
The other depressing fact. as viewed
from the Republican standpoint. is
that in New York city at least. tho
city where the Republicans usually
get so per cent Of all their campaign
contributions, the indications are that
this year the subscriptions Will run
about two dollars for Parker TO cne
foI Roosevelt Ia truth, looking ahead
from this preliminary survey of the
field the Republican managers believe
that in 1904 the Democrats will have
the larger campaign fund thing
which has not occurred since 1852
when William c Whitney had more
money than he knew what to do with. /
Republicans Surprised.
The Republican managers We're a
little surprised when they found that
under the leadership Of Judge Parker
himself the hattie ground had been
shifted largely from the west to the
cast. 1t is now generally understood
that the program Of the Democrats
as toutlined it IN a dispatch from st,
Louis the DAY after the convention is (
20 be followed. That Is 10 say. the