The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-21
The Big Campaign Fund.

The Wall Street Journal, which,
altho having no politics, keeps close to
the political situation, discovers that
neither the tariff nor currency is to
be an issue in the present campaign.
Wherefore, the Journal thinks. it.
doesn't matter whether the next presi-
dent is a republican or a democrat.
This leads UP to the statement that
while Wall street will contribute to
the campaign funds of both political
parties, the largest share, of campaign
money will go to Judge Parker" The
Journal closes as follows: .f
Very confident assertions are made by
local democratic politicians that there will
be any amount Of STANDARD OIL" money
for Judge Parker. The hatred Of high
finance" for President Roosevelt is un-
diminished, and, indeed, rather refreshed
by the hope Of defeating him, He is un-
forgiven because he is unrepentant. 1t is
still in Wall street as it was In February,
1903, Anything to beat Roosevelt
The New York Financial Chronicle,
also one Of the organs Of conservative
financial opinion, believes that the
tariff and currency are not to figure
in the campaign, and that Judge Par
ker is entirely acceptable to the finan-
cial interests. 1t doesn't say that
President Roosevelt is not acceptable
to them also, but it fails to say that
he is.
The way seems thus to be opening
for the democrats to secure a cam
paign fund larger than they ever have
had. With such a fund, their in
fluence in the doubtful states will be
tremendously increased, and so it
comes to pass that the democratic
leaders are already confidently pre-
dieting Judge Parker's election.
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island
and Cornelius Bliss of New York, have
undertaken to secure the republican
campaign fund this year. The presi-
dent thinks that 100000 will be
| sufficient, but it may not be If the
| democrats are borne out in their be.
lief that they can raise $4,000, 900, and
even more If necessary.
The day Of large campaign funds
came in 1896, when the financial in
| terests Of the country became alarmed
at the threatening character Of thu
Bryan movement. They renewed
their subscriptions in 1900, in orde
| to make sure that Bryan would again
be defeated. Tn all probability Their
will never be q return to the custom
which prevailed prior to 1896. TIL
| increase of population, the wider in
telligence Of the electorate, which
brings demand for more enlighten
ment than was previously though
necessary, and the fact that the prest
dency is yearly becoming an office o
larger power, make men more Willin
than they once were to contribute lib
orally to one side or the other, a
their Judgments may dictate. Com
paratively little Of this money is ex
| pended in debauching individua
4 voters, less relatively, perhaps. than i
the old days of modest campaig
purses. The major portion Of tn
3. funds which now find their way int
the hands of the great national com
mittees is expended for legitimate pur
poses, including the highly importan
work Of effectively organizing tn
working forces in the pivotal state!
making careful state polls before cleo
ton day, paying the expenses Of a
army of speakers, and printing an
distributing. thousands of tons of can
paign literature. There are many goo
citizens IN both parties who sigh fc
a. return to the days. of more modes
election expense, but they will prof.
ably sign in vain. The trend is in tn
opposite direction and apparently
not to be checked for some time.