The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-09-19

- AAAAApSl VI ulSlIlCtS 10 uSHl IOI. ne
Republicans could lose more than fifty
districts and still retain control of the
Rouse. Thus, Chairman Sherman can
AFFORD to devote all of the energies
and resources of his organization to
only few of the close districts, where
as Chairman Griggs must divide his
activities among forty-eight districts,
while at the same time keeping close
watch on districts now held by his
party, but which it is known the Re-
puDllcans will endeavor to carry this
year.
While, of course, both committees
appeal for support to the whole ma
ton, their efforts are concentrated
more or less quietly on only a small
proportion of the $50 districts into
which the country is now divided. The
appeal to the country as a whole is
what may be called the public part of
the work of the committees-"g grand
standing" is the word employed to de-
scribe this process. The hard, earnest,
effective work is done quietly, and
without any "grandstanding Primar
lily, the entire country is divided into
classes of districts that are over
Whelming one way or the other. For
example, nearly the whole South is set
down in the Democratic column, and
the candidates of that party in that
section are not expected to look to
Chairman GriggS for any kind of as
sistance All of New England and the
northwest are similarly treated as Re-
publican, and of course, the candi
dates of that party in the states of
those regions must get along without
help from Chairman Sherman's COM
mittee. To be sure, there are Demo
cratic districts in New England and
the northwest, just as there are Repub-
lican districts in the South, and when
ever it appears in either case that
there is danger of losing any of these
districts, each committee comes to the
rescue of its party.
Having checked off the safe from the
doubtful districts, each committee be-
gins persistent and systematic effort
to pull through the candidate of its
party. If the nominee needs money
for legitimate purposes, he obtains all
that is needed, or as much as can be
spared, by applying to the chairman
of his general committee. In this mat
ter the policy of both committees is to
discourage too much dependence for
financial assistance upon them. They
endeavor to show candidates how to
raise the necessary funds in their own
districts But if the money required is
not forthcoming from the candidates
constituents, then the general commit
tee comes to the rescue. This is not
done, however, until confidential
agents of the general committee have
been sent into the districts to look into
the prospects and have reported favor
ably on the application of the general
candidates. This is the way concerns
which loan money do when they re-
ceive applications from persons whose
security or ability to pay is unknown
to them. Thus the minimum of money
is frittered away in rainbow chasing"
The money raised by the committee
comes through various sources. OF
course the largest contributors are the
big special interests which expect to
profit directly or indirectly by the gen.
eral result of the campaign. Such a
hue and cry, however, has been going
on for the past year over campaign
contributions, caused mainly by the
exposures of the big life insurance
companies, that both parties are eX-
JI6UlGlN
size of contributions solicited or re-
ceived. For the first time in the his
tory of organized efforts to get con-
troll of the House, the Republican com
mittee has asked for dollar subscrip'
| lions.
AS for obvious reasons the large
| special interests will not be heavy con-
| tributors to the campaign fund OF
either party this year, reliance for the
sinews of war must be placed more
largely upon individuals by both par
ties than ever before. 1t is known
that, generally speaking, the wealthy
men in both parties who occupy seats
in either branch of Congress are CIV
ing more than they ever did before:
At the same time, however, this VIII
not compensate for the loss OF revenue
that used to come in bulk from the
large special interests, and, as re-
suit, the chances are that less money
will be used in the pending campaign
than has been employed for many
wears. This is causing the congress
sional franking privilege to be more
heavily drawn upon than ever DeIoTe.
The great bulk of literature when VIII
be scattered over the country IN thls
campaign will go through the mans
free In times past great deal OF lhlS
has been sent by express ana pald LOT.
However, as so many members OF COLI
gross are given express franks, it is
needless to say that the express COM
panies, as well as the United States
mail, will be called upon to bear their
portion of the expense of distributing
literature for the enlightenment OF the
voter.
The great bulk of the money used IN
congressional campaigns is not aus
bursed until the day of election. 1t is
held back for the last pressing emer-
gencies. And how many people know
what the chief emergency then is? II
is for carriages, buggies, wagons. auto
mobiles, and every other imaginable
means of conveyance with which to
get the reluctant and hesitant voter to
the polls in time to drop his ballot