The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
Democrats, Accustomed to
Lean. Purses, Are
Not So Blue.
Despite Financial Embarrass.
ment G. 0.P. Is Conf.
dent Of Victory.
BY w. w. Jermane.

w democratic tic and "1'' republican, an
congressional campaigns are
proceeding in very listless sort Of way.
Around the headquarters, in New York,
few signs of life are visible. A few
clerks and other subordinates are in
evidence, and there is much waste of
time and energy in the writing Of
countless letters here and there to
voters, and in the sending out Of in
Vulnerable bits of political literature.
Occasionally one may catch sight Of An
officer Of one or the other committee,
but invariably he has nothing to tell
the public, except that his committee
Is sadly in lack of funds. This is the
daily and hourly cry. Money, money
money everywhere, and yet hardly
dollar for campaign purposes.
This condition Of affairs is chronic
around democratic headquarters, and
folks there are feeling no more blue
now than for years past. In fact, re-
peated experiences with lean purses
have somewhat hardened the democrats
to poverty, and they seem to think that
the campaign this year is in no wise
different from those Of two, four or six
years ago. But at the republican
headquarters it is different story that
one hears. So long accustomed to hav-
ing all the money that they could we'll
use, and to getting it by merely saying
that it was wanted, the republican
managers are hard put to to accommo-
date themselves to the present condi-
tion of disgusting poverty which con-
fronts them.
Campaign on Credit.
"Will the situation improve9' I
asked a members Of the republican
committee in the st. James building the
other day.
IT doubt it," was the reply.
"What about the dollar subscrip-
tions7' T asked.
''Nothing in them. All talk and no
dough. They have made several inter-
esting newspaper articles, but no cam
paingn can be financed in that way.
Unless things brighten up somewhat,
we will not have enough money to pay
rent and other office expenses.
"Well, what do you purpose doing9'
"We will make the campaign, AMI
let the bills accumulate, and after
election somebody will have to pay
them. The credit Of the republican
party Will be at stake, and the bills
will be taken care off,
Are you to run your entire CAM
paign on credit2'
HWell, the better part of it. We
have enough money on hand and in
sight to pay nearly all of our office ex-
penses. The printing Of the campaign
text book, now about to be issued, and
of other literature, the cost Of Ions
distance telephoning and of telegraph
ing, railroad fare in most cases, all
these things are to be carried over as
debts to be settled after election. Some
bills we will have to pay as we go, sucl
as hotel bills, part of the railroad fare
of speakers, part of the pay of these
speakers and the pay of the clerks al
headquarters.
N4Cu MeA WAY save Lay.
"Have you enough money on hand
to take care of these items7'
81 should say we hadn IT, We are
straining every nerve to get hold OF
money and little Of it is coming in
day by day. But the amounts are SC
small that they really don't count TO
much. We may be able later on t,
get individual subscriptions from ricl
men in the party sufficiently large t,
tide us over on the bills we will have
to pay but such subscriptions are moi
yet in sight,
"Didn't these same rich men con
tribute to the expenses of former cam
paigns?"
Eyes they did, but not Of their per
sonal money. Their former contribu
lions were out Of the available cash OF
large corporations, and the men giving
them did not feel the strain. Now