The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-29
"Hoot Mon -

There are about ten million men in the oonn+r,
VINO habitually vote the republican ticket Each Of
these men must be worth dollar and have dollars
worth OF interest in the success of the party One
iourtn OF that amount is sufficient national
campaign This leaves rs cents Of each dollar to he
uVlded between the state, congressional and local
campaigns. Is it enough7 In Hennepin county con-
s1ltutlng congressional district there are in round
numbers $4,000 citizens who vote the republican
ueAes. quarter apiece from these would supply
ene organization with nearly $4,000, enough in all
sJou conscience to spend for meetings. banners and
goo printing in district one can ride across in four
10 noo In the city of Minneapolis there between
lo,ooO to $1,000 who vote the republican ticket
Tor treasurer and controller and sometimes more
sometimes less who vote the republican ticket for
mayor. AS far back as 1896 Robert Pratt got $4,000
Votes FOR mayor, but in 1898 Mr. Webster got only
ABOUT onethlrd that number. Contributions would
need to be based on the mayor and controller vote
an ana a. then the local committee would have above
$4,OoO to work with This ought to be enough for
any committee which has merely to inform the people
who is running for mayor, which they already know
me SI contribution is just feasible for the other
parties. -
The idea of popular subscriptions to elect candi-
dates Will probably be eered but it is so insane
as it seems. It is only because the republicans and
democrats have abandoned the plan and wallowed
so long In the muck of corporation money that they
nave lost faith in its efficacy Some parties still
using IT, Inc prohlbltloniss in this state take con-
trlbutlons from their members very much the same
plan as churches receive subscriptions for the sup
party gives something for the years campaign
he is not limited to dollar, but he is limited to
making a public contribution, which is the main
point. There are no under contracts binding the
party to look with favor So-and-so's pet schemes
because he put up for the party Nobody put up for
the party 1t put up for itself It may be urged that
IL TINS $, is easier to work in small minority party.
1t 49, it should be stated to the shame of the larger
partes IT the parties which entrusted with the
conduct of the government have not enough indie
pendence to keep themselves free from selfish in
hav9 oroh+ 70 hrao
responsibility If it does not, there is something
wrong. 49,.
The plan of popular public contributions would pro-
mote independent attitudes the part of office
holders They would feel that they represented the
whole body of the organization and not CLIQUE or
corporation. They would, if the right kind Of men,
have more freedom in turning down requests from
such sources The people who made the contributions
after election Now they sink into state of indif.
ference as soon the voting is done. They expect
the big fellows who found the s"campaign fund.- to
come to the front and dictate the legislation It is
only when something happens which shocks their
sense OF decency in government that they them
selves and make the air sultry.
Popular contributions would produce another re-
suit devouty to be desired It would discourage the
grafters who hang around campaign headquarters
and eech few dollars from committees. These fell
lows are mostly backmailers whose success is due
to the cowardice of managers If political committees
are going to be cowarly it is much better that they
be afraid Of the people than afraid the grafters
1t the people We're subscribing the campaign fund
no political committee would dare to dole it out to
these monsrosties the product Of tuberculous sys-
tenn of politics. +sa@.z--.sss--s5
''Oh, the subscriptions wouldn It come in and we
should have to fall back the millionares let
the election 60 by DEFAULT Try it. If the commit
tee had treasurer who had the confidence pub
lie, the subscr ptions would come in. If the cum
mttee square and refused large contributions in
private while it was receiving small in public,
it would find itself in good circumstances. It
is worth the effort anyway. f H .'-.'
Liberati, who will play at Lake Harriet this week,
once had experience with the Minneapolis Press
club which he has not forgotten. It happened lust
after the close of the first exposition Lbera and his
band had open date and the leader proposed that
he would give benefit for the Press club Harmonic
hall and Sunday afternoon chosen the place
and time The band arrived and took it's position ON
the stage with Liberati respondent with medals in
honor of the occasion The audience arrived and took
its place, but by singular omission emissary Of
the Press club had forward to sell them tickets
The situation awkward. It was relieved bv
Mayor Ames who in little speech advised the audi.
ence that the members Of the Press club were so
accustomed to running the business Of other people
that they had overlooked their Would not the
audience buy it's tickets the way out9 The audi
laughed heartily but accepted the situation and
the Press club made richer by $780, But Liberati
was furious. The idea that the Press club should
entce his band into making free exhibition of itself
touched him to the point of Inflammation fEMy noble
band-the Pressa elub-the what you call dem loaf
aires sell teekets-oh, deshame.'' Smith Hall
stood the brunt of the explanations, he usually
did for the Press club and finally managed to calm
the ruffed leader. But it close shave between
apoplexy and assault and battery. james Gray.
THIS JOKE WAS ON MOTHER.
..l Chicago Inter Ocean.