The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-07-28
WHO'S TO PAY
FOR BATTLE?
Big Sacrifice Made by Taft's
Concessions

Washington, July 2s-The practical
gentlemen who have had to do with
running political campaigns in the
past; those literal persons who hap
.pen to have noted that two-cent
stamps cost two cents and one cent
stamps one cent each; that printers
expect pay; that the anti pass laws
are working day and night; and that
hotels are still run for profit, rather
than for altruistic personalities folks
are not especially pointing with pride
to the virtue contest between Messrs.
Taft and Bryan about the matter OF
eanapaign funds. Rather. they view
With alarm They wonder who's TO
pay the fiddler.
In connection with the agitation over
campaign contribution and the eff
forts in many quarters to make 1t ap-
pear tc be something in the nature Of
sin for people to make contributions
to campaign committees, the fact has
been disclosed through an investiga-'
tion Of the writings of Abraham Lin
coin that the martyr president was a
strong believer in the wisdom and jus
tice OF making liberal contributions to
his party campaign fund. He did this
even when 1t was q sore tax upon his
personal finances. In November, 1858.
Immediately following the great Lin
coin Douglass campaign for the United
States senate in Illinois, Mr. Lincoln
wrote a letter to his personal friend, NJ.
B. Judd Of Chicago. in which is dis
closed not only the then distressful
state Of Mr.. Lncoln's private fortune,
but the willingness which he manifest
ed at that time to tax himself to the
utmost limit in order to pay UP the ex-
penses of his party in the campaign
| just ended Mr.. Lincoln acknowledged
a letter from Mr. Judd, and said:
Drawn on Personal Purse.
Il wrote you the same day AS to
the pecuniary matters. am willing to
pay according to my ability; but am
the poorest hand living to get others TO
pay. / have been on expenses so long
without earning anything that am
absolutely without money now for even
household purposes. still. IL you can
put in $3.50 for me toward discharging
the debt for the committee will allow
Il it when you and / settle the private
matters between us. This, with what
4 have already paid, and with an out
! standing note OF mine, will exceed my
subscription of $500 This, too, is ex-
! elusive of my ordinary expenses during
the campaign all of which being added
to my loss OF time and business, bears
! pretty heavily upon one no better of
|, In this worlds goods than T.; but as /
had the post OF honor, it is not for me
to be over nice. You are feeling badly
land this too shall pass away, never
fear
1t appears from this frank ana can
did letter by Mr. Lincoln that he
thought 1t was a fair thing for a mar
to tax his own resources far beyonC
/, the limit In order TO meet the expenses
OF his party campaign, even after this
campaign was ended He doubtless
was fully aware, as are many Of thu
campaign managers OF the presen
day, that 1t is impossible to run cam
7 paigns without funds He mentioned
the fact that he was not min capa
: BILE Of inducing others to pay Doubt
less he was aware as the Politician
OF today are that nobody has discov
cred method OF making popula
campaign subscription success
Dollar Scheme d Failure.
]. Mr.. Bryan has tried Ii and failed
TWO years ago the republican con
r grassionaI committee. and likewise TIL
! democratic tried the scheme OF rails
I I ing money BY the dollar subscriptions
I No reports were ever given out ais t.
j the amounts thus subscribed, but 1t i
I known that they were disappointingl,
5 small. People who are willing To be
/ fabulous surias--in conversation
4 haven't q cent for tribute to the cl1es