Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-09-09
$5OO.OOO WAS Spent
Primary Nominations Prove to
BE Expensive Honors rs-Win
or Lose.
COSTS CANDIDATES BIG SUM
Cubernatoriol Candidates Each Spend
S25 900. Cratiot County Candi-
dates Blow in $3.50 Apiece.

One feature of the primary system
that is receiving much attention now
that the priamries are over is the cost
When the total cost to the state.
figured up and the cost to the counties
and towns and TO this is added the mon
ey spent nv the candidates seeking office
will be found the total sum almost
reaches the sum OF "A half million dol
lars. The gubernatoral contest alone
cost the candidates in total figures
over SsS. COO Very few were the coun.
ties where the system was in force
that the candidates did not spend from
total of $4,000. TO $40 900. Aud then
added TO this there were several con-
gressional contests involving expen-
ditures OF from $40. 600 to $40. OOO.
And added TO all their total rs the ex-
pense upOr the taxpayers for holding
the election and gathering the returns.
What show has "A Door man got against
such an outlook. Aside from the cost
of elections to the towns and the coun-
ty this new feature this year assumed
some proportions when carefully re-
garded
1t is figured that each Of the guber.
natoral candidates spent S25. O00
These figures are regarded as conser.
yative and not in the least exaggerated.
The campaign was a long one and in ad-
dition TO tours through the state in auto
mobiles which would require large sums
for ordinary travelling expenses aud
political expenses of regular nature
there is the seperate expense Of the
literary campaign. Just a few days
prior to the election Governor Warner
mailed to each enrolled republican voter
IN the state, letter setting forth his
views on state questions. AS there
were over 200, 600 of these the postage
at one cent per letter would cost $4,000.
Then there would be the cost of print
ing and addressing. AS this was done
several times during the campaign by
one or another of the candidates large
sum could easily be spent in that way
Then there were expenses for advertis-
ing and bill posting. All taken togeth.
er the expense of a primvry campaign
for gubernational candidate would
bankrupt an ordinary man
Lieut.. Governor Kelley, while un.
opposed for the nomination of lieuten.
ant governor, is figured to have spent
from three TO FIVE thousand dollars.
In Gratiot county there were seven.
teen candidates for county Offices Four
of these were unopposed all seeking a
denomination. They got out quite for
tunate with a probable expense of $50
each. But what of the thirteen? Be-
ing thirteen i'll number of course some
had to fail for only five county offices
were to be had.
A conservative figure eff the expense
each candidate had to meet is $3.50.
Some judge it to be double this figure.
But at $3.50 each and adding the ex-
pense the four candidates without op-
position had to bear there was spent a.
total sum of $3.50 Quite nice little
nest egg. One man has said under the
primary nomination plan you know all
about the men running for office three
months in advance of the time you
elect them to office For, if the candi-
date don't tell you himself what his
past history is, his opponent is sure to do
soD ANYWAY these fpures show that
primary nominations cost money and
that the fellow who goes into a pri-
mary contest must be well supplied
with funds if he is to cut any figure in
the returns