The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-07-02
METHODS MUST BE CHANG
ED.
The Enormous Expenditure of
Money in Pre-Convention
Fights Must beStopped.

Statesville Landmark.
Whatever may be the result of
the Democratic State convention
(this is written in advance of its
action) it is greatly to be hoped
that the State will never again
witness a similar pre-convention
canvass. For a year at least the
campaign has been in active
progress. Not only has the can
vass aroused much bitterness
but the cost in money to the can
didates and their friends has been
enormous. If the average citi-
zen had any conception of the
amount Of money it takes to run
a campaign in these modern
days he would be startled. A
paid organization must be main
tanned in almost all of the 81
counties of the State, and this in
addition to State headquarters,
sub-headquarters and workers
going to and fro in the State and
up and down in it, means an
enormous cost to the candidate
in addition to the time and per-
sonal expenses Of the candidate
himself. Much, it might be said
nearly all, of this expense is
legitimate in a way. Men are
paid for their time and the eX.
pense incurred in working fol
the candidate. Little if any
money is expended to buy any
body direct. But one of the
worst features of this system Of
campaign is that a great army o1
deadbeats attach themselves tc
; every candidate and work fol
him for money on the plea tha
they can do great things for him
when as a matter of fact they
: can do nothing and probably in
tend to do nothing. 1t is an op
portunity to hold up a man wht
is afraid to protest, that the po
litical CRATER will not let pass
, Gov. Glenn has suggested tina
a State primary law be passed
j all the primaries in the variou
} counties be held on the same da,
t and that the State bear the ex
. pense. The holding of prima
r ries in the different counties owe
< periods of several months, as
. done in this State, protract tn
campaign and makes it more eH
e pensive to the candidate, but
: State primary system with tn
d expenses paid by the State wi
j. not stop the trouble if a canvas
is made prior to the holding {
e the primaries. The everlastin
:; agitation which the canvass stil
f up is almost if not entirely {
IS bad as the enormous expenditul
= involved. In these latter day
e we regulate everything by la
n and if the pre-convention cal
" vass can't be stopped any otht
q way THE LANDMARK hopes a la
l. will be passed to prohibit it. Wit
,r this and another law (such ;
. Oregon has and as was publishe
h in a recent issue of THE LAM
4 MARK, prohibiting the expen
le iture of not exceeding $500
re- 81, 600 in the campaign, it wou
1e make little difference whether v
W had a State primary or not.
,c At all events. a law. pub
s. sentiment or something mu
te stop the enormous expenditu
r. of money in pre-convention fgh
Mt which has become a custom
" this State. The expenses n
only bankrupt the candidate al
places him in all sorts of emba
RAISING positions, but it will so'
lS corrupt the electorate as it h
III already corrupted the dead-bea
ne and grafters who attach thel
H. IL selves to the candidates; a.
II, H. worse, if possible, it will make
al Al impossible for a poor man or
ne ne man Of moderate means to