The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-15
Lead Way for New System OF
Campaign Contribu-
/ tons.
PARTY MEMBERS GIVE.
FOR NEXT FOUR YEARS MONEY
WILL BE TURNED INTO GENER-
AL CAMPAIGN FUND TO BE
USED NEXT ELECTION.

washington, Nov. 14.-The rrohibi-
tionists have given the country a new
idea in the matter of campaign contri-
buttons. One thousand members OF
that party have pledged themselves 10
pay into the party treasury certain
sum each year for the next four years.
This means that the prohibitionists
will begin their next national cam
paign with a nucleus of $1,000 toward
an adequate campaign fund.
The idea has interested prominent
republicans and democrats. why,
they ask, should not the older parties
begin now raising funds for the cam
paign of 1912? A high official or the
administration, who has had much ex-
perience in the collection OF campaign
funds, is enthusiastic over the idea.
1t ought not to be difficult, he de-
clared, to find 10000 republicans who
would pledge themselves to pay $40
year: 10000 who would pay SIS a year;
10000 who would pay 81 year, and
100000 who would pay 81 year. This
would mean an income OF S4oO,ooo
year. The collection of the money,
of course, would involve lot or cier-
zeal work and considerable expense
and it would be necessary to MAINTAIN
a considerable force of employees at
permanent party headquarters. The
cost of the headquarters, the official
figures, would be in the neighborhood
of 100000 a year, but there would re-
main more than a million dollars in
the party's war chest with which 10
begin the campaign of 1872.
I IL both parties were to adopt thls
method, the scandal of campaign con-
trfbutions would be at an end. 1t
would help then, if congress would
pass a law requiring each party to
make a financial statement on, say,
the first day of July of each presiden-
tial year, forbidding the acceptance Oh
contributions after that date and for
bidding also the contracting OF obi
Nations beyond the ability OF the com.
mittee to pay out of the total amount
bublished as its campaign fund. I'm
der this system not only would the
campaign managers know just how
tnuch they were going to have tc
fpend but the public also would know
and campaigns would be cleaner thar
they ever have been in the past.
\ AS the two great parties are approx
fpately equal in numbers neither
Mould have any marked advantage I'M
der this system, and, as publlcit.
Mould be an accompanying feature
with probably official audit of eacf
barty's books, the scheme ought to pu
An end to the quadrennial cry tina
predatory wealth was debauching tn
electorate.
1t would be interesting to know
how much money was spent on &C
count of the campaign ended las
Tuesday. The total should include
of course, that expended by all nation
al, congressional, state, county and IL
cal committees and personally b
candidates both before and after thei
nominations and by seekers of nom
nations who failed to get them. N
doubt the grand total of it would b
absolutely staggering; but as there
no possibility of such information b.
ing forthcoming SO the public will b
spared the blow.
1t also would be a valuable bit {
statistical information to know tt
average cost of being elected to col
gress and of holding seat there. 4
the time the salaries of congressme
were raised from 5000 to $500,
veteran member of the house expires
ed the opinion that the average mer
Der did not have $500 year left o.
of his old salary of 5000. In 9th,
words, that it took half his salary
secure and hold his seat. The Lol
don Spectator not long ago publish'
the statement that 1t cost membe
OF the British parliament from $50
to $1,000 to hold their seats. AS !
salary attaches to membership in Il
British parliament, the sums repr