The Washington times., 1908-10-04
Campaign Contributions Will
Be Made Public on
October Is.
TAKING NO MONEY
FROM CORPORATIONS
Hope TO Spoil Theatrical Effect of
Democrats Announcement.
Money More Plentiful
By ]. C. WELLIVER.

NEW YORK, Oct. 3.-The Republican
National Committee has designs of
springing a surprise on the Democrats
about October Is. on that date the
Democrats are going TO announce the
list Of their campaign contributions.
They have counted on this TO give them
great lift in popular opinion. for they
have expected to make a huge noise
about the contest between their frank,
honest exposition Of financial resources,
and the solemn, suggestive silence OF
the Republicans.
But the Republican committee, which
Is now being peculiarly virtuous. partly
from inclination and partly from neces-
sity. IS going to spoil all this theatrical
effect. 1t is planning TO give out about
October 10, not a list Of the contri-
buttons and the names OF the con-
tributors. but a statement giving the
amount collected, the average amount
OF each subscription, and the total num-
Der Of subscribers, this iC was declared
by an official today. Will make the
Democratic claim OF corporation contri-
buttons to the Republican fund sound
peculiarly ridiculous.
Skirts Are Clear.
The fact is that the Republicans like
the Democrats, have been taking no
money from corporations. It doesn't
seem to be commonly known, but SEN
atOr Foraker is the man who worked
into the law, in the last days Of the
last session. the provision making Il
illegal for corporations to contribute 10
q fund which is being used in any
campaign in which election Of Presi-
gressmen is involved. The measure
came through Is the result of some
sklllful work Of the Ohioan, being u
substitute for the Tillman and some
other measures then pending. At the
time, in the closing days Of the ses-
sion, little attention was paid TO Il,
and none of the managerial politicians
knew about the law until after they
had started to organize the campaign.
II was learned today, that they were
struck, all of a heap, when they found
out about it. Senator Foraker's mo-
tive IN cleverly working the provision
into the statutes is the subject Of much
discussion in inner circles There is a
widespread impression among people
who don't admire the Senator and who
decline to attribute lofty motives 10
Il
lot Of people in a hole, and proceeded
to do it. Certain IT is that some close
friends Of the Senator have been IN
dulging a good many quiet and not al
ways concealed. ChuckIes around Re
publican headquarters. They rather
reveI in the embarrassments which this
law imposed, quite unexpectedly, on the
management.
- - i
on them. the Republicans are not going
70 hide it under a haff peck. cit might
have taken q bUshel an some other cam
paigns) They are planning to give out
a statement about their funds, which
will be verified by the post-elecJion state
ment in detail. and which they expect
VIII take the wind entirely out Of the
Democratic sails.
Finances Brighter.
In this connection, finances are looking
brighter at both headquarters The Re
publicans especially are cheerful over
the fact that they have made a raise
somewhere. The Street heard today
that an angel had stopped in unawares
and given them round million dollars.
WheTeupOn stocks took a sharp upward
turn. TIE story was laughed at bv
committee officials. but It was admitted
that some neat windfalIs had happened
their way, and they had a most unusual
and comfortable feeling of soIvency.
Democratic Treasurer Ridder likewise
reported that folks were sending $1,000
checks. When he was appointed treas
urer he set out on plan to get 500
leading Democrats Of the country TO
give $1,000 each. A lot OF people smiled
in amusement at the idea of a Demo-
crat having $1,000 10 spare; but Mr.. Rid
der conddes that they have Il, and are
separating themselves from it. He
wouldn't say how many had done so,
but intimated that he was we'll pleased
with returns thus far, and expected
bigger ones l. the near future. Ger
tain IL Is that after a week Of pro-
found uncertainty, the ghost decided to
materialize tonight, and both headquar-
ters paid in full.