Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-17
"pooR MANI IN THE PRIMARY.

"POOR MAN" IN THE PRIMARY.
'As long as we have the present pri-
mary law it is impossible for a poor
man to get in. A man without means
might as we'll give up all thought of
running for a high office, for the man
with means, who can advertise in the
newspapers and who can flood the
district, or state. with literature, who
can make himself talked about and
keep his name in the eyes of the pub
lie, can beat him out every time. -
Cedar Rapids Republican.
Let's see about that. Congressman
Hangen was renom,nated at total ex-
pense of s11 in district comprised of
ten counties.
Senator Bleakly canvassed the whole
state of Iowa and won the nomination
for state auditor at a total expense of
$24.50 and Senator Hopkins who OPP
posed him, spent s315.77.
Ex-Speaker Clarke canvassed the
state in behalf of a losing faction and
won a state nomination for lieutenant
governor against two opponents at
cost OF $120.11. Murphy spent $2ss.S6
and lost, and Jim Wilson 1924 and lost.
Both the nomination for state auditor
and lieutenant governor went to the
low spender in the face of opposition
and not one of the candidates spent as
much as man spends in a single
county to be nominated for county SUI
perintendent under the convention sys-
tenn.
Congressman Hubbard was renom-
mated in the largest district in the
state at a cost of SLAP, when his OPP
ponent spent $954.16. Here again the
low spender was the winner at u cost
which would let any ''poor man" In.
Attorney General Byers won his re-
nomination at a scost of s12.so for the
whole state. but sl1e had no opposition.
on the other Rand there was a stiff
fight made against State Superintend-
ent Riggs and here again he won over
his opponent az the low spender at
s13S for the whole state, while Nc
Manus blew in 1926.
Even in the case of governor the
nomination went to the low spender
and their expenses lowered around
81 900 for heated campaign over the
whole state.
Mr.. Ketchun ran for denomination
for railroad commissioner against two
opponents and won as low man on
expenses at $242.
Thus we have everyone Of the con-
tested nominations on the state ticket
going to the low spender and none of
the campaign expenses being prohib-
tive to a man of modest means in
contest Of as much heat as will ever
be seen again.
Even in the case of the contest be-
tween Allison and Cummins the old
senator simply turned over $4,000 to
his campaign committee while Gov
ernor Cummins, as poor a man
as ever ran for office, spent
$4,000 of his own money, the friends
of a great political cause contributing
to his committee. 1.-THE salary Of a six
wear term in the senate is $4,000,
which makes campaign expenses COM
easy.
Only in the cases Of four fiercely
contested campaigns for congressional
were the expenses high
and then the money was spent by rich
men who enjoyed the pastime fully as
much as they would the purchase of
cheap automobile. Good was high
man at $4.329 against Trewin at 81
4s1. Frank Woods came next with
s2,S62 against Conner at 1913. Charlie
Pickett, spending $1,572, defeated Bur-
ton Sweet, who spent s1.21s, and Hull
and Prouty are still fighting, having
spent $734 and $1,1S9 respectively, but
1t Is safe to say that Hull and Prouty
spent in one previous campaign under
the caucus convention system, more
than was spent in the four most ex-
pensive congressional contests under
the present primary law. The beauty
about the primary law is that the
is expended legitimately under
by statute with severe pen
alties provided for any violation. The
law prevents candidate from buy
ing votes by handing man $40 with
the request 81 wish you would work
is conceived only by those who are
opposed to the principle Of popular
election per Sc.
auucn Mc uAn IF Tn WACrc