Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-26
0FR TRENTON COMMUNICATION.
(our Special Trenton Correspondent

Trenton, October 24-Edward e.
Grosscup, chairman of the Democra-
tic State Committee, said today that
the expenses of Governor Wilson's
trip through the State are being met
in very simple and easy manner.
The idea that the Governors party
is under heavy expenses in swing
ing around. the circle is erroheous,
according to Mr.. Grosscup. The
State Chairman said that those who
are speculating as to the source from
which the money comes for the cam
paign expenses of the Governor, and
intimating that some mysterious
means of financing the trip are being
brought into play ought to be en-
lightened.
AS surprising as it may seem the
State Committee is not spending a
dollar on the Governors tour" ex-
planned Mr. Grosscup, today. AS
matter of fact, the idea entertained
by a great many people that the cam
paigning of the Governor around the
State for the past month is accompan-
led by heavy expense, is entirely
wrong. First of all, we are under no
expense of railroad fares AS
State officials both the Governor and
myself travel on railroad passes is
sued under the law. Others who help
to make up the Governors party from
day to day pay their own railroad
fares. The Democratic committee of
each county pay the local expenses
of whatever meetings are held in their
territory. This includes. of course,
the use of automobiles, the rent of
halls and perhaps few minor items
for music, etc. Now, the only other
item of expense attached to the Gov
ernor's campaigning efforts is the
cost of stenographic reports of his
speeches and this, may say, is a
charge of about $50 per day. The pay
for the work of the stenographers is
raised by each of the county COM
mittees, and the shorthand corps re-
ceive their pay at the end of each
days service. In this way / have
described, the expenses of the Gov
ernor's trip into II of the counties
thus far visited have been met with
out any difficulty and entirely accord
ing to the provisions of the corrupt
practices act There is no secret
about our methods and | am glad to
give the information to the public
Mr.. Grosscup said that the State
Committee would not collect any
campaign funds this year. According
to the opinion furnished by the At
torney Generals department, State
committees may, under the corrupt
practices act, solicit contributions
which, however, can only be expend-
ed by the financial managers author
lied by party candidates. AS neither
the Democratic nor Republican State
Committee have been authorized by
any candidate to act as financial man
ayers in the campaign, both bodies
are prohibited from expending any
money. In the letter which he wrote
to Mr.. Grosscup, Assistant Attorney
General Gaskill said that if the cor
rupt practices act was stretched con-
siderably it might be interpreted in
way to allow the State committee to
collect the money which came from
its solicitations, but that in such in-s
stances the money would have to be
expended as authorized by law, which
would put it into local hands.
Mr.. Grosscup said, however, that
so far as the Democratic State COM
mittee was concerned, it would not
collect penny of political contribu-
tions. Il shall probably solicit some
financial help for certain counties"
he said. and if I meet with any sue
cess in such efforts the money forth
coming will be paid to and expended
by local committees .
How do you expect to meet the
expense of maintaining the Democrat
ic State committee headquarters in
Trenton?' Mr. Grosscup was asked.
We have already provided for this
replied the State Chairman The
cost of running headquarters will be
met out of the amount obtained by the
assessment of $50 each against the
members of the State committee
Suit was instituted in the Court of
Chancery Saturday hy State Sanator