The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-19
EXPENSES IN PRIMARIES.

The investigation of Senator Stephen
son of Wisconsin (Which has but recent
" been concluded) reopens the ques-
tion as TO the cost Of primary elections.
It also demonstrates anew the power OF
money in primaries where that money
is abundantly provided and systemat-
icaly expended. IT will be remembered
that Senator Flint of California declined
TO be n candidate TO succeed himself
after the primary law was adopted IN
that State, lie stated plainly and ex'
plicitly that he did not have money
enough TO organize committees for him
self IN all of the Senatorial and AS
semblv districts Of the State, He saw
clearly that the one who is TO prevail
at primary elections must ground his
support in thc legislative districts; and
1t is impossible to do this without the
expenditure Of vast amounts of money,
or some taking personality such rs La
Follette's in Wisconsin, La Toilette,
TO be sure. did not need TO cXpcnd much
money in his candidacy, He has ire
mcndous following, because the people
there believe in his honesty and in his
ability TO do strong. scrviceabic work.
Aside from such eases as his. however,
it seems TO be evident that The pri-
maries must become the rich man S
hunting ground. anI that the man who
has the most money and Is The most
ready to spend If is the man who will
win
Senator Stephenson admits that he
spent something over 100000 TO win
his election. He claims that he con
stantiy told those 10 whom he gave
his moucy that they must not indulge
in any form of corruption, or Of law
lessncss Of any sort. As another can
didate i'm n ncighboriug State said un.
der like circumstances, he was u candl-
date for the Senate. aud not for the
peuitcntiary. And 50 lac was careful
10 incuIcatc all the time the injunction
that tho law must he observed, aud IN
no wise trauSgresscd1 And 50 he claims
that none Of the very large amount of
money spent in his campaign was IL
legally or even improperly spent. Large
sums of money went for beer and
cigars, aud great deal for advertising
IN the newspapers, and presumably the
largest part OF all for organizing the
Stephenson forces III the various lcgis-
lativc districts As George Gordon,
L, s. Attorney for the Western Wis
consin district put il. 800 to organize
for Stephenson in each Of the 22C0 clcc.
tion units in the state was none too
much for such purpose rs Mr.. stephen
son had in view But 800 for each az
1000 precincts means 100000. Any
one familiar with tho organizing Of 20.
litical campaigns would agree with Mr..
Gordon that 800 TO each voting lis
trlct or precinct is not very much
money considered locally in that voting
unit. But, as applied to the 200 vOt'
ing places. II aggregates very large
sum The legislature Of the State Of
Wisconsin charges that Stephenson
spent s250.000 in his campaign. II he
did 80. that would be little more
than 800 for each of the voting places;
and ii is very easy to spend 500 in
voting district and not spend II Un.
lawfully or cortuptlv either
Viewed IN this light, the primary
elections are likely to degenerate simply
into rival organizations Of rich men,
who, when they come in conflict must
spend money lavishlv 10 organize the
districts in their own favor. and 10 set
up the pins for candidates Of their