The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-07-29


Ussd In Many statss-ssnats and
House Engage In Debates Solely to
Hold Attention to Their Efforts.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, July N.-[special.l-
Many senators and representatives
welcome a drastic law preventing
large contributions to campaigns and
also limiting the expenditures which
any man may make In contest ei-
Their for the election or the primary.
Beyond question several southern SEN
ators were induced to vote for limit
ing expenses and including primaries
in the national law so that they would
have an excuse to escape the strikers
and heelers, who make life a burden
to them during every campaign.
Primaries in number Of southern
states have been very expensive. In
one state a senator was chosen with
out the expenditure Of dollar, while
his colleague, with rich opponent,
paid out more than $4,000. The
primary elections in Florida have been
very expensive, and the same IL true
of several other states when rich men
are in the field.
How They Demand Money.
Whenever there is primary election
for a senator every organization which
wants money writes to the senatorial
candidates. Usually dozen or TWEEN
ty tickets to a fair or entertainment
are sent to the candidates requesting
payment at 30 or % cents each. Tick
cts are sent from churches, Sunday
schools, lodges, fremen and bands; In
fact every organization that wants to
raise money takes this method Of max
ing the senatorial candidates pay. The
candidates dare not refuse because
they may lose the votes Of the men
connected with the organization and
90 they submit to this kind Of levy.
Then there are the political strikers
in every locality who claim to control
q certain number Of votes and say
they must have money to keep them
IN line" If the bill which the senate
passed becomes law all candidates
can say to the money seekers that they
cannot comply with such requests be-
cause their expenditures are limited
and they can only spend money for
legitimate political campaign expenses.
"Fiahtin' EN- Over"
The editor of a paper published in
the interest Of soldiers Of the civil war
said his readers were not satisfied I'M
less they were "fghtin' 'em over" and
he was thus compelled to publish sto-
ries of the battles Of the war. Such
a state Of affairs seems to have reach
ed the senate.
From time to time there are sena-
tors who are "fghtin' 'em over" or at
least they stir up matters which arouse
the prejudices and passions Of the war.
1t is with considerable difficulty that
the present generation becomes
aroused over a war. which ended forty
five years ago, as the settlement Of all
the questions which that war involved
seems to have been accepted by all
the people.
House Sham Battles.
It is interesting to note that while
the senate has to fight over the civil
war to get up an interest the house
has to resort to sham battles in order
to keep even a respectable attendance
within the chamber. Sometimes 1t
is one thing and sometimes another,
but the make believe fight is 80 ap-
parent that 1t does not deceive any
one.
Some Of the house battles have been
over a question Wheeler John Hays
Hammond nudged the King during the
coronation; whether a man who had
the supervision of the congressional
directory had the right to have anoth-
or do the work; whether the house
should adjourn for day or three
days; whether there should be more
or less Investigations; what our diplo.
mats Of 100 years ago did or did not
do. and similar trivial matters. For
several weeks the house has not been
very interesting.
West Virginia Senators.
Neither Of the West Virginia sena-
tors has taken any prominent part in
the debates In the senate, although
Senator Watson has once proposed
program for voting on pending bills.
all bet Watson will never make
speech in the senate" remarked q
West Virginia man, "but he will know
what is going on all the time and will
keep alive to West Virginia interests"
"Chilton will do the talking for West
Virginia" was the reply Of another
man from the same state. HE won't
say anything until he is ready, but
when he does talk he will give good
account of himself"
BaiIey's Greatest Effort.
It is understood that Senator Bailey
Ii preparing a great speech on the
Arizona constitution. in which he will
vigorously attack the initiative and
referendum and the recall Of judges.
BAILEY will make the greatest effort
of his life on that occasion" remark
ed one Of his admirers. "and he will
A.