The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-10-09
BUSINESS SYSTEM
IN THE CAMPAIGN
(By John Fordham)

Vi AdtlS udllOLdl Cdlupdl6H % pSlu6 Auh
on business principles.
This is a statement which at once
challenges proof, particularly in view
Of the disclosures brought out during
the past week by the campaign fund
investigating committee of the United
States senate. The testimony before
that committee of Morgan, and the
others, showing that millions of dol
lars were contributed to and spent by
the republican campaign managers,
was not of character to impress the
American people with the cleanliness
Of national republican politics.
It was for the very purpose of prov
ing clean bill of health for the DEM
ocratic campaign committee that at
the very outset of this campaign a
system of accounting was installed in
democratic national headquarters that
would enable anyone at moments no
tice to ascertain just what amount of
money was being spent, and for what
purposes it was spent There is no
well established business Office in this
community in which affairs are con-
Quoted with greater system or order
than in the democratic headquarters
in New York and Chicago.
The Chicago headquarters is in
charge of Secretary Joseph E. Davies
Of the national democratic committee.
Under him there is corps of assist
ants and clerks numbering about $50
persons. Without attempting to go
too deeply into the details of manage
ment. let it be said that every dollar
that is received and disbursed is ac-
counted for with so many checks and
counterchecks that concealment of the
purpose for which it was spent is i'm
possible
Let us say that a head of a depart
ment desires $40 for the uses of his
He must make out a
requisition on blank provided for the
purpose, stating the purpose Of the
requisition, the person to whom it is to
be paid and the amount. The head Of
the bureau then signs his name. The
requisition then goes to Secretary
Davies, usually with a letter or ver-
bal statement for his signature. Should
Mr.. Davies be out or otherwise engag-
ed, the requisition must be signed by
Irving Shuman, assistant secretary and
Office manager. yrom Mr. Shuman's
office the requisition goes to q. M.
Grossman, assistant treasurer, who O..
KS it and makes out a check which
also sets out ON its face the purposes
for which it is drawn.
When head of bureau desires to
purchase supplies or printed matter,
the same process is pursued except
that after the requisition has been ap-
proved by Secretary Davies or Mr.
Shuman, and Mr.. Grossman, the
requisition goes to G. f. Stone, the pur-
chasing agent, who will buy whatever
is called for in the requisition through
competitive bids. All disbursements
are made by check continuously num-
bered and as has been said setting
forth the purpose for which the money
was paid. This includes salaries of all
persons on the payroll.
The system of accounting is com
plete and exhaustive. Continuous
records are kept of every transaction,
however trifing, in the office. Mr.
Shuman and Mr. Grossman have com
plete charge and every record must
bear their signed approval All dis
bursements for every department are
cleared and handled through Mr.
Grossman's and Mr.. Shumans Offices.
There are no sinecures at the Chi
cago headquarters. Everyone employ
ed there is busy from morning till
night and many OF them, from sheer
work until far into the
night without extra compensation.
There are no high salaries in the Chi
cago headquarters. Many heads of de-
partments have made large financial
sacrifices in the interest of the cause,
an dare joyfully working fifteen and
sixteen hours day every day for