The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-08-01
Il PERTINENT INQUIRY.

Clapp is chairman, is engaged in in
vestigating contributions made in
the 1904 and 1908 national CAMPAIGNS.
The Washington Star, very peril
nently, inquiries why the committee
is fussing about 1904 and 1908 and
utterly neglecting to do anything
about 1912? It has been charged re-
peatedly that millions of dollars were
contributed by the good trusts-the
steel trust, the harvester trust, the
carpet trust and numerous other
trusts-to accelerate the "spontane-
GUS uprising'' of the people in behalf
of Colonel Roosevelt, and that a
large sum, between $4,000 and
$780, was distributed in our own
state where it "would do the most
good.' OF the truth or falsity of
these charges the Union has no
knowledge. But there is we'll
grounded suspicion that the accusa-
tions are not devoid of foundation,
in fact the belief is quite prevalent
that large sums of money we're ex-
pended in this and other states to
further the cause of Mr.. Roosevelt.
Senator Clapp poses as the especial
friend and champion of the colonel,
and one would naturally imagine
that%the senator would gladly en-
brace the opportunity to demon
strate to the American people that
no immense corruption fund, con-
tributed by predatory Wealth.
was at the disposal of the Roosevelt
managers. If, on the other hand,
Senator Clapp has reason to believe
that money was freely used to manu-
facture sentiment and secure dele
gates for Colonel Roosevelt then he
can be excused for pleading the lack
of authority to investigate anti-con-
vention contributions to the Roose-
velt campaign fund this year.
The Star editorial, which appeared
under the caption of "Campaigns
Dead and Alive" is as follows:
"Asked why the senate Investigate
ing committee was not concerning
itself about the contributions to this
years presidential contests, Chair
man Clapp is quoted as pleading the
lack of authority. Then why not
enlarge the committees authority?
Indeed, why not drop the subject of
the dead past, and take up that of
the living present?
''The Roosevelt and the Parker
campaigns, and the Taft and the
Bryan campaigns, are far, far away.
Gossip about how they had been con-
Quoted and how much they had
cost was abundant at the time, and
curiosity keen. Some big tales found
circulation. The winners, of course,
had to bear the brunt of them.
From S6,000,000 to s10,0O0,0OO had
been necessary in Mr.. Roosevelt's
case, and about s5,OO0,OOO in Mr..
Taft's. The passion for round num-
bers was literally INDUCED in.
"Not much has been discovered by
the senate committee, but enough,
maybe, to show that in neither 1904
nor 1908 did the, managers Of either
of the two great parties roll in
wealth. They were well supplied,
but a good deal was necessary. Can
wasting an empire the size of Ameri-
ca calls for heap of cola. ! II ..
GA more important, certainly "a
more interesting point relates to the
situation in this: year of grace.
What is it costing now, to nominate
candidates for president, and equip
them for the fray against the COM
mon enemy? And who are supplying
the funds? Gossip again is album
dant, and curiosity again keen. I;
lit ought not to be difficult to Sc
cure this information. The transac-
tions that have taken place are
fresh. Arrangements for other
transactions are equally fresh:
Books and papers are probably still
in existence. Memories of managers
have not had time to grow defective,
as such memories in time have a
! way of doing. A cobwebby noddle is