El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-14

pendence were not noted for their size
IN the earlier days of the Republic
money was not used very freely in
influencing voters. What could not
an accompaniment of good Ticker"
was largely left Undone Leonard
SWEET declared that it did not cost
over 500 to secure the nomination
OF Abraham Lincoln for the presidency
in 1860. and that 800, 900 financed
the entire campaign in 1864. There
was a gradual increase in the size of
the war chests of political parties
of the country thereafter until 1876,
but they We're not large enough to
arouse much interest in them or for
them TO leave their impress upon the
records of American politics.
TiIden's Campaign Expense.
When 1876 came the Democratic can
u 4ate was Samuel J. Tilden, born
secure a thorough organization, even
when none of it is illegitimately used
And the funds for organization were
at hand conservative writer has
some $500 600, and that the majority
of this came from the Democratic
war chest In that campaign Sena-
tor Barnum of Connecticut, was the
committee. and Zachary Chandler of
Michigan, was chairman of the Re
publican national committee. 1t was
the first campaign in the history Of
the country when political strategy
became an exact science.
When the election returns began to
come in IL appeared that Tilden was
elected Early in the night Gov Hayes
had conceded the election of his op-
ponent Chairman Chandler had shut
up headquarters in New York and gone
home, admitting defeat. The New Y ork
Times, regarded as the Hayes organ,
had sent its early editions to press,
conceding Tilden's election But for
very untOward circumstanc- the coun-
try might then and there nave &C
cepted Tilden's election But just at
this juncture there came to the editor
of the Times, the late John c. Reed,
telegram from the chairman OF the
Democratic national committee, Mr.
Barnum, inquiring how Louisiana and
several other states, which everybody
had conceded to Tilden, had gone. Reed
took the cue. He knew there was
doubt in the Democratic leaders mind.
and that it would not do to abandon
claim to victory in the face of it. He
the election of Tildeh. and substituted
others claiming a victory for Hayes.
He then hunted up William E Chand-
Ter, secretary OF the Republican nation
al committee and now one of the fore
most of the advocates of full publicly
for all campaign expenses and contri-
buttons. and between them they started
the Republican party to Calming the
victory that a few hours before they
had conceded to the Democrats. 1t
worked, and that telegram did more
than all of the Tilden campaign fund
to change the result of the election
Million Spent in 1850.
In 1880 both parties had siZeable
funds and most authorities calculate
that the two spent about $1,000. 900. In
1854 Blaine and Cleveland were the Op-
posing candidates. and it las been as
better of Blaine in the matter of funds
Blaine probably put up more money,
personally. than any other candidate
in the histOrw Of the presidency His
initial subscription was $4,000, and
although senator B + Jones and
stephen B Elkins are credited with
having raised Z fund of $500 600, there
was still a heavy deficit. and Blaine
himself put in another 500, 600. 1t is
said that his heavy contributions,
more than anything else. induced him
to write his twenty Years in Con
gress" 10 recOUp his fortune. The IA
nous dinner in which jay Gould and
others then in bad OdOr participated,
came to be known as the Feast of Bel
shazZar. and that, coupled with the
Rum, Romanism and Rebellion re-
mark of the Reverend Mr. Burchard,
probably had more to do with the de-
feat of Blaine than all the money
raised against him.
When the returns came in. New
York was the pivotal state, and there
was a neck and neck race 4 contest
was threatened and William c Whit
ney promptly raised $4,000 to fight the
legal battle Furthermore. the Demo
Gratis secured the legal services of Ros-
coe COnklinE in prepare ton for the
promised contest. But Blaine, after
ward declaring that he would have
made the contest but for the fear that
it would preciDitate another civil war.
conceded the state to Cleveland. It IS
in view of that threatened contest that
a provision of the law of 1910 takes on
a peculiar interest. This provision
says that nothing in the law shall be
construed as limiting or affecting the
for proper legal expenses in maintain
ing or conteStnS the results of any
election
Chests Well Filled in 1855.
When the campaign of 1855 came |
around it was found that both war
chests were well filled. with the hon
Ors on the side of the Harrison end of
the fight It is asserted that John [
Wanamaker and three other rich men !
of Pennsylvania raised $500. 600, and I
that large funds were raised in other (
in this campaign that Mathew Stanle.- I
Quay coined his celebrated phrase ]
frying the fat job he could always I
do to the queens tatste. 1t was in /
letter attributed to Gen. Dudley, adj /
vising the Republican workers in In ]
diana to steer the Democrats up aSainst /
the bari of the Republican managers /
and to march the voters to the polls I
in blocks of five, each worker being /
responsible for his five voters. The I
letter was denied as a forgery. but it .
is asserted that whole trunkful of 4
small bills was delivered in Cincinnati /
to the Republican leaders of Indiana
In 1892 William c. Whitney captured /
the Cleveland fight and there was no |
lack of funds on that side. On the Re /
publican side also much money was /
spent. but nothing could turn the tide /
that had set away from the Republi-
cans after the paSsaE sc of the Mckinley
tariff After the fight was over. Cor
nelius y. Bliss. who had c"arge OF the I
campaign finances, went
one day to the offices of the American
Protective Tariff league He found |
$4,000 in its treasury and is said to
have exclaimed that it was the only
solvent thing in the Republican party
at that time.
The Campaign OF 1876.
About the campaign of 1896 there is
wide divergence of opinion. except that
the Republicans had what was prob
ably the largest campaign fund in the
history of politics. Burke Cochran
once declared that Mr. Hanna had SIS
600. 600 to spend. Another writer. who
knew Mark Hanna rather intimately,
declared he had IL on good authority !
that his fund tOtaled $4,000. 900 and |
that the largest individual contributor
was an insurance company which
Dlanked down 5000 900 for the cause
Of Mr. Mckinley. One railroad put up
800, 600. 1t is asserted by another au- !
thOrity that in October. when the drift |
seemed to be toward Mr.. Bryan. Ger
tain corporations were assessed one