Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17

same policy probably will be pursued
this year. and the party leaders expect
that the list of contributors will be the
longest in the entire history of American
politics.
There is no doubt that the men who
usually raise campaign funds will he
considerably handicapped this year in
getting big contributions. The fact that
the law provides that there shall be full
publicity will cause many contributions
to be turned down that otherwise might
be solicited and accepted, for fear OF the
effect that the announcement might have
on the voters OF the country. OF course.
II has usually happened in the past that
the work that a thousand dollars can do
in a campaign has beel greater than the
harm that the news Of the contribution
could do. and the present fight might not
be an exception. but none Of the candi-
dates will be willing - have the impress
sion get abroad that the so~called money
power is behind him.
The Rucker law requires that the pre-
election statements of contributions and
expenditures shall be
Rucker Law filed in Washington
not more than fif-
requirements. teen DAYS nor less
than ten days before the election. and
that an additional statement OF subse-
quent cont ributions and expenditures must
be made every six days thereafter until
the election. 4 party filing a report If
teen days before election day would have
to file two subsequent reports. while the
committee filing its first report twelve
days or less before the election would
have to file only one supplemental report
The election next fall will be held on the
9TH of November. The main prediction
report will have to be given out on or
before Saturday, October a6. and the
latest date on which the final report can
be given out will be November |. This
will be on Friday. and the election viii
come on the following Tuesday.
When Postmaster General Hitchcock
was chairman of the republican national
committee in 1903 he adopted q scheme OF
getting contributions that proved extreme
ly effective. He had a list made OF 45.OO
business men scattered throughout the
country who. he thought. were enjoying
sufficient prosperity to be able to make a
contribution of $50 for the purposes of
the national committee. He sent each
of these well-to-do citizens a letter ad-
vising him that the committee thought
he ought to be able to give that amount
to the cause. and the suggestion was SUI
ficient to bring in constant stream of
checks which aggregated nearly $4,000.
The federal law requiring the publicity
Of campaign expenditures and contribu-
tons at cleo
Gives Congress tons at which
Control Of Elections. $500. .na
House are chosen in two states practi-
cally gives Congress control OF the ma
jority Of the elections of the country.
since the courts have held that any cleo
ton at which these officials are elected
may be Influenced by state and local
tickets. and consequently the federal gov
eminent has right to go into the matter
of the whole election. and not only the
part played by the congressional candi-
dates.
Maine will have the advantage Of the
other states. The Pine Tree state holds
its election ahead Of the schedule time,
and as the federal law applies to elections
where representatives in Congress are
chosen in two or more states, there is no
requirement of federal publicity OF cam
paign funds dispensed there.