The Washington herald., 1912-04-07
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The Presidency of the United States
is evidently a plum worth having. i
has been many year since the struggle
for the nomination has been so intense
in either party. On the Republican side
there is determination on the part of
the Presidents friends to secure an in
dorsement of his administration, while
faction in the party is equally deter
mined to prevent his denomination.
Among the Democrats there is feeling
that. for the first time in sixteen years,
a nomination may result in an election.
1t is a pretty contest, no matter from
which point it may be viewed. There is
one phase OF il, however. which excites
the curiosity and interest of the average
man, whether he be active in politics, or
whether he is merely casual observer
OF affairs. This is the enormous amount
of money which is being expended in
the pre-convention campaign. One re-
calls the conditions which obtained dur
ing the two years which preceded the
nomination of William Mckinley, when
Mark Hanna's wonderful skill as an or
ganizer was demonstrated, and when
money flowed like water in securing the
accomplishment of the desired result In
that campaign special cars carried dec
oratiOns for the hotels in various cities
where the delegates lodged, and for the
halls in which the State conventions as
sembled. while millions of Mckinley
badges made the streets look like a field
of poppies. Vaudeville performers were
hired to sing the praises of Mckinley
and prophesy prosperity, and the food
gates of literature were opened. No one
will ever know how much it cost to
secure McKinley's nomination, but that
the amount represented a fortune is be-
yond doubt.
But the Mckinley pre-convention
campaign is eclipsed by the present stu
alton. The Taft national bureau occu-
pies an entire floor in an expensive ho-
tel and is equipped with a force large
enough to manage a big corporation. A
tremendous amount of work is being ac-
complished: the typewriters and the
printing presses are working night and
day, and the mail is loaded down with
letters and printed matter. The item of
postage alone is enormous The Roose-
welt forces occupy two floors of large
Office building in this city, with a force
of fifty or more, and an equally exten-
siye headquarters in New York CITY,
while Mr. Roosevelt himself travels
through the country in private car and
sometimes upon special trains. He is
sparing neither time, trouble, nor ex-
pense. La Follette's bureau has been
in operation for some months at great
cost, and Mr.. La Toilette himself has
not hesitated to travel from Maine to
California. his managers being equally
undeterred by the expense of railroad
transportation. All of the candidates
have surrounded themselves by the high
est-priced political and literary assist |
ance, the great object being to create
a public sentiment in their favor.
Nor have the Democratic aspirants, |
with possibly one exception, been ap-
parently hampered by lack of funds. The |
organization of Woodrow Wilson is ex-
tensive and has cost much. He has been |
travelling almost daily, while his head
quarters in New York and its branch in
Washington are developing publicity for |
him along every possible line Gov
Hanmon's campaign bureaus are we'll
equipped, and if is costing something to
subsidize the moving-picture theaters
for exploiting Harmon's countenance. In
lesser degree, perhaps, Speaker Clark
and Representative Underwood are
spending money, but none the less their
expenses must be considerable Rent and
postage and printing and the employ
ment Of talent are items which cannot
be paid Tor in political promises. They
demand ready cash and plenty of it.
One of the most interesting features
of the political situation therefore, is
the enormous amount of money which
is now being expended. Where is it
coming froms The amount will aggre-
gate hundreds of thousands of dollars Ii
it may be well over million-before
the two national conventions have met
and adjourned The supply of funds
seems unlimited, veritable Pactolisni
stream. What is its source?
In the case of the President IT is easy
enough to imagine that contributions
are secured with more or less ease. He
has given the country a good admin
he is in power. and there is /;
The always-present probability that he h