The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-03-08
STATE PRIMARY
WILL Be COSTLY
For Indiana Taxpayers and
Candidates.
THE EXPENSE TO 90 COUNTIES
May Total Between $500, 1000 and
$600,00O-FOrtunes Spent
By Candidates.
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING BIG

Indianapolis, March 4.-That the
Statewide primary, to be held in In
diana next Tuesday is going to be
an expensive proposition both to
taxpayers and candidates for Office is
the opinion of political leaders of all
parties. There Is much speculation
as to what it will cost the State and
these estimates vary, but no esti-
mate has been lower than an aver
age of $1,000 a county. The lowest
estimate, therefore, is 100000 for
the ninety-two counties of the State.
Some politicians think the cost will
run to 100000.
Marion county, in which Indian
apolis is situated, has already APP
propriated $4,000 to pay the ex-
penses of the primary. Some county
officials say this will not be enough.
Some of the smaller counties may
not have to spend, it is estimated,
more than $4,000. But the. larger
counties, like Lake, Vigo, st. Joseph.
Allen and Vanderburg, and perhaps
few others, will, it is believed,
have to pay out $4,000 or more.
Until all the printing bills are in,
however, it will not be possible to
ascertain the cost of the primary
with any certain degree of accuracy.
That the primary is hitting the
candidates hard. there is no ques-
ton. Practically all of the political
leaders say that there was never any
candidate who made a canvass for
an office, to be nominated at con-
vention, that ever spent anything
like what the primary is costing. The
greatest item of expense in the pri-
mary is for newspaper advertising.
The candidates are using this meth
cd of appealing to the voter more
than ever before.
Because of the lack of contest, the
Democratic candidates for the higher
offices have not been called to spend
large amounts. The Progressive
candidates are spending practically
nothing. 1t is the Republicans who
are making the strenuous campaign.
Republican candidates for United
State Senators and Governor-and
there are three each for these two
offices-are making great appeal to
the voters by displaying their pho
tographs, with reading matter, in
the newspapers. The increase in the
use of this sort of advertising has
been marked. Most of the advertise
ments are two columns wide and ten
inches or twenty inches long. There
are about 100 regular Republican
newspapers in the State and about
forty others carrying this advertis-
ing. One insertion of the usual
twenty-inch ad. in these papers costs
$1,000 at a conservative estimate.
Republican candidates for Senator
and Governor have had such adver-
tisements in this string of newspa-
pers anywhere from three to dozen
times. This repetition is explained
by the fact that some of the men be-
gan their active campaign last Aug
ust while others began theirs later.
Campaign buttons, stickers, cards,
posters, street car ads and pennants
have been distributed with a lavish
hand.
Next to the advertising. the next
item of expense probably. is for
transportation and hotel bills Of the
candidates and their managers. The
motor car has played great part in
the primary. With the use Of this
means of transportation, a candidate
is able to address several meetings
a day. All the candidates for Sen
ator aud Governor claim they have
visited every county in the State at
least once. and 1t is understood that
one of the senatorial candidates is
making his third trip to every coun-
ty IN the State.
Postage has been big item of
expense. II is estimated that each
candidate has sent out from 100.0 900
to 100000 pieces of mail and most
of this has gone first class" The
printing of circulars has also cost q
lot OF money.
Not the least Of the candidates