Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-08

MlLLlON DOLLhh9f Ut iOWNoN "
innate, will be spent in 1916 on our quad
- renniai political jag. i is moderate es1
innate for, by being little far-fetehed, 1t could
be doubled. II may indeed, amount 70 cool
hundred million 80
But a total expenditure OF fifty millions means
an expense Of $3.50 per voter and 50 cents per
capita for the entire population II can be de-
Tended on the Tom Reed theory that this Is a
hfty-mollIon-dollar country
Laws OF recent years enacted by congress
and most OF the states requiring the fling OF
sworn statements OF the origin and disposition
81 campaign funds have lately, for the first time
In the history OF the nation, made available larry
accurate data on the high cost OF politics IN this
country
Politics comes highest In presidential election
years, not only because Of the large expenditures
81 the national committees but because three
fourths OF the 100000 and more elective officers
national, state, county and municpal--are hlled
at or about the same time. Indeed, scarcely
more than per cent Of the total cost OF politics
for the country MS whole this year will be
borne by the big party committees.
Some 100000 individuals arc now, or soon will
be- seeking Offices In the United States. All will
spend some money, and money will be spent by
others for great many Of them. There VIII be
several thousand Campaign committees OF va
rious kinds and quality
The taxpayers directly will have 10 take care
Of the largest single item Of expense, that tor the
election machinery In New York state alone
the cost Of registering the voters and conduct
ing the November election will be about $500
600 For ali the states II will amount TO not less
than S2s000.000 Several hold their state cleo
tions on dates other than for selecting presi-
dent; one, Maine has different day for choos-
ing representatives. IN congress-. This makes the
election machinery almost doubly costly In those
states Most Of the town and city elections,
which will take place in threc-fourths OF all the
municipalities this year will be on other dates,
II you were TO add to the direct expenses the
IL all aNaN
the depressing effect on business and the loss
from industry OF the time OF the thousands who
will give several months Of their time 70 politics
alone, not emitting the celebration OF election
night--a half million dollar item in New York
City aone--in other words, II you were 70 figure
the cost as many figure that Of the European
war, the expense Of our leap-year political ex-
ercises would reach total Of more than $780,
100000
Some OF the election reform legislation Of
late years has tended to lower the high cost Of
politics, while other legislation has increased 4
The necessity for fling statements OF expendi-
lures, now almost universal, makes candidates
and committees more eircumspect IN soliciting
and disposing Of funds In quite a number Of
instances expenditures are limited by law, and
10 exceed the legal maximum disqualihes the
guilty candidate and makes committeeman sub
feet 10 Indictment The extension OF the pri-
mary election idea has increased the expense be-
cause II peeessitates an extra election and forces
many candidates 70 make two popular campaigns
where one sufiiced before. About half much
money 10 spent in the pre-conyention as in the
postconyention contests.
The expenses OF the national committees Of
the two big parties rarely fall below 100000,
and frequently so beyond 100000 in presi-
dental year.
II is generally admitted that the republican
national committee Of 1896, under the leadership
OF Mark Hanna, first made the roof the limit
t.. d.p.s TIa ID .saaA - ala
Mckinley have been estimated at from 100000
10 100000. They probably were nearest the
last figures. However, memoranda left by Cor
neus n. Bliss, who was treasurer OF the COM
mittce, indicate that the funds passing officially
through the committees hands aggregated only
Sj,500000. According TO the same data the fund
employed 10 re-eleet Mckinley in 1900 was a
"trihe below" 100000
The republican national committee usually
disposes Of the most funds But some demo-
cratic national committees have been superb
spenders, In 1892 not less than 100000, per-
haps great deal more, was used in eeeting
Cleveland all Of whose races were engineered by
men who were adopts in raising and generous in
contributing political funds.
There no authoritve data on democratic
expenditures except for the campaigns Of 1908
and 1912 when the expenses Of the committee
Appropriated 100000 for each year
George B. Cortelyou, who was chairman Is
authority for the statement that the republican
national committee disposed OF little more than
SS,uO0ODO 10 elect Roosevelt IN 1904, The cleo
ton OF President TAFT in 1908 cost nearly as
much.
There are good data on all the campaigns OF
1912 both before and following the conventions
Those who sought the democratic nomination
that year did so al a total cost, In round figures
OF S4S0000 divided as fellows:
Woodrow Wilson sqo2o Oscar Underwood. q So, 900
Champ Clark, tooooJudson Harmon. ~ $4,000
The campaigns OF TAFT and Roosevelt for the
republican nomination cost 100000 or more and
the sum was divided about equally between them
Statements filed by all the committees Of par
ties running presidential candidates IN 1912 show
receipts and expenditures as follows
Daharss-
Recspta ments
Republican t,tss.t5st.5ta. &iefe.aatbI at0fIh4A67
Democratic t.ttt.ts..saFEfs lIkaA4u,aA ita4N4A.UA
Progressive tss4s.ftt ttsss. ere efa+4a NaAkAO a.
NuEiaitat NJ t4ssI5,s4 Essts hA6An.pB e6BoT.Na
National politics lar this year have been
rather Inexpensive as compared with the pre-
liminmirs If 1919 1t i fa;e % predict that he.
tween N00000 and S4Ud00O and possibly A
great deal more will lie hignosed ~ Ia .{5lns a..