Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-05
Let EN- Investigate.

Let En- IHVeSSb9AtS'
The proposed Senate investigation Of
campaign expenditures is a movement
that will meet opposition among Meth
er Republicans nor Democrats. 1t is
entirely safe to say that neither Of the
national campaign committees will be
found involved In transactions in vio-
lation Of any of the laws of states or
nation. While it is not only probable
but practically certain that in both
campaign arrangements there was not
only much extravaganza, but absolute
wastefulness of campaign funds. this is
something that happens In every cam
paign, the extent of the waste being
dependent upon the political sagacity
of the campaign managers.
Wherever corruption occurs in poll
tics, 1t Is connected with local cam
paign. It is impracticable. for obvious
reasons, for a national committee to
engage in the corrupt use Of money
even II it were so disposed. Its bust
ness transactions pass through too
many hands for a national campaign
management to even attempt anything
irregular. The only possibility or
fraud in election lies in local cam
paign where the man who is interested
in the violation of election laws deals
directly with the man who interferes
with an honest ballot. Neither intimi-
dalton nor bribery ever has it's origin
in a national campaign organization.
1t has frequently been feature of
local political contests.
1t is notorious that Tammany Hall.
the most famous and most efficient po-
litical organization in the world, cares
not one rap for the presidential cleo
ton, Tammany Hall is chiefly inter-
ested in patronage, and all the patron
age the federal administration has in
the city or state of New York would
not be a drop in the bucket as COM
pared with the patronage attached to
the city and state ADMINISTRATIONS.
What Tammany Hall wants first is
control of the city of New York. with
it's vast force of policemen, it's street
cleaning department, its water system,
it's contracts for street improvements.
its control over the army of other en-
ployes on the city pay roll. 1t wants
control, if possible, of the state legis-
lature and the governorship, but 1t
cares even less for these than for con-
troll of the city itself.
What is true of Tammany Hall is
true of the local political organizations
in both political parties TALL over the
United States. Where there is no or
ganization on the Tammany Hall plan
there is frequently a local would-be
boss who seeks to control local gov
eminent for mercenary purposes. He
wants the city council or the sheriff's
Office, or the prosecuting attorneys Of
flee for what he can make out of it for
himself. In the effort to secure con-
troll of these Offices there is in rare in
stances corrupt use of money in cleo
tons. A few instances in which this
occurs receives much publicity when
discovered, leaving the impression that
corruption in elections is a common
occurrence.
The agitation in favor of an inves-
tigation of the affairs of the two ma
tional committees is calculated to give
the impression that dishonesty is a
prevailing feature Of national cam
paigns, whereas a moments reflection
will convince any thoughtful person
that there is no likelihood what ever,
of any dishonest effort to control the
result Of the national campaign.
The investigation Of the committees
may prove the campaign managers in
efficient and wastefui. but it will not
prove them dishonest.