The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-02
HIGH COST VOTES
Urinary in Indiana Costs State
Half Million.
candidates Spend as High as
$4,000 Each.
NEW 81 EnTInN IAW AIIIYIIPV
new ELECTION LAW A LUXURY
Democrats and Bull MOOsers
Not Very Active.
6. o. p. Has Hot Fight on for
Governor and L. $. Senator.

indianapolis March THAT the
statewide primary. to be held in In
diana March :, is going to be an eN-
pensive proposition both to taxpayers
and candidates for office is the opinion
OF political leaders of all parties. There
IS much speculation as to what 1t VIII
cost the state and these estimates vary,
but no estimate has been lower than
an average of $1,000 a county the
lowest estimate. therefore, is S46O,ooO
for the 90 counties of the state. Some
politicians think the cost Will run 10
100000.
Marion county. in which Indian
apolis is situated, has already appro-
priated $34, 1000 to pay the expenses 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 ike
Lake, NigO, st. Joseph. Allen and Van
derburg, and perhaps a few others
will. it is believed. have to pay out
$4,000 OF more. Until all the print
ing bills are in. however, ii Will not be
possible to ascertain the cost of the
primary with any certain degree of
accuracy.
Hits Candidates Hard.
That the primary is hitting the can
didates hard, there is no question.
Practically all of the political leaders
say that there was never any candl-
date who made a canvass for an offlce,
to he nominated at convention. Ihat
ever spent any ways near what the
primary is costing. The greatest item
of expense, in the primary, is for news
paper advertising. The candidates are
using this method 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 can
didates are spending practically moth
ing. 1t is the Republicans who are
making the strenuous campaign.
Republican candidates for United
States senator and governor. and there
are three each for these two offices,
are making their great appeal to the
voters by displaying their photogra phs,
with reading matter in the neWSpa perS.
The increase in the use of this sort of
advertising has been marked. Most of
the advertisements are two columns
wide and ten inches or twenty inches
long. There are about $50 regular Re
publican newspapers in the state and
about forty others carrying this ad-
Vertising. One insertion of the usual
2O-inch ad in the 200 papers costs
81 900 at a conservative estimate. Re
publican candidates for senator and
governor have had such advertise
monts in this string of newspapers
anywhere from three to a dozen times.
This repetition is explained by the fact
that some Of the men began their ac-
tive campaign last August while 9TH
ers began theirs later.
Lavish Expenditures.
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 trans
portation and hotel bills of the candi-
dates and their managers The motor
car has played a great part in the pri
mary. With the use of this means CT
transportation. a candidate is able to
make several meetings a day. All the
candidates for senator and governor
claim they have visited every county
in the state at least once, and il is
understood that one of the senatorial
candidates is making his third trip to
every county in the state.
Postage has been big item of ex-
pense. 1t is estimated that each can
didate has sent out from 100000 TO
200, goo pieces of mail and most of this
has gone first class The printing of