Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-12-18
CAMPAIGN COST is. CUT
New Law of, General Assembly Will
Materially Reduce Expenses ol
the GubernatoriaI Contest.

If the law is followed literally, ra'
coming gubernatorial campaign VII
be the most dignified that the Sta1'
has ever witnessed.
The General Assembly has put or
the statute books a primary Ia"
which begins by declaring tnat ne
candidate for any office at any pf!'
mary shall spend for any purpose
whatever larger sum than al
amount equal to is cents for every
vote cast for the candidate OF ms
party receiving the largest vote al
the past preceding gubernatoral cleo
ton within the territory, the quail
fed voters of which have the right
to vote for the office for whose noihl'
nation such person is a candidate 2t
such primary.
1t happens that Governor Stuart
being unopposed, polled the largest
vote in the last gubernatorial pri'
mary, 66,51S votes. Each candidate
for State office next August will
therefore, have the right to expend
an amount equal to 10 cents for each
Ct the G6,51S votes, or S9,977.70.
The new primary law goes furth'
er, however, and prescribes to what
purpose this money may be applied Ii
enumerates the things for which
candidates may spend money, and
then declares that mo person, in or.
der to promote or aid his nomination
to any public Office at any primary
provided for by this act, shall direct,
lv or indirectly. himself or through
some other person, give, pay, expend
or contribute any money or other valu-
able things except for expenses here
in expressly allowed and no others.
OF make any promise to any person
as a condition upon which that per-
sons vote or support is given
The permitted expenses are:
For writing, printing and prepar-
ing for trans mission letters -clrcu-
lars or advertising in newspapers
and other periodicals, whereby the
candidate states his views OIL public
questions and requests the suffrage
of voters.
For stationary, postage, telegraph
and telephone tolls and for other SIM
liar expenses.
For the expenses incurred and paid
bv tho candidate for travelling and
for purposes incidental to travelling
For the necessary expense OF mr.
inc halls or other rooms in which to
address the voters and others upon
public questions or on matters con-
corning his candidacy. For halls 10
be used as campaign headquarters.
So. determined were the lawmakers
10 Danish the older election practices
that, after enumcrating the permit
ted expenditures, they added this sec
ton:
"Any person incurring other en-
penses than those herein expressly
permitted shall be guilty of misde-
meanor, and, upon conviction, shall be
fined not less than 500 and not more
than $500. Such conviction shall dis
qualify such persons from voting OF
holding Office in this State for five
years thereafter"
Since all expenditures are prohlbi-
ted that are not expressly permitted
it appears clearly enough that the
primary campaign will be minus Gel
luloid campaign buttons from which
the candidates face smiles forth from
the folds of the American flag.
Flag-draped platforms reared out
of-doors on the village green.
Brazen bands riding high at the
head of the procession in trucks.
Fleets of automobiles scurrying tc
and from polling booths on election
day.
Posters showing "close-ups' Of the
candidates, plastered on the fences
that hide vacant lost.
Street car cards bearing the por
traits of. candidates.
Paid campaign managers ensconcet
in swivel chairs, handing out state
ments to the, press and cigars to al
enquirers after the candidates health
PolychrQme banners stretching
across busy traffic corners.