The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-31
Senate Committee Unable
To Trace Campaign Funds
Chairman Hays of Republican
National Committee Admits
Wanting Five Millions.
CUMMINGS TAKES STAND
Former Chairman of Democra-
tic Committee Says Three
Millions Would Be Enough.
fsy Associated Press. J

O0lCdBO, aug. OU.-AI 6XLeHQeQ e4-
animation today of VIII H. Hays. chair
man Of the Republican national COM
mittee, and Homer Cummings, former
chairman Of the Democratic national
committee, by the senate committee
Investigating campaign expenditures
failed to throw any light on the Si5,-
100000 fund which Governor Cox charg-
ed the Republican party was seeking
y raise in an attempt to corrupt the
American electorate and buy the presi-
dency."
Outstanding points developed includ-
ed testimony by Hays that the Re-
publican national committees budget
for the presidential campaign called for
an expenditure of $3,079,000, and a
declaration by Cummings that, allow
Ing for increased cost Of printing cleri-
cal hire, rents, transportation and all
necessaries Of a national campaign, a
national committee should be able to
stage fair, decent and stiff campaign
with reasonable publicity" for S2,000.-
600.
Chairman Hays also testified that the
Republican national committee was
seeking to raise approximately mill
lion dollars to be donated to state com
mittees for their local campaigns,
making q total of slightly more than
S3.0000O0 In the Republican campaign
chest for all purposes. Cummings de-
clared he believed this amount excess
slye and pointed to the 1916 campaign.
saying he learned in his home state OF
Connecticut, that the Republicans spent
S250000, which he considered too much
for a commonwealth of that size. "If
Ia
he said, you get accumulated expen-
diture which In itself is outstanding
evidence OF corrupt purpose. / suggest
this Is Just what is going to happen to |
the Republicans this year."
Mr.. Hays told thd senators at the
outset Of his testimony that the Re
publican management welcomed the
opportunity further to fully set forth
the effort Of the Republican national
committee to popularize the giving OF
money for campaign purposes by get
ting small contributions from a great
man men and women, thus forever
eliminating any possible opportunity
for inslster influences in connection |
with politics."
He said this plan for raising money
grew out Of two primary causes.
"The real desire to work a real re- |
form In the elimination of any possible
improper obligation" and because. ex-
perience in raising funds for war pur-
poses had made popular drives ''famil- |
lar activity" and it seemed possible TO
undertake that kind Of action by a po-
litical organization.
Mr.. Hays explained that the plan was
proposed early in 1919 and that the
purpose has been to limit the contri-
buttons to $1,000 for any one year from
any individual, or $1,000. before the
nominating convention and $1,000 after.
we have all tried to adhere to that
PLAN" he said
Senator Kenyon asked Mr.. Hayes If
the committee had received any con-
tributlons from corporations.
"No," the witness said
You estimate then. that the cam
paign VIII cost about S5000,OO0?e
Yes, but that includes more than
siOo0,0O spent in state campaigns and
assigned to the state"
Mr.. Hays then charged that the
Democratic organization had planned
to. raise from 100000 to $4,000 600 to
finance its presidential campaign and
the New York World OF Sunday. Aug
ust "a, 1910, reporting a meeting Of |
the Democgtaie national executive
cammittee at Atlantic City. He said
Wis account quoted wv. D. Iamiesonn
OF the Democratic national committee
campaign by a campaign fund of from
s5o0o.o0o to st0o00,0O0
A similar article from the New York
Times OF August "a, 1919, was quoted
and he then offered an excerpt from
the New York Tribune of October PC.
1919, which said W. ID. Jameson, diree-
tor OF finance for the Democratic ma
lional committee has under way a CO.
lossal plan to raise funds"
Senator Reed said newspaper arti-
eles offered by Mr.. Hays were more
than year old and already in the COM
mlttees files.
Mr.. Hays finally offered three news
paper clippings reporting an alleged
Democratic plan TO raise Si0.000.O00
without putting them in the record
and suggested that Clarence B. Miller.
secretary OF the Republican national
committee. who. he said. had investi-
gated the reports. be subpoenaed. The
committee agreed.
Senator Reed and Mr.. Hays clashed
when the Republican chairman charged
Democratic party with misusing
government funds In It's campaign. The
Missouri senator demanded the source
OF Mr.. Hays Information and was re-
ferred to the speeches OF Senator Smoot |
Of Utah In the senate as reported in |
49, Conversational Record