The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-06
ENORMOUS FUNDS TO BE
 RAISED FOR CAMPAIGN

Washington, January 5-(Special )-Like the cost of everything else. politics will "come nigh this year. and the indica- tions are that the American people and the American corporations will be called upon to pony up in a sum never be- fore demanded.
 Col William Royce Thompson of Wash ington, has been designated by the re- publican national committee. chairman of the ways and means committee. This means that Colonel Thompson will raise the sinews of war. It is understood that he has already assessed the several states, New York, with lump sum of $2,00o coo. leading all tho rest Colonel Thompson IS a very rich man. Sometime ago, without batting an eye, he gave s1,000,0o0 of his own funds t. the American Red Cross.
 And he will give as much to the G. O.
 F. organization But though he stars as a giver, he shines as a collector. if the re-
 ports are true. At any rate, it is said that the republicans will not be lacking fer funds when Colonel Thompson makes his report.
 Nevertheless and despite the demo- cratic charges that the republicans will have a magnificent and unprecedented
 'slush' fund-it is admitted that neither
 of the great political parties will tap
 the American people as heavily as the
 Anti-Saloon league That organization, de-
 spite the fact that the war is over, and prohibition is written in the constitution from where it would require a revolution to dislofge it, is demanding S25, 600 900, of which Alabama must contribute $15O,O0.
 It is believed in Washington, where the Anti-Saloon league is not as seriously Or as loftilv regarded as it is in Kansas and Maine, that ire organization is of the opinion that now is the psychological mo- ment for making a last touch" and that
 as result, the last should be a healthy one.
 The republicans are making grievons charges against the democrats. The re- publicans, as a matter of fact, state that they will not ask for more than $5,00o,OOo but democrats contend that they will de- mand ot their corporations at least four times IS much-whereas it is their charge that democrats, headed by such pro ducers'' as Tom Taggart and Barney Ba- i ruch. will gatf-er a sum of Sl0VO,O0 The republicans, through their publicity, in- timate that the democrats have some i thing on, the corporations which became so enormously rich as result of profteer- ing or taking practical advantage of their l opportunities 6Iring the war, and that these corporations cannot avoid such a
 Shaking down" as never before occurred in the history of the United States. 1 At any rate, whether the charges di- l rected against all parties are true or other-
 wise, there is no question but that for po- 1 litical purposes more money will be spent i this year than was ever spent A very close student of political affairs estimated 1 for tie corresnondept of this newspaper
 today that the democrats, republicans and l Anti-Saioon leaguers would jointly de- mand q minimum toll of $50000,0o He ex- pressed belief n the probability that the sum would be as large as $5,000000. l In addition, all other organizations, in- 1 cludilg the socialists, the reds, the l. w Ws will attempt to make a showing.
 and showing in this day is expensive The labor organizations have already | boasted that they woud have $2.00000
 with which to defeat all members of Con.
 sress who supported the Esch and the