Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-07-13
M'ADOO fAvORS THE
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Also Suggests Campaign Expenses Be
Met by Government as Way to
Purify Politics; Contributors
Hope for Big Returns.


NEW YORK, July 12.-William G.
McAddo, speaking at the dinner of the
National League of Masonic Clubs
here last Friday night, declared:
There is no menace so great to our
nation as the corrupt use of money
for campaign purposes.
II was secretary of the treasury
for six years, and know the harm
that is done by the misuse of money
in this way" he said. 81 am not
talking about republicans alone. but
democrats as we'll, for they all look
alike to me when they are guilty of
spending money in the manner indi-
Gated"
Mr.. McAdoo declared campaign con-
tributors would seek their reward in
various ways, one of which was the
reduction of duty on imports. He
pointed out that a fraction of cent
reduction would run into big figures.
Mr.. McAdoo said that "as an Ameri-
can citizen seeking nothing" there
were some things about the coming
election he would like to refer to-
The appointment of the Senate COM
mittee to investigate campaign expen-
ditures, he declared, was one of the
"few intelligent things the Senate
ever did
There is one thing America can
never stand for" he continued, "and
that is the purchase of the presidency
of the United States"
Would Have Government Pay 1t.
in my opinion. the election law
should be changed" he said. "The ex-
penses for running the national elec-
tions should be paid out Or the ma
tional treasury, and II this were done
the cost would be infinitely less. 1t
would be reduced One-fifth. The
money would be taken from the fed
eral treasury and the law should pre-
scribe specifically how the money
should be spent. II such step were
taken it wiuld to a great extent purify
our laws.
1T would then be out of the ques-
ton to pass laws for crooked politi-
clans who have to be repaid in some
way for the moneys they have ad'
vanced for some candidates cam
paign."
He urged nationwide presidential
primary, at which nominees would be
selected without the aid of political
bosses.
IF contributor to a national cam
paign," Mr. McAdoo said, we're able
to obtain the remission of fraction
Of one cent on the duty on particular
article in which he was interested, he
might receive in return for his cam
paign contribution 10 times, SO times,
possibly even 1000 times the amount
he had subscribed"
Declares Primaries Disgrace
The presidential primaries in vari-
GUS states during the recent campaign
he declared, were a disgrace to the
nation. He proposed that nominations
be made in the national conventions
by plurality vote, instead of the two
thirds vote of the democrats and the
majority vote of the republicans. To
make this successful. he asserted. ma
tional politics must first be purified.
"The nominee must be the nominee
of tn people. not of the bosses" Mr
McAdoo said. 1.-The nominee OF the
future must not be the selection OF
bossed convention. The delegates must
really represent the people, so that
the candidate can go forward and
make a fight for the people"
Mr.. McAdoo said the only method
Of preserving peace is the adoption OF
league of nations, and sooner or
later America will see it in its proper
light.
In order to stabilize conditions in
the central powers 1t is necessary ne
r asserted, to aid in curbing economic
boycotts directed against those ma
, tions. This would also serve to pro
mote domestice tranquility.
; Let us all remember" he added
1--we have a constitution. and all Amer
ica reyerses it, even wit hthe eight
eenth amendment We love the
r American constitution and We accept
3 it."