The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-04
CAMPAIGN WILL
COST S25,0OO,0OO,
SAYS LAWRENCE
Race for President Will Be
Costly and Seasoned PoIiti-
cal Finanoiers Find Only
Amusement in Probe.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent OF the News
SclrpIfar1


WASHINGTON, June 4.--Twenty five
million dollars is the estimate of the
amount of money that probably will be
spent by all political parties in order
TO elect the next president of the United
States
This figure-considered an underesti-
mate at that-embraces every class of
expenditure not only in the national,
but In the state committees. The writer
is assured by the persons who are like
" to be in on the financing of the ma
tional campaign when the conventions
have nominated their candidates that
in all probability the national commit
tees themselves will not spend more
than few million dollars each. Indeed,
it is questionable whether the Demo-
Gratis or Republicans will show on their
official records more than $o,0o0,000
each.
But throughout the union in the states
1t is fully expected that many millions
of dollars will be spent and there is
no real way to get at the facts, be-
cause the federal government has no
jurisdiction over state elections. 1t is
in making the canvass for state officers
that money is spent for the top of the
national ticket and for congressional
Seasoned" Ones Smile.
The truth is tyat the present ,nvesti-
cation of expenditures in the primary
campaign is making the seasoned fl
nanciers of political campaigns smile,
mere half million dollars is nothing
compared to the big sums that will be
spent in these identical states and per-
haps for one of the identical candi-
dates when once the two conventions
have named their men.
Preparations are being made for the
most lavish expenditures in the history
of American political campaigns The
investigation thus far shows that large
sums of money are being spent for
publicity and advertising, but that fabu-
1ous amounts are put in the hands of
party workers Some states have
laws which limit the expenditures in
state campaigns. But the laxity of the
more populous states, where the big
electoral votes come from enables the
politician to lay his plans so that he
does not come under the jurisdiction
of the federal government.
More Inquiries Likely.
But II anybody supposes that all this
is going to happen without some spec
tacular intervention such as came in
the primary campaigns he is very much
mistaken. The senate committee may
not have mace up it's mind as to what
it win do during the summer, but it
seems certain that as soon as the con-
Ventions have chosen their men, and
an extra session OF congress is called
there win be pressure to continue the
Some Republicans have said that it
would furnish a splendid .opportnnitx
to Investigate the Democratic nominee
inasmuch as too much publicity has
already been given the financial efforts
of the various Republican aSprants for
the presidential nomination.
But 1t is hardly likely that the Demo-
Gratis, who are in possession of another
investigation branch of the government.
would let the matter rest there. If
Attorney General Palmer is not the
Democratic nominee, or If he resigns
to make the campaign and another at
rney-general Is appointed, the chances
are that the Democrats will do little
investigating, too.
Chance of Two Investigations.
What appears doubtful at the pres
ent moment is whether the two old line
parties will have a tacit truce to drop
investigating and spend all they can
to elect their respective candidates, or
whether they will continue to fight each
other through the publicity and insinu-
ations of campaign Investigations, in
which case the chances of a double
barreled Investigation conducted by the
senate committee on the one hand ana
the department of justice on the other
hand, can be said to be good.
Much will depend upon the choice of
each national convention. Maybe If the
friends of Senator Johnson are disap-
pointed and think money beat them
they will insist on pursuing the trail
no matter what effect it has on Re-
publican chances
On the other hand, Chairman Hays
and others have repeatedly limited at
large sums of money gathered by the
Democrats for the coming campaign ard
the opportunity will not be lost to keep
the controversy in the public prints
in the hope of influencing the cleo
torate next autumn.
The Investigations may check eX-
penditures for illegitimate or doubtful
purposes, but the high cost Of cam
paigning is fully realized at bOEn Demo-
cratic and Republican headquarters, so,
no matter how conservative the leaders
may try to be. they probably will find
in the end that combined thye will have
spent more to elect a president of the
United States in 1920 than in any other
year in the history of American poll
tics.
Copyright, 1920. by David Lawrence