Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-05
S25,OOO,0O0 TO Be
SPENT ON ELECTION,
LAWRENCE ASSERTS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright, 1920, for The Atlanta Journall
WASHINGTON, June 3.-Twenty-
five million dollars is the estimate
of the amount of money that prob
ably will be spent by all political
parties in order to elect the next
president of the United States.
This figure, considered an underes-
innate at that, embraces every class
of expenditure not only in the ma
tional but in the state committees.
The writer is assured by the persons
who are likely to be in on the f1nanc-
ing of the national campaign when
the conventions have nominated their
candidates that in all probability the
national committees themselves will
not spend more than a few million
dollars each Indeed, it. is question
able whether the Democrats or Re
records more than 100000 each.
But throughout the union in the
states it is fully expected that many
millions of dollars will be spent and
there is no real way to get at the
facts because the federal government
has no jurisdiction over state cleo
tions. 1t is making the canvass Tor
state officers that money is spent for
the top of the national ticket and for
congressional candidates.
The truth is that the present invas-
LEGATION of expenditures in the prl-
mary campaign is making. the sea-
soned financiers of political cam
paigns smile. A mere half million
dollars is nothing compared to the
big sums that will be spent in these
Identical states and perhaps for one
of the identical candidates when once
the two conventions have named their
men.
More Investigations Coming
Preparations are being made for
the most lavish expenditures in the
history of American political cam
paigns. The investigation thus far
shows that large sums of money are
spent for publicity and advertising
but that fabulous amounts are put
in the hands of party workers"
Some states have laws which limit
the expenditure in state campaigns.
But the laXity of the more populous
states where the big electoral votes
come from enables the politicians to
lay his plans SO that he does not
come under the jurisdiction of the
But if dy supposes that all
this is going to .ADpen without some
spectacular intervention such as
came in the primary campaigns he
is very much mistaken.
The senate committee may not
nave up us IIIllu WAdI IL w III
do during the summer. but it seems
certain that as soon as the conven-
lions have chosen their men and an
extra session of congress is called
there will be pressure to continue
the investigation. Some Republicans
have said that it would furnish
splendid opportunity to investigate
the Democratic nominee in as much
as too much publicity already has
been given the financial efforts of
the various Republican aspirants for
the presidential nomination. But it
is hardly likely that the Democrats
who are in possession of another in
yestigation branch of the govern
ment would let the matter rest there.
If Attorney General Palmer. is not
the Democratic nominee Or if he re-
signs to make the campaign and an
other attorney general is appointed,
the chances are that the Democrats
will do a little Investigating too.
To Spend Big Sums
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 con-
tinue to fight each other through the
publicity and insinuations of cam
the chances of a double-barreled in
vestigation conducted by the senate
committee on the one hand and 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
il the friends of Senator Johnson are
disappointed and think money heat
them, they will insist on pursuing
the trail no matter what effect it has
on Republican chances. On the 9th
er hand. Chairman Hays and others
have repeatedly limited at large sums
of money gathered by the Democrats
for the coming campaign and the, OPP
portunity will not be lost to keep the
controversy in the public prints in
the hope Of influencing the electoral
next autumn.
The Investigations may check
expenditures for illigetimate or
doubtful purposes but the high cost
Of campaigning is fully realized at
both Democratic and Republican
headquarters so no matter how con-
servative the leaders may try to be,
they probably will find ir. the emo
that all combined will have spent
more to elect a president of the
United States in 1920, than in any
other year in the history of American
politics.
How to Heal Leg Sores