South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-10
SENATOR HARDING
WILLING TO PRINT
LIST OF EXPENSES
Presidential Can
didate Replies to Letter
of Ex-Congressman.
By LOUIS LUDLOW
(Sews-Times Washington Correspondent }


(Sews-Times Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. C., May 9.-For-
mer Representative Edward Keat-
ing, manager of the Plumb Plan
league. today received an interest
ing statement from Sen. Warren c.
Harding IN reply 10 questions as to
how his campaign is financed and
whether he would be willing TO join
In an appeal 10 congress to enact
legislation compelling all presiden-
tial candidates 10 make sworn state
ments Of contributions and expen-
ditures.
Harding Says.
Sen. Harding says:
II cannot tell you anything about
the expenditure OF money on the
part OF presidential candidates other
than myself. You have doubtless
encountered rumors Of large eNpen-
diture very much as / have. II 1
may judge from the nature of wide
spread organization in my own state
of Ohio would say that the rumOrs
of excessive expenditure are not
without foundation. 1 think myself
It is a very great misfortune that
we have drifted into a political sys-
tenn which makes il possible 10 pur-
sue such a pre-cOnventiOn program.
Il do not know that these ex-
cessive sums are expended in a man
ner such as we ordinary denominate
as corrupt. Very large outlays are
made for billboard advertising and
newspaper publicity, and the pref
erential and primary systems have
led 20 the employment of very large
numbers of political agents. OF
90 g.
give their time 20 political activities
without compensation for their time
and necessary expenses. say this
i'm fairness 10 those who are charged
with these abnormal expenditures.
though 1 very greatly deplore the
conditions into which we have late
ly drifted in these United States
Expenses to Date.
You asked me how my campaign
is financed. 1 do not know pre-
cisely how much has been expend-
ed TO date. but at last conference
held with my managers we con-
templated an expenditure approx
mating SIS. 900. I do not personally
know OF a single contribution to this
fund in excess OF $1,000. except
that subscribed by my brother-In-
law who was good enough TO send
I'm a check for two thousand / do
not believe we have a single cor
porate subscription from any source.
Thirty thousand dollars of the fund
already raised was subscribed by my
friends and neighbors in my home
city of Marion. O. I am expecting
TO make a contribution OF $1,000
myself Ii is possible that our eX-
peuditures will fall short of the sum
above named. and I could not be
sure on the other hand that the ul-
innate expenditure may somewhat
exceed this maximum which 1 have
veutured 10 quote. l am constantly
I'm touch with those who are man
aging the campaign. but l feel sure
that our expenditure is going TO be
am exceedingly limited one as COM
pared 20 those made 10y other candi-
dates can be very certain Of one
thing. our organization VIII not only
be perfectly agreeable 10 making "A
sworn statement OF expenditures but
will be glad 20 have any becoming
agency audit our accounts and know
precisely what We have done IN that
direction.
FaVors Legislation
"I quite agree with the SUgges-
tion ia your letter that there ought
TO be- some legislation relating "a
this particular question / 90 not
know what this legislation ought
20 be ln the details. The bill re-
Gently proposed by Sen. BoraE would
hardly be fair His bill would per-
NIT the expenditure Of S4S0.000, pro-
vided "a candidate desired 10 eX-
pend $4,000 in every state or the
union set such a law would be a
very limited one for me under eX-
| listing circumstances. because Of my
| essentially limiting my activities 20
two or three states other than max
ing canvass OF "A half-dozen or
more states in a very general way.
The welI-organized campaign in
Ohio Is necessitating the expenditure
| of considerably more than $4,000
in that state. and vet I have a con-
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