The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-23
S15,OO0,OO0 FUND CHARGE IS UNTRUE, HARDING DECLARES Party's Campaign Chest Contains Nothing Like the Total Named By
 Cox, Is Declaration
By Associated Press

Marion, o.. August Ex-Governor Cox's charge of a republican campaign fund of s15,000.o00 was characterized by Senator Harding today as absolute ly untrue" and perfectly ridiculous"
 Declaring he seconded cordially the challenge of Republican National Chair man Hayes to the democratic nominee to produce evidence of excessive repub- lican contributions, MT. Harding said he was not fearful of the results of any investigation of the party treasury.
 We court the fullest understanding of our funds in every respect" said the republican nominee, in commenting only are statements of excessive e3- penditures absolutely untrue, but as matter of fact, we are having difficulty in producing the funds we legitimately need to conduct the campaign as it should be conducted. Stories of a s15,- 900, 900 fund are perfectly ridiculous"
 Senator Harding added that the wave of advancing costs and the enfranchise- ment of women had raised the legiti- mate financial requirements of a na- tional campaign, but declared his party's money chest contained nothing like" the total named by his democra- tic opponent. Asked whether any of the money raised by the national com mittee before the Chicago convention would be used in the campaign, he said all had been expended by convention time,eand that in making it's arrange ments at Chicago the party treasury had been compelled to borrow some 1,jr ,rta &f z1 lars"
 The senator's attention also was called to Governor Cox's charges that the s1,000 limit fixed by republican managers had been evaded by dummy contributions.' The nominee again de- clared he would welcome any proof of the assertion and when he was asked whether the party would return money found to have been given through ssdummy' contributors. he rer1ied: I think that is rather a far-fetched hypothesis.'
 NOT TO CHANGE PLANS
 Tn discussing the added expense of carrying the campaign to the newly enfranchsed women, the candidate said his party would not change it's campaign materially on that account Person ally, he said, he expected to make no partlcufar appear TOT the votes OI the women.'
 T do not believe he declared. ''in making a distinction of appealing to either sex or to any class as such. My campaign will be directed to the citizenry of the United States, and I take the view that women come into that ctizenry on the same basis as men"
 The nominee declared he did not ex- pect enfanchisement of women change the political complication of any state," adding tKat experience in the suffrage states had shown the wisdam of his opin- ion.
 Senator Harding did not say whether in any of his four speeches during the coming week. he would make a more formal reply to the charges of the remocratis nominee. He suggested. how ever, that he considered the next move should come from Governor Cox in re- ply to the challenge for proof of his assertions.
 The first of tho senator's speeches this week will be delivered here Tues- day to a group of prominent theatrj- cal folk representing the Harding and Coolidge theatrical league. Elaborate plans have bean made to fete the visit tors, who will spend all day in Marion and will give special entertainment for the nominee on his front porch.