New-York tribune., 1920-08-31
Republican Fund
Explained by Hays
Many Small Contributions
Sought to Bar Any Sin
ister Influence on Party

Il =
CHICAGO, Aug. 30.-Will II. HAYS,
chairman Of the Republican National
Committee, told the Senators at the
outset of his testimony that the Re-
publican management welcomed "the
opportunity further fully to set forth
the effort of the Republican National
Committee to popularize the giving of
money for campaign purposes by get
ting small contributions from great
many men and women, thus forever
eliminating any possible opportunity
for sinister influences in connection
with money in politics."
Mr.. Hays said the Republican plan
for raising money grew out of primary
causes.
The real desire to work a real re-
form in the elimination Of any possible
improper Obligation" and because, ex-
perience in raising funds for war pur-
poses had made popular drives
familiar activity, and it seemed pos
sible to undertake that kind of action
by political organizations"
eve particularly hoped that this ac-
tivity would increase the political in
terest," he said.
Mr.. Hays explained that the plan was
proposed early in 1919 and that the
purpose had been to limit the contri-
one year from any individual or a thou
sand dollars before the nominating
convention and a thousand after.
I'VE have all tried to adhere to that
plan," he said
Method of Organization
Mr.. Hays described the organization
of a general committee of ways and
means. acting under the treasurer, to
carry the work into each state and of a
state ways and means committee, with
a man as state chairman and a woman
as ce-charman, then to endeavor to
get county chairman of ways and
means and a woman vice chairman,
and then by such processes of organ
ization as the localities might adopt.
neans and a woman vice chairman, ,
Liberty loan campaign
"The greatest publicity has been
given to the movement" he explained
because. he said. upon the acquainting
of the public Of the purpose depended
the political interest"
"As the effort progressed" the wit
ness said, tentative quotas were fixed
by the treasurer's office, all tentative
and rather as a goal-always high, Of
course. for the particular state to
drive for, and changing constantly"
Mr.. Hays went into detail as to the
methods of organizing the states and
discussed arrangements made with
both the Senatorial and Congressional
campaign committees of the party to
the end that there would be but one
money raising organization.
I'm that connection" he said, at
was understood between the national
committee and these two committees
that the collecting organization of the
national committee would help raise
the money for them, guaranteeing to
them the amounts which they thought
would be necessary for the Congress
sIonal and Senatorial campaigns.
THE campaign budget or estimate
was worked out beginning as Of July l.,
of a total amount which would be
needed for the actual campaign, and
this was S3,079, ,037.20. Of this total
S255,100 was apportioned to the peak
ers' bureau. Headquarters expense was
set at S750,824 for Washington, New
York, Boston, Chicago. Denver and San
Francisco, and rents for all headquar-
ters were estimated at S45, 5,643"
S1,346,50O for Publicity
For publicity, Sl.346,5O0 was oppro-
priated. and for miscellaneous abiects.
such as bureaus of lbs. shipping de-
partments and distribution, freight. ex-
press all travelling and other expenses
incident to raising Of money, $3.50, ,92O
was set aside.
"It is my opinion that about this
q u.jl ha
tional committee to spend" said Mr..
Hays. "There may be expenses arising,
of course, that we cannot now antici-
pate, but this is approximately the
amount that we believe necessary
This does not, Of course, include
collections for states where there is a
mutual agreement that such collecting
for state and national committee shall
be done jointly. While it makes the
total amount that passes through the
national committee treasury greater
than is spent by the national commit
tee, it gives unity Of collecting effort
that is rable, both in the saving of
time and labor, and less bother to the
one who is solicited
1T is my opinion that the total
amount which has been, and will be,
| finally collected by the Joint money
raising organizations for the use of all
state committees in their state elections
will approximate million dollars. This
is no part of the natinoal committee s
fund"
Mr. Hays then charged that the Dem
ocratic organization had planned to
raise from $5,OOO,oO0 to $4,000, 900 to
finance its Presidential campaign, and
called attention, in that connection, to
The New York World of Sunday,
August "a, 1919, reporting a meeting of
the Democratic National Executive
Committee at Atlantic City.