Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-09-01
As 10 Campaign Flu nds.

As 10 NampalRu u nus.
We do not think the people will await
with great deal Of interest the outcome
n the investigation into the subject of
campaign funds now being conducted at
Chicago by subcommittee of the United
States senate. There is no reason TO
doubt they have already reached an IN
telhgent conclusion. and that is: The
national committees of both parties will
raise all the money they can and spend 1t
IN the manner they consider most adj
vantagcous in respect Of results.
The country also knows that Governor
Cox. by the revelations he made in his
speech 40 Pittsburg, last Thursday night,
stirred a hornets nest by exposing the
adopted plan Of the Republican National
Committee He quoted verbatim from
an official circular issued by the collection
director Of the committee, in which quotas
were assigned 10 a total Of more than eight
million dollars, distributed among nifty
one cities Of twenty-seven States, which
certainly would mean more than Governor
Coxs estimate of fifteen millions when
extended over the entire country. And
the public knows how persistently and
repeatedly, in this sfhcial circular. the
canny director Of contributions employed
the potent admonition: But. boys, get
the money! That was his first considera-
ton.
That Chairman Hays Of the Republican
National Committee and his official as
socistes viii do all in their power TO dis
count the discriminating effects of this
startling revelation is only natural, but
they will labor in vain. Already they stand
indicted before the people, and conviction
by the verdict Of fair and honest public
opinion is an absolute certainty.
In the course of his inconclusive testi-
uony Of denial before the Senate sub-com-
mittee, Chairman Hays admitted the
probability Of a campaign fund Of between
three and four million dollars. He said it
might even 20 to FIVE millions. of which
amount one million dollars was TO be ap-
portioned among the States.
Here we have an element Of very i'm
portant interest 10 the people Of Della
ware: In the distribution Of this probable
campaign fund Of one million dollars
among the States. what sum will be ap-
portioned 10 the State Of Delaware?
We still have lively recollection Of
visit made TO this city by Chairman Hays
IN the eve OF the election two years ago,
and MS conference with local Republican
eaders, fer the announced purpose of
looking over the situation" Soon after
ms departure the Republican. National
Committee-upon his recommendation it
Is no injustice to assume-gave the very
large sum Of s3s, 900 for use in Delaware.
At that time all the campaign measures
involving legitimate expenditure had been
attended 70, and there was nothing left
but the important work Of getting out
the registered Republican vote on cleo
tion-day. not a costly operation by any
means. Why, therefore, was it deemed
necessary, or even advisable, to send $685.
900 to the Republicans Of Delaware at
that time?
What was done with that money-or
most Of its no secret. IL was mainly
employed in Sussex county in buying
votes The election debauchery there
upon that occasion was said to be the
most degrading and reprehensible ever
known in the long and humiliating history
Of vote-buying in Sussex county.
As a result Of that debauchery Of the
ballot in Delaware at the election of
1918, with money furnished by the Rer
publican National Committee Republi-
can United States Senator and Republi-
can Representative in Congress were
elected. instead Of a Democratic Senator
and Democratic Representative, who
would have been chosen had this vile
debauchery been eliminated. This Re
publican United States Senator. thus elect
cd by money, together with Senator New
berry Of Michigan, also elected by the
lavish use Of corruption money and now
providing the corruption funds, constitute
the marrow margin of two votes by which
the Republican party controls the Senate
II the United States Unpurchased cleo |
lion verdiets would have left that body
n control Of the Democratic party by |
two majority
Now, Chairman Hays; now. Republican