Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-05-26
THE DOODLE QUIZ.


troduced his resolution calling for senatorial
investigation into the primary election expen-
ditures of the various candidates for the presl-
dency. Not that it is any surprise to thinking
men that large sums of money were spent. There
are 48 states in the Union and if any adequate
campaign were put up for candidate in state
of ordinary size it would cost about $4,000 or
$4,000 to cover the expenses of speakers, halls
publicity and advertising, even if every dollar
was carefully spent in legitimate way. If all
the witnesses examined by the senate investi-
eating committee up to date told the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, Governor Lowden
spent more money than any of the other candi-
dates in the furtherance of his candidacy. How
ever, the managers for General Wood were rath-
er reticent about his expenditures. There will
be more evidence later, it is said about the Wood
DOODLE Also the Johnson Doodle. The Johnson
managers in the east admitted spending $6S,1
but did not know about the California expendl-
lures. One significant donation of $500 to the
johnson campaign came from the notorious Boss
Finn of Pittsburgh. Another Pennsylvania man,
r. B. Strausburger, donated $27,0 900 to the john
son Doodle fund. But while Governor Lowden' s
manager admitted the expenditure of $404,-
94848, he stated that all but $35,S25 of this sum
was contributed by the governor himself, and
that he had advised them to stop begging money
for his use politically, preferring to foot the bills
himself. That gives us rather better opinion
of Governor Lowden than though he hid behind
friendly contributions as Johnson and Wood
have DONE AS matter of fact, most men who
have any considerable knowledge of the way
111y Irpo1 hot
the large bulk of the contributions fall into two
classes. One comes from big corporations who
are practically blackmailed out Of the money,
often by opposing candidates or political par
ties. The other class comprise rich men or po-
itical aspirants who expect to get something
for themselves in event of the success of the
man they back with their money. Where can
didate puts up his own political Doodle we think
it nothing to his discredit as compared with the
ordinary way of raising such money-rather the
contrary.
The only Democrat so far investigated is Gov
ernor Cox of Ohio and he spent $4,000 in his
home state, which was really piker sum when
compared to the Wood and Harding expenditures
in that state. However, we have no doubt we
will hear more later about Democratic expendi-
lures, though the real interest centers around
the Republican candidates, particularly Wood
Johnson and Lowden. These three are the lead
ers in delegates and also doubtless the leaders
in cash expenditures. One Of the surprises of
the investigation was that Senator Poindexter
of Washington spent $4,000 to secure delegates
AS he had no strength outside of his state and
has apparently little chance to be nominated it
is rather surprising that he had to spend that
amount. It seems that Poindexter had two gen.
erous angels. both in the east. A New York
City banker put up $4,000 for him, and ship
builder in Brooklyn put up $4,000 for him
What was behind these big donations does not
yet appear.
The public have more interest in the individ-
ual contributing than they have in the size OF
the campaign fund. None of them, so far as the
evidence discloses or is likely to disclose, amount
to sum that could be considered dangerous
when spread over many states. But the public
naturally and in most cases justly suspect that
where great sums are contributed by private in.
dividuals they have some selfish interest in the
candidacy of the man they are supporting at SC
large an expense. Of course this may not be
always so. Some people are willing to give large
ly out of personal vanity and expect nothing in
return except the qualification of that personal
vanity But when a man with the record OF
Boss Finn of Pittsburgh puts up large sun
for the Johnson campaign in the east it causes
one to reflect that he is charged with having
made great fortune out of politics, and to won
der how he expects to realize on this particular
investment.
A MANDATE FOR ARMENIA