Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-02


the effort of the Republican national com
mittee to popularze the giving of money
for campaign purposes by getting small
contributions from great many men
and women. thus forever eliminating any
possible opportunity for sinister influences
in connection with money in politics"
He said this plan for raising money
grew out of two primary clauses:
The real desire to work real reform
in the elimination of any possible i'm
proper obligation" and because expert
ence in raising funds for war PURPOSES
had made popular drives familiar activ-
ity and it seemed possible to undertake.
that kind of action by a political organi-
zation."
we particularly hoped that this activ.
ity would increase tho political interest"
he said
Mr.. HAYS explained that the plan was
proposed carly In 1919 and that the rur-
pose has been to limit the contributions
to a thousand dollars for any one year
from any individual or a thousand dol
lars before the nominating convention and
a thousand after,
we have all tried to adhere to that
plan" he said
Mr.. Hays described the organization of
q general committee Of ways and means.
acting under the treasurer.
1t was also planned, he said to have
State ways and means committee with
a man as state chairman and a woman
as Vice-chairman then to endeavor to
get a county chairman Of ways and means
and woman vice-charman. and they
bv such processes Of organization as the
localities might adopt. organize Just as In
a Red Cross and Liberty Loan campaign.
PUBLICITY SOUGHT
The erea test publicity has been given to
the movement, he said because upon the
acquaintance Of the public Of the pur-
pose depended the political interest
AS the effort progressed" he said
| tentative quotas were fixed by the treas.
urers Office. all tentative and rather as
goal-aways high, of course, for the
particular state to drive for and chang
ing constantly
Mr.. Hays went into detail as to the
methods Of organizing the States and
discussed arrangements made with both
the senatorial and congressional cam
paign committees Of the party so there
would be but one money raising organi-
cation
In that connection" he said, 'it was
understood between the national commit
tee 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 congressional and sena.
| torial campaigns"
The campaign budget or estimate was
worked out beginning as of July l. Of
! total amount which would be needed for
| the actual campaign, and this was 5000
s37 go" Mr. Hays said
| OF this total $255,1o was apportiored
| to the speakers bureau. Headquarters
expenses were set at s75n,sA for Washing
ton, New York Boston. Chicago Denver
| and San Francisco and rents for all
! headquarters We're estimated at s45,s43
For publicity. s1,34s.5Oo was appropriated
and for miscellaneous objects. such as bu-
reaus or clubs, shipping departments and
, distribution freight express. all travel
| ing and other expenses incident TO raising
Of money $3.50 go was set aside.
NOTHING FROM CORPORATIONS
Senator Kenyon asked Mr.. HAYS If the
committee had received any contributions
| from corporations.
| No the witness said.
You estimate then that the campaign
will cost about 5000 900
Yes but that includes more than 81 ,OoO.
ono spent In State campaigns ana assigned
to the States"
Have any men Of large means been
consulted regarding a plan for under
writing the Republican Campaign" Mr.
Reed asked.
NO we have borrowed some money hut
nothing else has been done"
That is straight loan"
Yes"
Have you heard Of any promises o,
| agreements with anyone whereby thew
will receive any favors in event of the
Republican victory" Mr.. Reed continued
No"
Have you heard of the Democratic
party making any promises to anyone"
We'll, there is the statement about the
British ambassador contributing to Mr.
Cox's campaign and I have heard a lo'
OF rumors by irresponsible persons IL
which have taken no particular stock"
CHARGES AGAINST DEMOCRATS
Mr.. Hays then charged that tn,
Democratic organization had planned tt
raise from S5.0O0.000 to sl0,000.0o0 Il
finance its presidential campaign ant
called attention, in that connection t
the New York World of Sunday. Au
gust "a. 1919, reporting a meeting o
mittee at Atlantic City.
He said this account quoted w. d
Jameson of the Democratic nationa
convention as telling OF plans to II
nance the 1920 campaig by campai 81
fund of from $4,000 900 to 100000
There viii be about 1900, 900 new
voters to be reached, and the cost o
campaign materials and operations will
be much greater than it was in 1916
When the party spent S2,5oO,0O0 to re
elect President Wilson" the newspape
account said
Mr.. Jameson was formerly Democra
tic Congressman from Iowa and wa
associated with Leo C. Marsh In tn
financial end of the 1916 campaign.
A similar article from the New Yorl
Times of August "a, 1919, was quoted anc
Hays then offered an excerpt from thu
! New York Tribune October 26. 1913, which
said that wv. ID. Jameson. director o.
: finance of the democratic national com
mittee has underway a colossal plan t.
raise funds"
, This article said that business men whS
contributed to the Wilson campaign funo
} In 1912 and 1916 and federal employees hac
received letters,
2 ITO some ii was suggested that 800
would be suitable contribution for thu
start of the 1920 campaign" the news
paper says.
Also we advised of the continuing &C
tivities of the opposition In their 1918 SO
Letting machinery" said Mr.. Hays witt
. very large Offices In the Bond building a