Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-27
INIT ON CONTRIBUTIONS
TROUBLES REPUBLICANS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE


Copyright, 1920, for The Atlanta Journal
CHICAGO, Ill, July 26.-Campa ign
finances of both the Republican and
the Democratic parties are in none
too good condition. Each side is
Handicapped by peculiar set of cir
cunstances entirely apart from the
supposed restraints which the senate
Investigating committee was expect
ed to apply this year to excessive
spending.
The Republicans are embarrassed
because, in a moment of indiscre-
ton, they committed themselves to
$1,000 as the limit of the contribu-
tions, something that not only prom
inent Republicans, but Unlocking
Democrats say is wholly imprac-
teal for a short campaign. The DEM
ocrats are affected by no such linn
its and can take any sums they
please, but Wilbur Marsh, Democratic
national treasurer, who was here to-
day, declared the Democrats would
reserve the right to refuse to accept
contributions from sources not deem
ed sufficiently disinterested.
The Democrats, however, are in
bad shape because the San Fran
cisco convention took at least $500
apiece for travel and hotel expenses
from the individual delegates, and
also delayed the organization of the
Democratic campaign committee so
that while the Republicans have been
at work for several weeks, the Dem
ocrats haven't even begun. And ev-
cry day counts. in a canvass for
funds before election day. Collect
ing money for a deficit after the
election result is once known is an
almost impossible task
q. O. p. Needs $4,000, 900
The theory behind the Republican
approach to the question of finance
is entirely different from that be-
ing adopted by the Democrats. The
Republicans are depending upon large
subscriptions up to $1,000, and they
must raise at least 100000. 1t is
much harder to get 5000 persons tc
contribute $1,000 apiece than 1t Is
to get $4,000 persons to give slot
each. for the first must be accom-
nlished by individual canvass anc
soliciting, while the second mlgn
he collected through a mail organl
zation if there were time to bu1le
ono IT isn't that 5000 Republican:
can't be found to give $1,000 eacn
hut all contributions must be mao
nublic and the art Of giving money
70 campaigns is not highly developed
excent in a small circle in both Re
publican and Democratic partles.
The best system yet devised Is tn
me the Democrats established JUS
after the close of the 1915 campaign
when they found themselves con
fronted with deficit.
Wilbur Marsh, of Iowa, treasurer
and w. D. Jameson, also, Of Iowa
director of finance, organized a reg
u,ar financial factory which d1
ro+bine but write chain letters ask
inc for small subscriptions. F1V
man would be asked 20 give SINAI
sus,x. for instance, and each request
ed to send in the names of five othe
narsons who might be interested /
contributing equal amounts. In ina
wav the Democrats have acquired
mailing list of about three hundre
thousand names. They collected l
this way nearly two million dollar
in the two years following the las
presidential election, and they cor
slider the advantages two-fold. FRS
the money comes from so many cor
tributors that there is no chance to
any individual to have dispropol
tionate hold on the successful cand
ate when he takes office, and, sex
ond the increased number of sui
scribers means an almost equivaler
number of volunteer workers on ele<
ton day.
Sorry Limit Was Fixed
The Republicans haS> mistaken
CONTINUED on Page 8, Column 81