The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-27
Both Parties Facing
Difficulties In the
Campaign Finances
By DAVID LAWRENCE
tcopy-tGhs By The IntelltEeneor.D

chleaso, M. July 2s-campa!gn
finances OF both the Republican and the
Democratic parties are in none TOO
good condition. Each side Is handt-
capped by q peculiar set OF clrcum-
stances entirely apart from the sup
posed restraints which the senate In
veSttSatlng committee was expected TO
apply this wear 10 excessive spending.
The Republicans are embarrassed be-
cause in . moment OF tndlscrclon theE
committed themselves to ono thousand
dollars as, tho limit Of the contriou-
,'ons. something that not only proInl-
nent Republicans, but onlCoktuS Demo
Gratis say IS wholly impractical for
affected by no such limits and can take
any sums they please. but Wilbur
Marsh. Democratic National treasurer
who was here today. declared the
refuse to accept contributions from
sources NOT deemed sufficiently disin-
terested. The Democrats. however. are
in bad shape because the San rrancls-
co convention took at least $500 Apiece
for travel and hotel expenses from the
individual delegates and also delayed
the organization Of the Democrat'c
campaign committee so that while the
Republicans hay" been at work for sew
eral weeks. The Democrats haven't even
begun. And every day counts IN a
canvass for funds before election day.
Collecting money for deficit after the
most impossible task.
Must Raise IS, 100000.
Tho theory behind the Republican ap-
oroach to the question OF finance ts
entirely different from that being
adopted by the Democrats. The Re-
puolicans are depending uron large
subscriptions up 10 one thousand dol
lars and they must raise At least I'VE
million dollars. II Is much narGer 10
get Ave thousard persons 10 contribute
one thousand dollars ap!rc" than = -
to get fifty thousand persons 10 give
one hundred dollars each. for IN" trst
must be accomplished by individual
canvass and soliciting. while The sec
ord might De collected through mail
"rgan!zatlon = there were time TO
build one. r 'snt that i've thousand
Republicans cNu't hC found 20 give one
thousand dollars cGch. hut all contriou-
tions must =" mad" public and the art
highly fevclorcd except n Il small cir
clc in both Republican and Democratic
parties.
The has. SyStC'N y"t devised Is the
0ne the Democrats established Jus:
after the close pf the 1915 campaign.
when they fHUni themselves confronted
with a deficit
w D. Jameson. also "f Iowa. director
of finance organized reCulnr financial
factory which dld nothing but write
rha!n letters asking for small subscrip-
small sums fer instance. ana each re-
quested to send In the names OF fve
pthcr persons who might be interested
In contributing equal amounts. In that
yav the Democrats have acquired
mailing list OF about three hundred Z
thousand names. They collected IN this
way nearly two million dollars in tn"
,yyo years following the Ias!- -Fr~-'dcr-
t'"l election. and they consider NO I'D
vantaEes two-E"'d. First The money
comes from so mani contributors that
I. .hDv 20 irNl l. ~, a 20
have isprOrortiouate hold on the
successful caudidste when he takes Of
Ace, and second. III" increased number
~ subscribers means an almost equ!va-
lcnt number Ot volunteer workers on
Paid wortmen.
The Republicans have mistakenly
educated organizHt tIOns in some OF popu-
.loGs states 10 pay their workers and 1t
- difficult 10 switch from a paid to q
volunteer basis In few places where
nave acquired a powerful influence tho
same system OF paying workers Oh
,a!ns. but generally speaking neither
political party could AFFORD 10 buy tho
services ~ many workers on election
day without suhJecctnE themselves TO
cmbarra SSments.
So there ar" RcuuhI:cans who wish
rheIr party had adopted the policY OF
asking FOR small subscriptions and at
the Same time had placed no limit OF
ono thousand dollars. For the Demo
Gratis get both tho small and the large
subscriptions. In some quarters here
Il Is predicted that by the time October
arrives. the Republicans will have TO
confess that the one, thousanr dollar
limit isn't getting results and that
general appeal for funds or any size
.arge or small with the right ~ reject
contributions from sources not constd-
red dIstntcr"sted Will hayH {" h" made
Federal Laws weak.
or course, federal laws are very weak
WITH respect o. campaign fnan~-H and
there are plenty ~ WAYS or certifying
,ha, only i've million dollars has heen
spcut BY 2 national party when, total
II i've and six times that sum may
have hncn. expended by stat" commit
,aas who do no, have to make their con-
tributions publ" ~ even certify to
hem. II Is q ralr estimate that the
rntloral campaign committees Of the
Democrats and the Republicans respec-
lively VIII run NJ hills ot At least six
milton dollars each before they can
ge, through with the present campaign
But In the effort 10 elect senator's
r"nr"ssntatjv"s. governors and state
.Ttrials millions Will be spent I'm tho
interest Of the party" within the state
which need never be revealed in 4 GER
t!aCatc oc national campaign expenses
Both the Republicans and the Demo-
Crats OF tho national committees are
getting ready 70 make public weekly or
Seml-wCPkIy, it necessary. all Contribu-
lions No sensations need be expected
for with the Republicans limiting their
funds 10 thousand dollars and the
Democrats cHutCrlrg all th"!r efforts on
small contributors. the two campaign
committees probably will struggle along
during the next few months and wake
up with deficits on the day after e!"':-
tion.
Already there are murmurs about the
high cost OF travel for speakers. the
high cost Of advertising and publicity
and the fact that whereas party work.
" would give all his time in the old
days for five dollars 2 day. hN wouldn't
leave hts Job now FOR less than ten or
Arteen dollars a day 10 stand around
he nolls and coax voters 10 vote
light" With women voting. moreover
tho work will have 10 be largely one OF
education through public speeches and
written word instead OF the individual
canvass OF other years.
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