Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-06-19
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES

CANlfAlU EAfENSES
When Senator Borah demanded congression-
81 investigation into the pre-nomination campaign
expenses of candidates for the presidency he
started something and got results he did not an
tlclpate, and owing to the insistence of Demo-
cratic senator the investigation will go on and
cover election expenses as well as nomination
expenses. Our Washington correspondent writes
us that. THE persistence of Senator Atlee Pom
creme, Democrat of Ohio, will result in an inves-
tlgation continuing through the summer and fall
of all contributions to and expenditures by cam
paign committees in behalf of presidential and
senatorial candidates. Senator Pomerene's res
olution is not partisan, but when Republican op-
position arose to it in the senate he dared Sena-
tor Smoot and other G. O. P. "Old Guardsmen"
to defeat the resolution to extend the inquiry of
the special subcommittee inQuiring into pre-con-
vention expenditures of various candidates.
"The chairman of the Democratic campaign
committee will not object and | assure you no
Democratic senator here will object" exclaimed
Senator Pomerene as the Smoot objection was
about to kill the Pomerene motion Senator
Smoot, urged by some of his Republican col
leagues who feared the consequences of such
two minutes before the senate gavel fell ending
the session.
Reviewing the work of the subcommittee of
which he was member, investigating the pri-
mary campaign expenses of various candidates.
Senator Pomerene said he regretted that it had
been shown that at least two candidates had used
excessive amounts of money to obtain the G. o.
P. nomination. He referred to Major General
Leonard Wood, whose campaign chest was shown
to exceed million and quarter dollars, and to
Governor Lowden, of Illinois, who expended more
than 100000
When Senator Smoot threatened to kill the
resolution to carry the senate investigation on
into the presidential election Senator Pomerene
uttered this warning:
II recognize the fact that it is within the
power of the majority under the rule to prevent
the final passage of this resolution. When l
presented the resolution and asked for it's consid
Grafton, the distinguished leader of the majority
(Mr. LODGE asked that it go over for day. By
reason of that fact | concluded that perhaps I
could progress somewhat more rapidly if | were
to ask to have the resolution referred to the COM
mittee to audit and control the contingent ex-
penses of the senate and the senate on my motion
which was passed without dissenting voice. re-
structions to report it back on the convening Of
the senate on this calendar day, June B.
Zone matter after another has occupied the
floor, and the distinguished chairman of that
committee did not make the report until about
2:30 this afternoon, within an hour and half
prior to the time of adjournment.
II am not deceived by these methods of pro-
cedure. I recognize the fact that the Republican
majority are determined that there shall be no
further investigation if it is possible to pre-
vent it.
Senator, let me admonish you, you dare not
strain at the gnat of parliamentary law and swal-
low the camel of the corrupt Or excessive use of
money in the politics of this country That day
is past, and without having any direct authority
from those who have offered themselves as Dem
ocratic candidates, submit that no one will rise
in the senate, or through the public prints, and
object to this investigation on their behalf.
Aye more, there has been going throughout
the length and breadth of this land for more than
two years that eminent politician, Mr. Hays, the
chairman of the Republican national committee.
Will he object to this investigation? Somebody
says Deacon" Hays. I do not know whether
that is his first name or not. But want to SUBJ
NIT that no Democratic senator here will object
to this investigation"
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