New-York tribune., 1920-06-04
The Fund Fiasco

ne Z una E1aSCO
No facts are at hand to throw
doubt on Governor Lowden's dis
claimer Of knowledge or responsible
ity for the Missouri expenditures in
his behalf, whose illegitimacy he ad-
mits. His reputation of the infect
ed delegates may be taken as sim
cere.
Nor is there denial of the need
of LEGISLATION against the evils Incl
dent to primary system which sell
dom functions without costly pub
licity. The Governor, after remark.
ing that the vice inheres in present
methods of political solicitation, apt
" says: Congress should clearly de.
fine the purpose, limit the amount
and force an accurate disclosure,
under proper penalties, of the source
Of all contributions and to whom
paid and for what purposes spent" "
Dismissing the disclosures involv-
ing him, the Governor, or at least his
friends, seem justly criticizable on
another ground. They egged on an
investigation more directed to injur-
ing General Wood than to purifying
politics
The World, having failed to divide
the Republicans by its Hoover ven~
ture, cast about for another partisan
device Why not scandalize General
Wood?
The advertising being done in
thirty or more states cost money.
Why not invent a story of a mil
iOnaire dinner where occurred an
underwriting Of a Million Dollar
Fund? Senator Borah, veteran Of
many primary campaigns and often
the beneficiary of the gifts of ad-
mirers, took fire and set out to help
his friend Senator Johnson. The
virtuous Hearst also quickly became
infamed. Governor Lowden main
tanned a smiling silence that was al
most snicker. Why worry when
the halloo was raised and General
Wood was the game?
But the feet that spread the mud
or assisted in its spreading have
become gummed in it. Governor Low
den, proportionate to the population
where his work went on, has spent
more than was spent for General
Wood. The same is true of Senator
Johnson From the Democratic, side
there comes a similar story. Con-
siderine the amount of work visibly
done, the Wood fund is the least
suspicious of all, and the inquiry
which was to undo the general has
reacted in his favor
The smelling quest from it's be-
ginning has itself reeked of dema-
gogy, partisanship and contemplate
politics. It has been insincere and
hypocritical. It's promoters were
not alarmed for imperiled virtue
but eager to Kill off Wood-to bring
his career Of high honor to a dis
graceful end.
Lovers Of fair play have beer
naturally indignant. Making allow
ance for the area covered, the pop
ulation addressed and the general
worl. done, the Wood campaign fund
seems The smallest of all. Wher
it costs something Ike S50O,0O0 tt
serd circular to each of the Re
publican voters Of the country g
eroes expenditure Of million is
not hcary. The anti-Wood maneu-
,ver Nas engineered by those who
thought popular prejudices could be
sreae fully played on. SO Borak
aaa Hearst and Tile World bucklec
on ire agmor Of giant killers anc
pro eated themselves as mounters
o9 lhe bcaas.alk leading to his horric
abole
Primary abuses are to be attacked
along lie iacs sketched by Governor
LoNden. Bat nov is a poor time TX
attack the problem. investigated
arc 'nen ard cannot escape bias wher
raeties &, contest. No wonder
seaa.or Fdgc is impelled to resigr
from the conmittcc, because unwill
ing longer 70 countenance rank fac
tionalsn and unfairness.