New-York tribune., 1920-05-28
Pre-Convention Funds

relations to the Wood candidacy, de-
claring that he has furnished $780,
600, is to be congratulated on his
candor. 1t is not surprising to
learn that he emerged from a par
tisan cross-eXamination with the
respect of his inquisitors. He per-
suaded them that his sole interest
was patriotic one-that he so be-
lieves in the public desirability of
the election of General Wood that to
advance this he has gladly given a
considerable part Of his private
fortune.
Surely an upright, honest gentle
man and loyal and devoted friend.
Is it strange that, wishing to do
something for his generation, he
opened his pocket to persuade his
fellow citizens to share his beliefs =?
His motives are not dissimilar to
those controlling other millionaires
when they endow colleges and hos
pitfalls, making gifts which are
praised rather than criticized.
If Colonel Proctor may be congrat-
ulated, both he and General Wood
may be felicitated on the fact
that every penny of the expendi-
lures, so far as care and a good
intent could provide, went for legiti-
mate purposes. No hint of corrup-
ton is heard. 1t is conceded that
the total outlay was to secure pub
lcity-70 per cent directly SO and 80
per cent indirectly through mainte-
nance of headquarters, to carry on a
widespread educational work.
But the mere fact that one man
committed himself so heavily will
be widely used in efforts to weaken
General Wood. A strong prejudice,
a survival of days when campaign
funds were' crooked, exists against
the use of money for any purpose in
politics. 1t is easy to re-arouse old
suspicious and to galvanize into re-
newed life old assumptions.
Nor can it be said that the pre-
judice is wholly unjustifed. Cen
eral Wood and Colonel Proctor
would be the last to defend large
funds as abstractly desirable. 1t
would be better, infinitely better, if
every citizen were SO instructed as
to need no quickening and so care
full follower of public events as
not to need to attend public meet
ings and to be enlisted by solicita-
ton. The ideal is for Presidential
candidate to be as inactive as was
Washington.
But the present is an era of ad-
vertising, and an unadvertised arti-
Gle, no matter what its merits, is
little called for. During the last
decade we have changed the method
Of bringing about Presidential nomi-
nations. The primary system has
been established, and to have a
chance, except under the most ex-
ceptlonal conditions, before a jury
of millions it is essential to argue
the case before its scattered men,
bers. AS regular campaign funds are
unacceptable consequences of uni
yersal franchise, so pre-convention
funds are unacceptable consequences
of the primary.
Formerly, when nominations were
in the hands of comparatively few
weli-lnformed amateurs and profes-
sionals, there was corruption, al
though the expenditures were rela-
lively small. But we were not salts
fed with this system, and now it
may almost be said the only way to
energlze general primary participa-
ton is for committees to become ac-
tive. Except for the activity of can
dldates. it is probable the primary
would become farce and cease to
function.
y General Woods committee has
spent more than the others, it would
seem, because it has covered more
states. 1t has tried to reach she
whole nation, while other commit
tees have restricted their labors to
particular states Considering the
scope Of the work done, the Wood
S1,000,000 is no more than the Low
den s414,000. Indeed, it is striking,
taking all the candidates. of both
parties, how close it comes to cost
ing $1.25 to muster q favorable vote
on primary day.
Whether the law should limit pre-
expenditures to a pre-
scribed amount per capita is a moot
question. But before considering it
there is need to decide the prelim-
mary issues of whether we should