The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-28
Morgan and Montgomery Running Neck and
Neck Both Claim to Have Been Nominated
Woods ''Ange|" Placed
Wilson In Politics
SY DAVID IAw1ANCy,
lcopyTtEat ~ Ehs Intsllt1saesr.)

WASHINGTON. May 2I:-WtiliSm
Cooper Procter's half million d9iiaE
contribution 20 the campaign tund OF
General Wood stirred fond recollecttons
hera to-day in the minds OF the friends
Of President Wilson. who pointed out
that another half million dollars contri-
Huted Just ten years ago tnlS mohln IN
another cause had as much TO do with
sIacting woodrow wilson as any other
circumstance in his political journey 10
;he White House.
Mr. Proctor gave 100000 in 1910 to-
ward the establishment OF n graduate
school in Princeton University OF
which Mr.. Wilson was then the presi-
dent. but tho latter turned the Yitt down
because the Cincinnati soap manufac-
;urer attached certain conditions TO the
expenditure OF the money which inVoIr-
I'D the retention Of certain personnel In
the COLLEGE, Mr. Wilson argued that
gifts should come without strings at
tached and tho incident provoked such
tha, il led Mr.. Wilson reluctantly to
resign tho presidency OF the college
and accept tho Eubsrratorlal nomina-
tion which tho Democratic leaders IN
New Jersey were eager for him TO take.
Again and again that half million dol
lars has been facetlously referred 10
among Princeton mon as the first I'M
pvrtant contribution" toward Mr.. VIII
sons first campaign FOR the presidency.
rot Selfish.
Ar. SrCIer testimony III W
his expenditures for General WOOD ala
not create the Impression that he con-
tributed heavily TO the Hughes cam
paign in 1915. Cross eXamina ton on
the stand rather led TO tho conclusion
Proctor Is the kind OF a man who was
persuaded by ardent and enthusiastic
friends OF General Wood that he ought
20 use his fortune TO help advance the
candidacy OF so vigorous a character
OF course the game OF roping men
oc wealth into political campaigns -
an art IN itself and In every case the
patriotic opportunity" offered I" the
man OF means is emphasized rather
han any suggestion OF personal advan-
axe in the form OF political office. On
he other hand it has been customary
or successful candidates to the presi-
,est contributors to their campaign
funds. either in smhassadorships or
cabinet postS.
The bold action OF Governor Lowden.
~ Illinois. IN spending consiosrSn.s
i: out OF his own pocket n SNher than be
lnder obligations TO any lndivldua1 or
group Of individuals : marked con,
ras, 10 the method in which the wood
.ampaIKn has been conducted. though
the General Is not wealthy and was de-
raudent entirely upon the voluntary
.nntributions OF interested friends. The
General himself doesn't solicit cam
paign contributions. Few candidates
ever do. 1t Is when the men who get
around a prospective candidate do the
soliciting for funds that the emoarra S.
ing promises are made. Even Fresi-
dent Wilson found after the first cam
naiTn in 1872 that some OF his man
ayers had promised Jobs and certain
courses OF action OF which he had no
Suowledge with the result thar the
President-elcct met some oitted feeling
Il fa II
some OF the grudges,s still remaining.
object Of Probe.
The whole effort or the investigatinG
commitsts of the senate Is 20 sn1% tS
presidency are being backed by indiVlo-
uals or private interests who VIII naSe
a string on the next PRESIDENT or 'ns
United States. or course. there Is no
proof OF that even IN the case or tho
iargest contributions but II Is within
The power Of a congressional commit
,sa 70 spread innuendoeB just the same
rhs Kenyon investigating commlttee
.rets plenty OF publicity. The reporters
Trtend enmasse. InsinuatinE questions
which might provoke many libel sult
IL asked outside OF congress oy one IN .
riividual OF another are given the wioest
subpoenaed without a scintlla OF erii
1ence. Bernard NJ. Baruch was called
purely on the basis OF story puotsneo
in the Hearst papers TO the erect tnat
he had gotten up million aotssrs % uT.
Mr. McAdoo. II turned out that MT
Baruch swears that he dion contrloute
a cent, On the other hand the EFFORT 10
oesmirch Mitchell Palmer by the impII-
alton that he got contributions from
.oncernS that evaded their income tax
,bIIxations and were later required 10
aay millions OF dollars IN back taxes
10 the treasury Is IN effect CRITICISM
z the department OF justice which
would never have anything TO do win
pcons tax matters even though a con-
,aru were guilty OF evasion. me ao-
ninistration OF the income tax ana IN
ted all prosecutions are conducted q!
hs treasury departments law otfcers
who are only technically on the Depart
nent Of justices roster
Yolttioal smoke Screens.
The whole episode IL another m
stance OF the way consressinal com
7,Ittes can be handled ror partisan
Eontical purposes though In the pres
mt instance the effort ts entireiy IN
,pired by the Johnson followers IN the
ssnate and Is aimed rNt merely at
rsmocrats but at Republican rivals OF
senator johnson. Again and again con-
,ressional committees have conducted
nouIsitions OF tbs kind without prov
nE anything specially but rising poiti-
al smoke screens OF doubt and insinu-
,tton. The present pre-conNentlon
,ampaixn has been costlier one than
rsual but the expenditures nave oeen
Bstrihuted over moro candidates ana
,ba contests under the primary system
~. more responsible for the situation
,ban any newly developed cuptolty or
,oItlcal corruption. Most or the money
,as been spent In publicity ana ao'er-