Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-14

Statements of primary election expenses have
been filed by the several candidates. AS usual, the
reported expenses vary. In no reported case 40 the
expenses appear to be excessive. AS is pointed out
in the Bismarck report, the reports cannot well be
compared, as some include amounts paid tor adver-
Using in the publicity pamphlet while others do not.
Mr.. Baker. the candidate for the Nonpartlsan
league for the Republican nomination for governor,
reports no expense whatever, explaining that the
cost of advertising his candidacy in the publicity
pamphlet, as we'll as all other expenses connected
with his campaign, were betrayed by the Nonparti-
san league.
That statement is quite proper and satisfactory,
as far as it goes. But we take it that the purpose
Of the law requiring the publication of election ex-
penscs was intended to convey information to the
public, not merely as to the sums spent by the indi-
vidual to promote his own candidacy, but as to the
total amount spent in his interest by persons acting
for or in association with him. In other words, the
intent of the law seems to be not SO much to inform
the public how much money Mr.. Baker spent, but
how much money was spent in the direct promotion
of his campaign.
Unless the law does require this it is defective,
and it might as we'll not have been enacted. 1t will
be remembered that in the N~ewberry case the dis
turbance was not over money that Mr.. Newberry
had spent to secure the Michigan senatorial nomi-
nation. 1t was over the sums which had been spent
by other people for that purpose.
Political campaigns have often been financed by
wealthy men without the expenditure of a dollar by
Liz 1iAl0d - oolA1N VI LIN
purpose has been entirely pr%aiseworthy. In other
cases it has been the opposite. But whether the
purpose be good or bad, if the Information is re-
stricted to the personal expenditures of the candi-
date, the public is left in the dark as to what his
campaign cost, and whether or not it's cost exceeded
the amount which may properly be expended.
In any case it is impossible to know just how
much money was spent in the promotion of any
mans candidacy. If he puts up all the money him
self his report, if accurate, is Informative. But no
candidate who has anything of a popular following
does pay all or nearly all of the cost of his cam
paign. Without his knowledge. without his direc-
ton, and entirely outside of his control, money is
spent in presenting his. case to the public, and it is
spent in ways for which no accounting can be re-
quired. A supporter of the candidate may make a
speaking tour of the state in his interest, paying all
his own expenses, which may reach many thousands
Of dollars. In a score or a hundred local commune
ties money may be spent on the printing and dis
tribution Of campaign literature, in clerical work, in
the holding of public meetings, and in many other
ways, and all of this may be done without consul
tation with the andidate and without contact Of
any kind with him. These things are outside the
requirements of any law, and yet they all enter into
the problem of campaign expenditures.