Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-05
PRIMARY COSTS
PUT POOR MEN
OUT Of RUNNING
Pinchot Spent $780, 900
and Pepper $50, 900 in
Pennsylvania Election.
BY ROBERT SMALL
Special Correspondent Of The Great Fails Tribune.
Gnnyrinht 1907 Ru Iha Eraat Esla EriEura

Copyright. 1922. By The Great Falls Tribune.
Washington. June 4.Opponents of
the primary system in Washington
of them-have seized upon the Pin
chot and Pepper expenditures in Penn
s~ylvania as arguments in furtherance
of their campaign for a return TO the
old convention plan of nominating can
didates for high public offices.
There is no suggestion, even in the
most partisan quarters, that illegimate
use was made of any money in the
gubernatorial or senatorial primaries in
the Keystone state. but the expendi-
lures are cited as showing that the
poor man has no chance for office I'M
der a system which was supposed to
bring the poor but independent citizen
into the field of politics.
Pinchot Contributed $4,000
Clifford Pinchot did not wage a
spectacular campaign for the republi-
can gubernational nomination. yet il
necessary for him and his wife to
put up the sum of 500. 600 to reach the
people and enable the people to regis
ter their independent choice at the
polls. The office of governor of Penn
sylvania pays $4,000 a year and the
term of the incumbent is four years.
Thus it was necessary for Mr.. and Mrs.
Pinichot TO contribute three times the
total salary Mr.. Pinchot will receive
AS governor TO make success possible
at the primaries.
Senator George Wharton Peppers
q NV n ~ fAr ~, ~ -
candidate and not con-
by the necessity of beating the
'machine'-cost approximately 500
900. whereas the senatorial position
pays only $4,000 for a six year term.
Ii is frankly admitted here that
large expenditures are perfectly
legitimate and necessary. Nearly 500
of Mr.. Pinchot's money went for a
post card canvass of the 1000
300 republican voters in PENNSYLVANIA.
The women. it vii be seen. have added
materially to the expense Of a primary
campaign. The cost of reaching the
qualified voters with literature has vir-
tually been doubled during the last two
years.
Mr.. Pinchot's victory in Pennsyl-
vania was hailed here and throughout
the country rs a great victory for the
pam pCopiV anu al SIlHSIfuS OF the DC
republican machine. Mr.. Pinchot's vic
tory was hailed as that of a high mind
ed, high prineipled man seeking to
succeed himself after an all too brief
in the senate as the occupant. OF
The old Penrose sent.
Primary Necessity
But the question is asked. could
iifford Plnchot have led the people TO
'lctory. if he and his wife had not had
means to stand the expense
If an intensive campaign? And it is
asked, could Mr.. Pepper have won the
senatorial nomination without influ-
and wealthy friends TO contrib
tie the comparatively large sum ex-
in the very brief campaign
he made?
The answer. Of course. is hat the
,oor man. without influential and omit
friends with means. has little
n no chance of obtaining political
'~referment under the present political
system of the United States. After
the candidate has a party
organization behind him. and it is the
luty of this party organization to pro-
luce the sinews of political war. But
.hen he aspires independently to nom
nation within his party, the budding
must nave the whereWithal TO
AIRY his case to the people and arous
to the necessity of nominating
i'm above all other claimants to the
The country was amazed two wears
at the primary expenditures made
n behalf of two aspirants for the re- ]
ublican nomination for president. But
ow that it is frankly admitted that a
UNI in excess of 100000 can be
pent legitimately in a single state for
nomination, where can a /.
,gitimate limit be placed on a pres 3.
lential campaign which must cover
. states. to say nothing of the island
o%ssesiOns and the District of Colum- '
in. Z
Harding Not Primary Nominee I
President Harding was nominated at 3.
in 1920 because the primar /,
references expressed in a number Of /.
tates was ~disregarded by the dele =
ates on the final ballots. If Mr.. 6
who was in every sense an =
and not an organization I
for the nomination. had been 9
onfronted by the task of CARRYING his .
ampaign into every state, his candi- !
ICY would have collapsed long before =
le convention assembled for he k.d No