Evening star., 1922-06-17
Does the Primary System Necessi-
tate Lavish Expenditures2

The muCh-dtScusSed question
whether the popular primary does not
actually prevent a poor man be-
coming a successful candidate for
nomination is again very much to the
fore in the newspapers of the coun-
try. The problem is revived by the an
nouncement Of Clifford Pinchot that
1t cost him and members of his fami-
ly more than $124.000 to make the
successful campaign in the recent
Pennsylvania primaries. Most Of the
papers agree that the expense was
justified because it was for edu-
cational purposes" but many editors
contend it shows that money still
sums the chief essential in primary as
well as in general elections.
The actual cost Of such a campaign
as Pinchot was compelled to wage
must be considered In connection
with any discussion Of the amount ad-
mittedly spent. as The Star recently
pointed out, adding that America has
never been sold and is not now for
sale. At times grave charges have
been made and money figures quoted
in support of them. and here and
there in isolated cases election spend
Ing has been ill-advisedly free. But, in
the main, results have been obtained
without money pressure" The fact
that Pinchot was well able to spare
the money also must be taken into
consideration, the Rock Island Argus
(democratic) says. and while he evil
IDENTIFY spent money freely, there Is
nothing to show that IT was wrongly
spent. He had to carry on CAM
paign largely without help In all
parts of a great state. and this re-
quired large expenditure" Inas-
much as Pennsylvania has no law linn
iting campaign expenditures, Pinchot
and his friends might have spent
much more. the Newark News Gnde-
pendeno points out. but it says any
discussion of the matter cannot es-
The News considers that the lesson
must be whether "a moderate sum
shall be arbitrarily fixed" for CAM
paign expenditures everywhere, pos
sibly with due cognizance taken Of
the fact that the larger the electorate
to be appealed to the larger is the
outlay morally permissible" and add
ing that "the per capita element is one
Of powerful weight"
Somewhat similar views are en-
tertained by the Nashville Banner
independently, which xecalls that
Pinchot was up against an almost
invincible machine. His only chance
was to take his cause to the people.
This he could not do in person in
so vastly populated a state as Penn
sylvania. His resort, therefore. was
to publicity. This Is expensive.
Pinchot won and apparently fairly.
however deplorable it may be that
campaigning for public service op-
portunities requires such outlays."
The fact that most of tho "profas.
sional politicians are using the cost
of the primary system as an argu-
ment for the return to the conven-
tion system" is regrettable, in the
view of the Roanoke World News
tdemocratic), because "the campaign
displeasing anti-climax to his splen-
did victory. The money factor in pri-
maries must somehow be minimized
If the primary system is to endure" /"
Accepting that Pinchot could not
have been nominated without hav-
News and Observer (democratic)
asks How can the evil and degrada-
tion Of the use of money in primaries
and elections be prevented? That is
question that must be answered.
and answered right, or public office
will become a matter of barter and
no poor man without rich hackers
The amount spent was not large.
when compared with the usual ex-
penditures of the old machine in
Pennsylvania, in the opinion Of the
Burlington Free Press IndependenO,
and 1t 10 convinced that ITO say the
direct primary system is responsible
for the corrupt use of money in po-
litical campaigns is to write ones
self down as lacking knowledge of
political history and current events,
as well as deficient In common
sense. In point of fact, the direct
primary, with women participating.
is making it possible to drive COR
rupt men out Of politics, and Penn
syivania and Indiana are merely the
beginning Of new day."
fhe Philadelphia Record demo-
oratic) INSISTS, and will continue to
do so until the result needed Is ar
rived at, that the Pinchot statement
is fraudulent and clearly intended to
deceive, No statement has as yet
been made public regarding the
amount Of money collected and con-
tributed by some of the leading sup
norters Of Mr.. Pinchot, nor has ac-
count been made how single dollar
Of such funds was used. And why
should not the Attorney General
look into the matter OF the numerous
oonspiratoFs who are arranging to
dout the law covering the publica-
tion of sworn statements OF cam, n,
paien collections and expenditures?
'rhe Scranton Times (democratic)
Joins with the Record. asking: rs
the election Of a Governor of PennGyl-
Yanta this year to be bought Is