Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-28
GIFTS TO CHARITY.
PUZZLE PROBERS
Reeds Committee TO Find at
Least 100000 Do
mated in Illinois.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

When Senator Jim Reeds special in
vestigating committee goes to Chi
cago next month to delve into the
Illinois senatorial primary of last
April. 1t will soon have before 1t one
Of the most interesting angles of the
whole primary situation-one which
may have. a serious effect upon the
future of the primary system.
It Is currently and commonly re-
ported in Illinois that there was much
giving" in the primary fight, much
donating" Of funds to various organ
izations, religious, charitable and
otherwise. The question at once
arises-and will have to be deter
mined first of all by the senatorial
committee and perhaps later by the
courts--as to whether or not dona-
lions made by man who Is openly
in the race for the Senate or who Is
about to announce his candidacy are
to be considered as O. part of his cam.
paign" or can be written off" as
mere acts Of charity or benevolence?
According to Illinois rumors, which
the writer encountered on many sides,
considerable part Of the sums which
one OF the senatorial candidates there
spent in his fight went to organiza-
tons as gifts. Just how much political
support the donor received in return
for the benevolences no one knows or
can know.
Million in Donations.
Some of the estimates around Chi
cago are to the effect that at least ST.
100000 was disposed of in this manner
and will have to be taken into con-
sideration IL Illinois is to class with
Pennsylvania as a 100000 Republi-
can primary State. AS in Pennsyl-
vania. no charges are heard in Illinois
as to what the Democrats spent.
George Brennan, the Democratic
boss Of Chicago, won the Democratic
nomination. and 1t Is assumed he
didn't have to spend very much for it.
Nobody else was seriously considered.
Furthermore. it may be stated just
here that Mr.. Brennan Is making a
good campaign-a fight which is gain
ing speed all the time, and which Is
expected to get fully under way after
the disclosures which follow the ses-
sion Of the Reed committee in Chi
cago. The chances are the committee
will remain long by the lake.
Members Of the STATS Of both Sena
tor William B. Mckinley, who lost out
in his fight for denomination, and Col.
Frank L. Smith. who won the nomi
nation after one of the bitterest fights
on record, admit that "a lot of money"
was spent in the primaries.
1T had to be spent" they explain;
there was no other way to arouse the
voters. In Illinois we do not have the
paid watchers at the polls. as they
seem to have had without number in
Pennsylvania. but just the same it Is
necessary in a State this size to have
njZotinn In That
is what the primary requires If you
are to have a respectable showing at
the polls.
Votes Follow Campaign.
''If there is no widespread cam.
paign in a primary, there is no vote
to speak of. Therefore, you do not
get a reflection of the views or senti-
ments Of the people. The voters would
stay at home. Some Of them might
not know that a primary was being
held. 1t is far more expensive to con.
duct a primary than a regular cam
paign. For the regular election the
people are prepared. They know the
dates. 1t is necessary to keep prod
ding them all the time about pri-
maries. If the people want primaries
to continue and want to have even a
fair percentage Of the possible vote
cast in the primaries. then there is
no way to avoid the spending of huge
sums Of money"
Both Senator Mckinley and Col.
Smith had been conducting their
fight for the senatorial nomination
for year or more.
Here. again. the Senate investi-
eating committee will have to con-
slider how far back a primary begins.
Does 1t start with the formal an
nouncements or with the known &C.
tivities Of the men involved? A de-
cision on this question will mean much
as to the cost of the Illinois fight.
The expenses there-the big ex.
penses--were spent or donated over
a long period Of time. It was a build.
ing.up process. That is what a pri-
mary machine means-and 1t is just
about the most expensive piece of po-
litical machinery ever devised.
The Illinois Republicans think their
family fight won't cut so much ice
after the Pennsylvania disclosures,
but there are angles to the Illinois
affair which are even more interest
ing than the Keystone calamity.