Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-02-05
SPECTER
MARSCLEANER
ELECTION TALK
Senators Agree To Pure.
Election Bill; Disagree
On Collection.
EMPLOYEES
Campaign Committee In
ours Indebtedness; Ask 2
Per Cent Of Pay.

PHOENIX, Ariz, Feb 4.--R-The
spectre of allegations in past politi-
cal campaigns was paraded before
the state senate today.
Brought up in committee of the
whole for consideration, the Winso1'
(Yuma) purity in election bills drew
forth pointed accusations from a
Clique of senator's in the center of
the chamber, generalizations by the
author of the bills and finally a
copy of a letter purported to have
been written by Don C. Babbitt, sec.
rotary of the democratic state cen.
tral committee asking for contribu-
tions from state employees to erase
q party deficit.
The letter was without date. "At
the request" it read "of the Hon.
Louis B Whitney, chairman of the
democratic state offices and heads OF
state departments, had authorized
Babbitt to negotiate loan of $4,000
to satisfy claims against the COM
mittee, incident to the last campaign,
in the amount of SS,93197.
without the understanding" il
continued, that money for the re-
payment OF the loan should be pro-
cured from all state employees re-
ceiving a salary of $1O0 or more
per month" I'm order that "con-
tributions would be equitable it was
agreed that employees so designated
should contribute two per cent Of
their monthly salaries"
Since our obligations are of such
magnitude" it concluded" lit is of
be mfr INN
son enjoying the fruits of our politi-
cal victory join in bearing it's bur.
dens."
Senator Donnelly of Pima, who
gave the senate page the letter to
hand to the senate reader, said the
letter had been sent to the heads
of all departments of state. Bah
btt, according to it's content, was
charged with receiving all contribu.
tions and with keeling record of
those persons contributing.
Senate bill No A, the first of four
purity i'm elections measures drawn
by the president of the senate had
received the unanimous approval OF
the committee of the whole over the
strenuous objection of Golfer Apache,
who was presiding when the matter
of the letter came up. The next was
companion bill. Senator Golfer
asked Nelson, Navajo, to act as
chairman while he took the floor to
talk against the adoption of tho
bill and in the discussion that fol-
lowed the senator from Apache was
asked by Winser if he favored state
employees contributing to election
campaign TundsD "I most certainly
do replied Golfer. when a state
employee wants to contribute to the
campaign fund of the governor, that'a
his privilege and duty. If we pass
this bill we will play into the hands
of the special interests that are try
ing to control our elections.
This bill, it seems to me-" In
tcrposed Sutter, Cochise. affords the
roor man the opportunity to run for
office against the man who has the
support of the people whose wages
are taxed for campaign fund con-
tributions."
But the bill takes a mans vote,''
exclaimed Golfer.
I'm what way?" asked Winsor ad-
ding a moment later "the senator from
Apache refuses to answer the ques-
ton" as Golfer sought words to ex-
plain his viewpoint.
MY experience" continued Senator
Sutter, during the past two weeks
has taught me that what this state
needs more than anything else Is
Just such a bill as this, if we are
going to prevent the collection Of
huge campaign runds. such as have
been raised in the state highway de-
partment." Fer the past two weeks
the senator has been investigating
the affairs of the department. as
chairman of the joint legislative COM
mittee charged with that task. 1T
takes lot of money to run for
governor" argued Golfer land tho
governors salary isn't nearly enough
to pay the expenses of his campaign"
What chance has a poor man" asked
SUtter, "who can spend perhaps only
$4,000 or $4,000 in his campaign
against governor supported by u
states money campaign fund of per-
haps $4,000 or 100000"
At this juncture Donnelly was seen
to give the page a paper. Trans.
mitted to the reader and it's con-
Continued on Page Eight)