Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-17
NO LIMIT SET.
Amount Properly Spent on Campaign
Depends on Candidate.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Just how much money is it per-
MISSILE for candidate for the United
States Senate to spend? The irlyesti.
cation into the Illinois primary reveals
That about as much money was spent
there as IN Pennsylvania, not only by
the candidates themselves, but by their
friends. "a
There is no law limiting expenditures
IN the primary and no prospect of any
limit being set. Nevertheless, the Sen
ate has taken cognizance from time to
time OF what it deemed excessive ex-
penditures. In the case Of Truman
Newberry in Michigan much less money
was spent than IN Illinois or Pennsyl-
vania, but the Senate at that time dep.
recated the expenditure of even quar-.
ter OF a million dollars The conten-
ton made by candidates who spent
more than that sum is that the size OF
the State makes difference In the cost
Of the canvass.
AS matter of fact, the investigating
committee examining the Illinois and
Pennsylvania primary elections does not
need to make a report until the Decerrl-
Der session Of Congress; hence it could
make an inquiry after the November
election II 1t so desired. At present the
regular Republicans here are saying that
the only value the Investigation will
have Is to furnish ammunition to the
Democrats, and that. strictly speaking,
none Of the candidates who were suc-
ceSSful at the primaries are as yet with
In the jurisdiction of the Senate since
nobody has been elected TO that body.
In other words, the question of whether
a seat shall be granted does not actually
come up until and after the November
elections. This Is one reason why Re-
publican leaders here think the Senate
committee might just as well make its
investigation after November as before.
The charges and countercharges are
being made In Illinois as to the total
amount spent by Mrs. Ruth Hanna
Mccormick, the successful nominee,
and Senator Deneen, who was defeated.
The question raised is how much money
the candidates spent as contrasted with
the amounts expended by the Stats
organizations and factional groups.
There is no Federal jurisdiction. of
course, over what the State groups
spend. In fact the whole question is
one OF morality in politics, with the
Senate itself the final Judge of whether
q seat was really bought or whether II
was legitimately obtained
There seems to be no doubt that II
Mrs. Mccormick Is the victor she will
have to appear before the Senate Conn
mittee on Privileges and Elections, In
order to satisfy the Senate as to her
moral right TO seat. In the Ware
and Smith cases the Senate was infiu-
enced by belief that corrupt forces
were at work and that group interestA
were back of the candidates. The spec
tacle Of a candidate spending personal
funds for almost all of the campaign
expenses, as was the case with Mrs.
Mccormick, Is not new, as Clifford
Pinchot spent approximately $290001
in his unsuccessful effort to land {
place in the Senate two years ago.
Although there Is much debate as 10
how much money constitutes a legisis
mate expenditure, the real issue ID
where the money came from and thG
purposes behind the contributions.
(Copyrisht, 1e30)