Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-07

'The expenditures of such excessive
sums in behalf of a candidate, either
with or without his knowledge and con-
sent, being contrary to sound public
policy harmful to the honor ana dignity
of the Senate and dangerous to the
perpetuity of a free government, such
excessive expenditures are hereby Sc
verely condemned and disapproved."
This quotation from the resolution
passed by the United States Senate in
1922 is recalled to mind and gravely
considered by the press of the coun-
try, as revelations of the huge sums
lust spent in the Pennsylvania primaries
and recently in Illinois are made before
the Senate investigating committee.
What of the Senate? Does 1t hold
today with the sentiment expressed in
the Newberry verdict and exemplified
by action in the exclusion of Ware and
Smith?" asks the st. Louis Post Dis
patch, and then asserts: The Senate
must so hold. Any other construction
was inconceivable. If the attempted
purchase of a senatorship were an as
sault upon the honor of the Senate ana
a menace to the perpetuity of free
government in 1922 such attempted pur-
chase is precisely as offensive ana the
same sinister threat in $780," contends
this paper. And the Springfield, Mass,
uct of the direct primaries should
give pause to those who are interested
in preserving the fundamental prln-
ciples upon which the democracy is
founded. However we'll qualified a man
may be to serve his State in the Senate,
his chances for election are small With
out the expenditure of huge sums OF
money for the education OF the elec-
torate. 1t is an excellent commentary
sc
mere and more sinister"
The mention of educating the cleo
torate is based on the statement by
Senator Grundy. defeated candidate to
succeed himself, before the Senate COM
mittee that whatever the cost is of
educating the people is right" And OF
this the AsheVille Times says, Wen,
at the prevailing rate of increase for
the cost of educating the people, in less
than another 10 years 81 100000 Will
be considered by the majority as rea-
sonable sum for a senatorial campaign.
Poking a little fun at Senator Grumpy,
the Burlington Gazette says: Judging
from the result of the election, Mr..
Grundy's educational campaign was a
sorry failure" and the Columbia Rec
ord. estimating Pennsylvania's popula-
ton and the campaign expenditures
there, remarks, About 81 vote.
The Scranton Times notes that, even
at the present high figures, there has
been an improvement, saying, IF we
compare the estimated outlay this year
with what was expended four years ago
in the re-Pepper-Pinchot senatorial
contest, the 1880 campaign was only
about half as costly" AS to Mr..
Grundy's ideas, the Saginaw Daily
News declares, 1T can be believed that
his ideas as to no limit are precisely
the ideas Of the boys whose activities
are limited when the money does not
flow freely enough"
X X X
"But is anything approaching such
cost necessary" many papers are ask
ing and are declaring it is not. AS the
Los Angeles Evening Express puts it,
THE system of elections which makes it
possible legally to spend a quarter mil
lion dollars to secure a nomination is
faulty and a menace to popular govern
ment." The Buffalo Evening News
states: There really is little need for
such expenditures from the viewpoint
of the citizen. A candidates state
ments always are widely printed as
persons will read. The literature pub
papers, which forms one of the chief
excuses for campaign funds, usually
reflects the candidates own anxiety and
his estimate of himself, rather than any
public wish to read more about him.
Noting that letters to the voters.
radio talks, advertising, band concerts