The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-20

Washington - When democrats fight among themselves, there's nothing especially new about that. but their national committee at ita recent meeting adopted q financing plan which is unique in politics.
 Tine party will undertake to raise $6.000.600 by the modern methods of fund raising technique. on the recommendation of and under the supervision of commercial fund.- raising agency, such as is used n big drives for churches, hospitaB. universities and similar institutions.
 The plan, endorsed by Chairman John J. Raskob who has been fi- nancing the party and adopted unanimously by the committee, was prepared by the John Price Jones Corporation of New York.
 It is estimated that the party first needs $625,G00 to pay it's deficit, then $375,O ,O00 for pre.convention ex- penses through national headquart- CTS, $500.O00 on hand for prelimi- nary campaign needs and $4,500,00O more to take 1t through the 1892 presidential campaign.
 Big Drive This Fall
 Quiet solicitation of good sized individual gifts to pay off the deficit will soon begin, but the big general campaign for funds is scheduled to begin in the fall = the time, accord ing to John Price Jones, when peo- pie are Accustomed 0mnke politi- cal gifts"
 Personal solicitation will be made by people within the party and the plan estimates that with each worker covering 10 prospects the first $1.- 500 900 raised would need about tS... 750 workers and the balance Of $4,5oO.0o0 would require 5e,250 sets an estimate of 748 preferred prospects" who might give $25,000 or, more, of whom 1t estimates that IA will actually contribute. And so on. The total number of "pros- pccts' for solicitation Is placed nt 75O,000; the. number of givers among them at 150.000, with about 71O of the "givers" scheduled to kick in with $1,000 or more.
 Plan "victOry" slogans
 The plan suggests slogans such as Prepare for victory!". For Vic- tory in 1892 - Prepare Noww and ."The 1892 Victory Fund" Likewise, the title Supporting Member of the Democratic Party" with little but tons bearing that inscription. the date 1931-32 and q party emblem - bronze buttons for contributors Of $100 and under, silver buttons from $1OO to 91,000 and gold buttons for more than $1,000.
 Headquarters of the big drive will be in New York city. The 0rgani- zation plan calls for preparation of lists of prospects, wide publicity, sc- lection and training of leaders and al <.4 ing to see that all prospects are vis- ited and solicited.
 Raskob and Executive Chairman Jouett Shouse will be in supreme command. operating with q finance committee and q finance chairman who will be spokesman for the drive. The plan proposes temporary com- mittee to be organized immediately to raise initial gifts and careful search for f2 men who would pledge to give or raise ,$50,000 each for underwriting the deficit. And there is large further national program involving Q committee on lists ana quotas. committee on special large gifts, business mems committee, general canvass committee, publicity committee and headquarters opera. ton, as well as state finance direc. tors, leaders in counties wards and precincts, state operating units and so on.
 Cite Large Expenditures
 More than 200 party leaders were interviewed during formulation or the plan and here are some excerpts from the corporations report to the national committee:
 after the elections of 1024 and 1926, it became apparent that the public was not to Do aroused in protest against large gifts." In 1926 the political parties spend nearly &20, 100000 through national and state organizations and e10,OOO.0 000 more is spent by states to set up prf- mary and general election machin. cry in presidential years. That's less than one-fifth of one per cent of the f0ur-year cost of the national gOy- ernment which is managed by tho party elected and represents less than 60 cents per eligible voter. The num- her of eligible voters t0 whom the parties appeal increases by about 3 5.b0O,000 in the four years between
 "contributions are made to polIs- lcai funds for | variety of reasons, among which the first is party reg. ularity. 4 restricted few give out of devotion 10 party principles. The majority will give through interest in issues of candidates. A special group of the wealthy and ambitious respond from a dealfo for later rec- 0EnIki0fff Another special HfouD Will