Evening star., 1932-07-25
BOTH PARTIES FACE
SCARCITY OF FUNDS|
Democrats Likely to Find
Added Obstacle in
Conservatism.
Where will the money for the presi-

WheTe Will CI1e money 1OI Lie pICSi-
Dental campaign come from?
Just now this IS the paramount
question of the national political sit
in organization, the slow start that has
been made and the fear among the
leaders that the local campaigns are
going to suffer from lack Of help from
the national party chests.
On the surface, the Republicans ap-
pear to have better chance OF getting
funds than their Democratic brethren,
though the chances Of raising money
from the rich contributors Is at the
vanishing point due to the depression
and the heavy losses encountered by
the people who formerly gave In I'D
eral amounts to national politics:
Gov. Roosevelt has some staunch
friends among the moneyed people, but
by and large the conservative clement
Is lust a bit timid about heavy contri-
buttons to O cause which is hitched SO
tightly to the radical elements.
Viewing With Alarm.
The Republicans, on the other hand,
are already beginning to point with
alarm to what will happen to the
country If the Norrises the Longs, the
McAdoos, the GarnerS and the Wheel
CTS dIC Ill Vi tllC 4NoOAO%AoA NV
ernment, and this provokeS shivers OF
fear up and down the spines Of the
xnoneyed classes. Whatever their feel
ing about Mr. Hoover on prohibition
and other issues, the conservative Re-
publicans would prefer a continuance
of his administration to an overturn
of policies and the entry of radical
regime.
So the Republican money raisers
have a talking point with the conserva-
tives which the Democrats do not have
or which they cannot at this stage OF
the game develop for Mr.. Roosevelt,
since his acceptance speech has said
nothing to calm the fears of the con-
servatives. He may do it later, but to
date he hasn't shown any sign OF
had SO much to do with his nomina-
ticn.
Some of the Eastern conservatives
like B. M. Baruch and John w. Davis
have come out for Mr. Roosevelt, but
1t Is significant that John j. Raskob,
the principal financial angel of the
Democratic party, has not said he
would lift a finger to help Roosevelt.
The talk is that the Democrats will
rely On small contributions. Ordinarily
this is a simple process. The Demo-
Gratis did a good job on this basis in
1916, but times have changed.
1t now is estimated that while $4,-
100000 was raised for Gov. Smith in
1928, the goal for the Democrats this
year is about $1,000,000. Not much of
q campaign can be carried on with a
million dollars unless local efforts are
abandoned and this sum is spent on
die national phase alone, such as the
speakers bureau.
G. o. p. Count on More.
The Republicans are counting on
raising much more than million and
they will spend it to a large extent in
aid of the local organizations, which
has always proved in national con-
tests to be the basic reason for sue
cess
The Democrats are counting on the
waves of prejudice created by the eco
nonic depression. This would be an
easy way to appraise ths situation if
the Republicans did nothing In de-
fense. But the Republicans are plan
ming to wage a battle III behalf of the
existing administration based upon the
business future of the country. That
Is to be their principal item of appeal.
Money is going to play a big part
In the outcome CT the campaign. It
takes money for newspaper advertis-
ing, for radio hook-ups, for literature
and postage and for clerical work in
national and State headquarters The
Harding campaign, in which the anti
Wilson feeling was running strong and
the Republicans had the benefit of a
tide Of discomfort over war irritations,
nevertheless was well organized on a
financial basis. Something approx
mating S5,0Oo,0 900 was spent by the Re-
publicans. and Gov Cox, the Demo-
cratic candidate, believes ~ this day
that the sums reported ren-esented
small proportion Of what was actually
spent.
So whichever party has the money
viii have much to say about the pivotal
States. On the inside, this problem is
causing grave concern Publicly little
Is being said and If it Is asked where
the money is coming from, confidence
is expressed that it will be forthcom-
ing. In the end it will be found that
the Republicans will raise more money
than the Democrats, but that both par
ties will have available only a small
traction of any previous campaign fund
IN the last II years. D. L.
Copyright. 1922