Evening star., 1932-12-22
S1,0)0,0)O OWED
BY TWO PARTIES
Republicans and Democrats
Move to Collect Sums
to Cut Deficits.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Amid all the talk of war debts and
defaults, there's mere matter or ST.
100000 which has to be raised somehow
to take care of campaign debts In
Cured by the two major parties here.
The Democrats owe between S7OO,-
900 and 100000, nearly half OF which
arose in the 1928 campaign and is due
John j. Raskob, and the Republicans
owe about 100000.
Neither party is having any trouble
with the machinery of collection.
Strangely enough, the defeated party
is collecting slowly but surely for the
Republican stalwarts are thinking OF
the congressional election in 1884, and
the presidential contest in 1886 ana
their Importance to the party.
Democrats Name Committee.
The Democrats just now are appoint
ing an executive committee to get BUSY
on their debt problem. The word mas
been passed around among Democratic
chieftains that much of the deficit
ought to be cut down batween now and
March 4, or at least before the pig
plums in diplomatic appointments ana
the like are distributed.
The Democrats are confident tney
can get rid of their deficit now thal
thev have complete control OF all
branches of the Government except the
Supreme Court. 1t means much 10
victorious party to have such an over
whelming ma ajority, and as for the cam
paign contributors, prospective ana oln-
erWlSe. they. Cuphemistlcally Scsakllle'
have invested in something that Is
quite rare in the annals of political at
tractiVenesS.
Some day there probably will be an
ANALYSIS made of what a campaign
contributor really expects when ne do-
mates heavily to "the cause, and Wnat
he really gets. and it may reveal in
teresting sidelights On human nature.
For. while there are many who give
their money without wanting thing
in return" there are not few VINO 40
not fail TO let it be known, indirectly
and automatically, that they have in
mind certain privileges or perqulslteS.
Many Want Power.
Often the contributor merely wants
the power that goes with the position
he has assumed in politics. Sometimes
he wants to run for office later On ana
desires to acquire the good will of the
local organization. which has healthy
respect for campaign contributor.
Not infrequently the Individual IN ques-
ton has a business that has matterS
I'D Ill WdSlluIS ICil lIOiIl liilIC W eAA4'S
and it's easier for the political ap-
pointees now and then to welcome a
Campaign contributor than an utter
stranger.
The favorS that can be dispensed by
a Chief Executive are numerous, and
some CT them are often merely social.
Invitations TO important dinners at the
White House have often been sent to
those who contributed heavily to CAM
paigns 1t is true Of both political par
ties that social favor frequently Is all
that is sought Unfortunately, however,
there are contributors who do not hesi-
tate to exact their p3und of flesh in
their insistcnce on help either in legis-
latiye or executive action, and embar-
rassments of this kind are matters of
unWritten political history.
But it is significant that the leaders
CT the last campaign on both sides are
quite confident that. notwithstanding
the depression. they will collect enough
to pay campaign debts.
(Copyrisht, 1922