Evening star., 1933-09-12
Political Debts.

The Democratic and Republican Ma
tional Committees. which run the cam
paigns Of the two big political parties
OF the country, are still deeply in debt.
The reports filed with the clerk of the
House in accordance with the law show
that the obligations Of the Democratic
organization now outstanding amount
to $524,292. The g. o. p. committees
deficit, while smaller than that of its
Democratic opponent, Is still sizable,
totaling $1s6,464.
Notwithstanding the victory" drive
Of the Democrats and also notwith-
standing the victory itself of their party
at the polls last year, the Democratic
National Committee has not yet been
able to clear the decks and get out Of
the red It is true that the Demo-
cratic debt which grew out Of the cam
paign of 1928 stood at approximately
$4,000 when the dust of the night
had cleared away and that therefore
this Indebtedness has been reduced by
nearly million dollars. But half
million-dollar deficit is not a pleasing
matter for the Democrats to contemplate.
Most of the money has been borrowed,
according to the report, from men Of
means who are perhaps able to wait for
their money, or even to make contribu-
ton of 1t to the party in the end
Such . situation, however, leaves the
party with a lien on It, This is not a
pleasing picture In the sight Of those
who urge that the Democratic party
must be great independent organiza-
ton. beholden to none.
The Republican National Committee,
fortunately for itself, was not confront
ed with huge deficit like that Of the
Democratic Committee when it began
operations for the 1882 campaign. The
G. o. P. Committee has in recent years
operated on pay-as-you-go basis. 1t
was easier for the Republicans to carry
on along such lines because. as gen.
eral rule, it was easier to obtain contri-
buttons for the Republican party from
the men of wealth throughout the
country. But financing the 1882 cam
paign was a tough job for the Repub-
lican Committee. In the first place, the
party and the administration were out
OF favor. That goes for business as well
as for the general voter. Contributions
were slow Defeat was in the air.
Huge expenditures in national CAM
paigns by both parties have become the
custom. Literally hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars have been wasted,
thrown away in the hiring Of unneces-
sary employees and in various kinds OF
publicity. The pinch which the ma
tional committees are now experiencing
may be q blessing if it teaches them
and the party leaders to be more eco
nomical in the future. There is no
good reason why a national committee
of any party should be compelled to ex-
pend five or six million dollars in a
presidential campaign.
Less than a year in the future Is
the next political campaign, that for
the election of new House and Of one
third Of the membership of the Senate,
not to mention Governors and State
officers in many Of the States. Soon
the party committees will be passing
the hat. Unless there is a decided
pickup in business collections are not
likely to be easy. Expenditures should
be most carefully watched. The cost Of
running for public office has become
entirely too high. 1t does not seem to
have improved the Government service.
irrespective OF which party may be In
control.