Evening star., 1940-12-10

consequence Oh DaVlo Lawrence.
Federal Government expenditures
for relief, w. P. A. and old-age as
dstance.
Although white collar workers,
labor, both skilled and unskilled,
farmers and business and profess
sional people divided in their polit-
tcal allegiance anywhere from "a
per cent to SO per cent in favor of
Mr.. Roosevelt's reelection, the
millions of voters covered in the
category of relief, w. P. A. and
old-age assistance" gave 80 per cent
of their support to the administra-
ton from which they received bene-
fits.
These figures established by the
scientific surveys of the American
Institute of Public Opinion consti-
tute the most sensa tional piece of
evidence as to how ineffective cam.
palgn fund of 100000 or, if State
committees and independent bodies
are included, even campaign fund
of s25 100000 can be alongside of
Government appropriations amount
ing to billions of dollars over a
period of four or eight years.
Won in Low-Income Groups.
The variation from 1886 in this
category of voters is not very big.
1t was "a per cent in 1886. The
election was won or lost. as the case
may be, in the low-income groups,
including the persons on relief or
receiving financial aid from the
Government. 1t costs considerable
money to reach such voters with
literature and with campaign
speeches, either by radio or through
the printed word, for many of them
are not newspaper readers.
1t becomes serious question
whether limitation of campaign
expenditures isn't ultimately going
to result in bigger and bigger ad-
vantage for the party in power.
This can be offset only by a repeal
of all laws limiting campaign ex-
penditures except the provisions
which limit the amounts given by
individuals.
The $1,000 limitation on individ-
uals meets with general approba-
ton, but the restriction which says
that 100000 persons shall not be
able to contribute ST each If such
a fund is deemed desirable by them
to express their viewpoint, is a seri-
GUS interference with the right of
petition guaranteed under the Con-
stitution itself.
The theory of the present Consti-
tuition Is that citizens may petition
to redress their grievances and, If
they cannot secure redress by COM
municating with the Government
which is in the hands of an opposi-
ton party, they naturally have the
right to appeal to the electorate.
'1ns" Have Strangle Hold.
Legislation which forbids the i'm
proper use of money is one thing,
but legislation which restricts the
amount that can be used by the
party out of power, makes for a
one-sided election and may con-
Ceivably mean that the party in
power can never be dislodged as
long as the public treasury holds
out. To put it another way,
change in administration would
seem possible only after the Treas
ury has collapsed and an economic
catastrophe has come. Citizens who
want to spend dollar each to edu-
cate their fellow citizens about
coming catastrophe are at present
forbidden by law from collecting
such campaign fund. Even in
years when there is no election 60
ing on, the total that may be spent
by this party out of power is limited
to S3,000,000
The cost of campaigning naturally
increases as 50,000,000 persons par
ticipate in an election campaign
a substantial increase in numbers
over preceding elections. Any sums
spent for radio, printed matter and
legitimate expenses of campaigning
would seem to be permissible ire
spective of the total amount eX-
pended. The laws of libel and the
laws forbidding the circulation of
slanderous matter can restrain
wrongful use of campaign literature.
There would seem to be no logical
argument against the quantity OF
campaigning done provided no one
individual is permitted to contribute
more than 5000. This correspond
ent believes that individuals should
not be permitted to give more than
$500. but that the amounts to be
collected from the public should not
be limited at all.
Goes to Root of System.
The problem posed by the latest
Gallup survey goes to the root of
the whole system of fairness in
American elections. Why should the
millions of persons in the group
classified as "relief, w. P. A. and
old-age assistance" vote 80 per cent
for the present administration when
no other single group of citizens
not even all labor, which voted 66
per cent-came anywhere near that
figure? What except the benefits
received and the fear that a change
in administration might not give
them such benefits, can account for
the result? Should not the party
out OF power be permitted to collect
enough funds to carry its message
to such a group? Unquestionably it
would cost S. 100000 alone to reach
such voters and to tell them the
truth, namely, that old-age assist
ance is settled Government policy |
and that irrespective of the political
complexion of the administration in
power the only thing that will end
relief payments is the creation OF |
Jobs in private industry.
Inquiries are being made by Gov
ernment agencies into the manner |
in which both parties spent their
money in the last campaign with a
view to recommending amendments |
to existing law Unless the Ameri-
can people perceive in further re-
~, cram Jinr tI,a