Evening star., 1940-08-05
jackson Challenges
F|etcher's S Opinion
On Campaign Gifts
Warns Plans for Avoiding
Hatch Act Limitution
Won't Be Accepted
~ the Associated Press.

Won't Be Accepted
~ the Associated Press.
Three months before the Novem-
Der election. Democrats and Repub.
licans are just completing their or
gAnizations for one of the shortest
presidential campaigns in recent
American history.
Both parties are planning to
crowd into 10 or II weeks the ora
tory and doorbell ringing to which
they previously devoted upward Of
four months. Early indications.
however, are that the contest will
not be lacking in intensity, although
its length is curtailed.
Even as the Republicans finished
the framework of their campaign
setup this week end, their general
counsel. Henry p. Fletcher; and At
torney General Jackson clashed
over an Interpretation Of Hatch
Act limits to political contributions
Fletcher's Interpretation.
Mr.. Fletcher made public an opin-
ion contending the acts 5000 max
imum on personal campaign gifts
covered only contributions to .
party's national committee or its
senatorial or congressional COM
mittees.
ANY amounts above 5000 that
q donor desires to give should be
given to State or local committees" /"
Mr.. Fletcher said, adding that these
latter organizations should be en-
tirely divorced from the Republican
National Committee and should
operate by authorization Of the re-
spective State committees"
The Attorney General last night
challenged Mr.. Fletcher's statement,
declaring:
The Department Of Justice will
not render advisory interpretations
Of the Hatch Act or Of other laws
for political parties or others. But
silence In the face of the widely
published opinion Of Mr.. Fletcher
might mislead well-intentioned per-
sons to believe 1t to be an accepted
Interpretation Of the Hatch Act.
Hence 1t is fair to state now that
no plans of this nature for avoiding
the limitations of the Hatch Act are
accepted or approved by the De-
partment of Justice"
5000. 600 Limit Fixed.
The Hatch Act prohibits q ma
tional political organization from
spending more than 5000, ,000
Wendell L. Willkie, the Republican
presidential nominee, has said "the
Republican organization, the Willkie
clubs and the independent Demo-
Gratis who are supporting me will
spend about $2,500,000."
Mr.. Willkie was in Des Moines
today for a conference with Mid
West farm leaders, but he is holding
back formal campaigning until after
his acceptance address August II at
Elwood, Ind.
President Roosevelt, seeking an
unprecedented third term, has indi-
Gated defense and foreign affairs
would keep him close to Washington
much Of the time. Inspection trips
to various defense projects, however,
may give him opportunity for
speechmaking and political confer
ences on the side.
Much Of the Democratic cam
paigning may fall to Secretary Of
Agriculture Wallace, the Presidents
running mate, but he will not begin
until his acceptance speech late in
August.
McNary Plans 5 or Speeches.
Senator McNary Of Oregon, Mr.
Wallace's Republican opponent for
the vice presidency, who will accept
his nomination about the same
time, PLAYS only five or six major
speeches. Most of them will be in
the West.
Although the public phase Of the
campaign has been developing
slowly, party onlcials have been
busy behind the scenes Both Re-
publicans and Democrats have re-
cast their national organizations.
The Democrats selected Edward J.
Flynn Of New York as their new
chairman only last week, but presi-
dental headquarters will be ready
for opening in New York August IL.
Much of the Republican publicity
10 far has been devoted to state
ments from Democrats announcing
that they would support Mr.. Will
kie. The Republican National Com
A1ittee issued q statement TODAY
saying:
Never before in American pol
itics have so many present and past
leaders of a national party openly
declared that they will join nands
with the opposition party in the
election Of q President.
Leading Boilers Listed.
sAmong these are former Dem
ocratic nominee for President (Al-
fre E. Smith. a number of former
members Of the Roosevelt admins
tration. three former chairmen Of
the Democratic National Commit
tee, members Of Congress. nve for
mer Democratic Governors, several
delegates to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in Chicago. at
which Mr.. Roosevelt was nominated
for 4 third term, and an imposing
number of men and women Of i'm
portance In public and private life
who have been lifelong members Of
the Democratic party"