Evening star., 1952-09-29
Sparkman Declares
Nixon Fund Wont Be
Big Election Factor
BY the Asseeiofsd Press

6bVSssVus SASbVs
BY the Asseeioisd Press
Senator Sparkman says he
doubts the "Nixon fund" contro-
versy will have any great impact
on the November 4 presidential
election.
The Alabama Democrat was in
terviewed twice yesterday, over
CHS radio last night and NBC
television earlier, about the $18.-
235 fund raised privately for Cali
fornia'S Senator Nixon, Senator
Sparkman's Republican opponent
for Vice President.
Asked whether he would accept
such a fund, Senator Sparkman
replied:
II personally would not"
He said he had never had a
fund Of any kind. not even cam
paign fund. He said he has man
aged to save money each year
since 1896. when he first was
elected to the House. He moved
to the Senate in 1916.
Won't Pass Judgment.
Senator Sparkman said he did
not want to pass Judgment on
the Nixon fund or on donations
Gov. Adlai Stevenson said he used
to attract good men to appointive
posts with the Illinois State gov
ernment.
AS to his personal finances, Sen
ator Sparkman said:
1--WE made it a point all my life
to put some of my money into saw
ings. I've bought Government
bonds and they've matured. I've
bought insurance certificates and
they've matured."
AS soon as he can find time,
Senator Sparkman said. he will
release a breakdown of his income
for the past 10 years, as Gov.
Stevenson did yesterday. An ar
ticle in yesterdays New York
Times. Senator Sparkman added,
gives a general picture of his
financial status.
Hard to Find Time.
But he pointed out that he is
leaving today on another cam
paign tour of three weeks and
said. "It's a little hard to find
time"
The New York Times article,
quoting Senator Sparkman, listed
these principal assets:
Life insurance of $4,000, of
which about $4,000 is paid up,
built up from a beginning in 1921.
About $4,000 in Government
bonds-he said sometimes he could
not meet his $50 a month savings
goal but tried to make up such
lapses later.
Some $4,000 original cash value
of investment certificates in mu-
tual companies which maintain a
portfolio of stocks for their men,
bers. He said he didn't know what
stocks are held now.
An investment of $675 in Bir-
mingham (Ala.) concern which
manufactures insurance vending
machines for airline terminals. He
said there have been no dividends
because profits are being plowed
back for expansion.
Financing of Home Explained.
A Washington home bought for
about $35, 900 in 1947 with a $15.-
900 down payment raised by cash.
ing defense bonds, on which about
half of the $4,000 10-year mort
gage has been paid off in semi
annual installments.
A home in Huntsville, Ala, built
for about $4,000 in 1927. on which
Indebtedness was liquidated in
monthly installments over 10
years.
A 15o-acre farm near Huntsville
bought for $4,000. which is "just
breaking even."
A savings account of $4,000 in
Huntsville and $1,000 to 81 500 in
a Washington bank for conven-
ience-"we like to pay cash."
Senator Sparkman estimated he
had netted $4,000 for speaking en-
gagements in 16 years in Congress
and total of $3.50 for two maga-
zine articles.
Has Two Autos.
He said the family has two
automobiles, a 1850 Buick family
car" and a 1946 Chevrolet (which
I use to buzz around in"
In the interview he mentioned
a private bill he pushed through
Congress with some difficulty to
pay $4,000 to the family Of a
young Alabaman killed by an
Army vehicle. He said the father
transferred $500 to the Senator's
bank account and he had the
money transferred back as soon
as he got the deposit slip. He said
he still keeps the slip for the Sec
ond bank transfer, mailed to him
with this notation scrawled across
it: "Diogenes, throw away your
lantern"
The Senator mentioned that his
wife owns 40 per cent interest in
rodjo stotion WANT in Albert.