Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1916 — THOUSANDS SPENT BY THE CANDIDATES [ARTICLE]

THOUSANDS SPENT BY THE CANDIDATES

Primary Law Causes Man Who Wants Office to Use Extravagant Means of Publicity. Indianapolis, Feb. 16.—Perhaps the most popular song with candidates for nominations just now is “It’s all goin’ out and nothin’ cornin’ in.” Most of them can sing this cute but significant little ditty from morning till night and mean every word of it. Not in many years have the purse strings been loosened and the wallet turned inside but as is the case this year in the race for the republican nominations. With the democrats it is different. There is but one candidate for each of the state nominations except governor and it is not necessary for any of them to make a campaign for the nomination for anything. From the headquarters of Watson, New, oGodrich and McCray there have gone forth hundreds of thousands of letters, circulars and other pieces of mail. The Indianapolis postoffice has just put in service eight new automobiles for the collection and delivery of mail, but not altogether on account of the tons of stuff sent out from these campaign headquarters. The postage on this amount of mail runs into the thousands of dollars, to say nothing at all about the cost of printing, stenographers and other help. There is a small army of clerks,and helpers at qach of these headquarters, and all are working for money compensation. This costs a round sum each week. Then it is necessary to have officeß, ~an<f these strings of rooms in high priced hotels afford a very fine opportunity for a candidate to get rid of his loose change. Think, also, of the amount of money that is spent by candidates ia galloping over the state to meet the trench diggers. Not only that, but thing, also, of the cost of sending helpers hither and -yon in numbers and squads for the same purpose, and the large amounts spent for newspaper advertising. These are but some of the more important Items of expense to a candidate for one of the big offices. In addition, there is this and that and the other thing to pay for, all of which adds to the cost of a campaign.