Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1920 — REPUBLICANS SEEK HUGE FUND HERE [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICANS SEEK HUGE FUND HERE

Statements by Leaders Prove Stake Is Set Close to 11,000,000—An Unprecedented Sum in Hoosier Politics. COX CHARGES ARE PROVEN Indianapolis, Ind. — Bit by bit information is being gained to show that the Republican leaders are centering their efforts in Indiana toward the collection of a hugh slush fund with which to “purchase an underhold on the presidency,” as charged by Governor James M. Cox. Evidence is accumulating that the Old Guard leaders are driving toward a goal of from anywhere to a half or a million dollars. One of the most significant breaks in the rigid silence of the Republican leaders came a few days ago when D. E. Purviance, G. O. P. chairman of Wabash county, publicly stated that the quota for the Eleventh district, embracing seven counties, was $60,000. This allotment was made at a banquet, following the formula prescribed by the now notorious “form 101,” of which Harry M. Blair, assistant to the Republican national treasurer, was the author.

Would Mean $780,000 Fund. If the same quota is maintained in the thirteen districts in the state, Indiana’s contribution to the G. O. P. fund would be $780,000, an unprecedented amount of money for campaign purposes. The Eleventh district, however, is an average unit and It would be safe to assume that a much higher figure would be set for districts in which more populous and wealthy cities are located. If the Eleventh district may be taken as a criterion, according to the belief of political observers here, the fund being sought in this state will exceed $1,000,000. Proof that an enormous amount of money is being raised came from another Republican source recently. A committeeman of a precinct In Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis, admitted that his goal was $l5O. If this quota would be followed in the 3,100 precincts in the state the Republicans would find themselves in possession of $456,000, a fund unparalleled in political history In this state. Irvington, however, Is a residential neighborhood, and the quota undoubtedly would be much larger in wealthier precincts.

Big Quota in Twelfth. Governor Cox has charged that the amount to be raised in the Twelfth Indiana district is $75,000, and his assertion has never been denied by Indiana Republican leaders. In fact an Albion newspaper printed a story that has never been contradicted that Noble county is expected to raise $9,000 of the district quota. If the Noble county amount was carried without change to the ninety-two counties of the state the total amount to be raised would be $828,000. Mr. Blair, on the stand before the senatorial investigating committee, gave details of the elaborate system the Republicans have organized to “dig up money." Among the members of the organization which he disclosed is J. H. Mitchell, who has charge of G. O. P. finances in Mitchell, he said, is drawing a salary of $l5O a week, besides SSO a week allotted for expenses. This gives him a yearly salary of $10,400. Will Outdo 1916 Efforts. All indications point to the fact that the Republicans are bending every effort to outdo their money raising efforts of 1916 when they spent $258,838.29 in Indiana alone. "Of that amount $94,202.42 was poured into the state by the Republican national committee. The fact that Republican workers under oath have verified Governor charges came as a severe blow to G. O. P. leaders in this state, who were confident that they could, by meaningless denials, prove to the public that they were not out “to buy the election.” The most convincing proof of the authenticity of Governor Cox’s figures came from Dudley 3. Blossom, a Republican city official of Cleveland, 0., who admitted that the amount to be raised in his city was $400,000, as charged by the Democratic nominee. Up until he mounted the stand, both Will H. Hays, national chairman, and National Treasurer Upham, had contended that the quota for the entire state of Ohio was only $400,000. It was also proved that the amount to be raised in Atlanta, Ga., was $25,000, instead of spreading that figure over the whole state, as contended, by Hays and Upham. j ,