PRESIDENCY OF AMERICA.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 7

PRESIDENCY OF AMERICA.

ELECTIONS IN U.S.A. "CAMPAIGN SLUSH FUND." '(By Cable.—Press Asaoclatlon.-^Copyriglit) NEW YORK, October 17. The Presidential campaign has entered a familiar phase. Senator R. it. La. Follette has charged the Republicans with having collected a so-called "Campaign Slush Fund" of 4,000,000d0l to 6,000,000d0l in order to buy the election. Senator Borah, as chairman of the Special Senatorial Committee, whose duty it is to examine candidates' election expenditure, yesterday began an inquiry into campaign contributions. The financial managers of two of the candidates gave evidence. This revealed that the Republicans to date have received 1,174,000d01, and the La Follette party 190,000d01. The Democrats' contributions are as yet unrevealed. It is interesting to note that a chew-ing-gum manufacturer contributed 25,000 dollars to General C. G. Dawes (Republican candidate for the Vice-Presidency), and IO.OOOdoI to the general Republican funds. Other interesting phases of the campaign are the nomination of two women candidates for State Governorships, Mrs. Miriam Ferguson in Texas and Mrs. Nellie Ross in Wyoming. Both are Domocrats. Mr. C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) has actively entered the lists on behalf of President Coolidge. He has made many forceful speeches outlining his chief's administrative accomplishments and declaring that Mr. Coolidge alone can save the country from Radicalism. President Coolidge maintains a general aloofness, declining engagements to address gatherings other than those in the cities. He is making, however, occasional speeches before bodies visiting Washington. These deal chiefly with abstract subjects, such as the value of religion, the necessity for business honour, the advisability of maintaining American's constitutional traditions, the unwisdom of interfering with private enterprises, and the 'benefits of healthy recreations. Mr. La Follette and Mr. J. W. Davis continue their tours in the country districts. Mr. La Follette is emphasising the debacle in agriculture, the iniquities of Wall Street, the urgency of Government ownership of the railways, mines, etc. Mr. Davis is keenly watching the speeches of other candidates, and is everywhere making replies and challenging attacks. It is worth while to note, however, that observers travelling through the political battle areas now vary extremely in their opinions of the relative strength of the contenders.— (A. and N.Z.-CaMe. )