Besides prohibiting or limiting contributions from certain sources it may also prove desirable to fix time limits within which large gifts may not be received. Among other conditions voluntarily accepted in 1908 the Democratic National Committee pledged itself to receive no contribution above $100 within three days of the election. The time limit in this case was scarcely long enough to be very impressive, but the principle involved is of some importance. Such facts as we possess with regard to the history of campaign funds indicate “fat-frying” of a most strenuous and compromising character during the last few days preceding an election. Alarmist and hysterical reports about doubtful states were prepared on both sides and presented tearfully and confidentially to men of wealth, to candidates, and to other persons from whom money might perchance be obtainable. The probability is very strong that the great sums thus raised and of necessity spent at the eleventh hour were more largely subject to waste, theft, and corrupt use, than any other money which was placed in the hands of campaign managers. Prohibition of contributions within a short period prior to election or their limitation in amount during such period ought to reduce this evil considerably, at least on the collecting side. If subjected to such a restriction campaign managers will, of course, seek to secure as large a sum as possible before the time limit expires, and they will also take care to keep a sufficient reserve on hand for the culminating needs of the campaign. Nevertheless they will be pretty effectually estopped from calamity howling at the last minute as a means of obtaining large additional “slush” funds.