ANONYMOUS GIFT CAUSES PROBLEMS

The citizens group opposed to riverboat gambling in Cape Girardeau hit the jackpot late last week but they're giving the money back.

A member of the Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling steering committee received a large anonymous cash gift, according to the Rev. Charles Grant, a spokesman for the group.

"When the money showed up, it was not clear it was coming to us," he said. But an accompanying letter and Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling campaign literature led them to conclude it was a contribution for the current election campaign.

Grant refused to say how much cash was involved and how it was acquired. The organization intends to return the money and needs to be able to identify the contributor.

He did say the amount was sizable. "You would have noticed it if it had shown up in your mailbox."

On receiving the money, the committee immediately contacted the Missouri Ethics Commission, Grant said.

"We want to be in absolute strictest compliance with the laws given us."

Missouri law bars any candidate or committee from accepting an anonymous contribution of more than $25. If the money cannot be returned through immediately identifying the donor, the amount in excess of $25 will go into the state treasury.

Grant said the group would not accept such a large contribution from an individual donor even if legally offered.

"Frankly, we don't need the money for the kind of campaign we're running," he said.

The organization has raised about $7,000 for the Nov. 2 election that will decide the riverboat gambling issue. Its previous largest single contribution has been $500.

A statement released by the committee said it is making this information public now "so that there (will) not be any possible misunderstanding, and to facilitate the finding and identifying of the anonymous donor."

The donor is being asked to contact the person the contribution was sent to. Grant said the contributor's anonymity will be protected.