Ohio General Assembly passes law placing limits on the amount of money candidates could pay out, give, contribute or spend on their campaigns with the intent to prevent corrupt practices at elections. 1907 Teddy Roosevelt administration pushes through legislation outlawing direct corporate contributions on federal level. The General Assembly enacts legislation to prevent the corruption of elections and political parties by corporations by barring any corporation from directly or indirectly giving money or property to any political organization, party or candidate. Any officer, stockholder, attorney, or agent of any corporations which violates section 1 of this act who participates in, aids, or advises any such violation, and any person who solicits or knowingly receives any money or property in violation of this act shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year of a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both at the discretion of the court. The General Assembly in an act defining the powers and duties of a state tax commission requires that every corporation or public utility which makes any report, statement or return to the state submit an affidavit stating that it did engage in any political activity, either directly or indirectly, during the preceding year.
Provisions related to prohibition of campaign contributions is changed materially in one respect.
The prohibition of corporations for any political purpose whatever was amended to read for any other partisan political purpose. Such acts are outside the powers of its corporate franchise. They exist for the purpose of furthering the particular business in which they are engaged. Corrupt Practices Acts were enacted with respect to them because practices indulged in by certain corporations in making contributions for campaign purposes had become objectionable and subversive to good government and the public welfare. Even if such contributions were made from proper motives, they might afterwards be made the basis for demands which might not be for the public interest to grant.