The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-17
Congressman Pou Complimened.
biblical Recorder.)


There been nothing more worthy
of the az roval of thoughtful citizens.
nothing more reassuring to men who are
interested in the national life, than the
voice that Mr.. Edward W. Pou of North
Carolina, Congressman from the Fourth
District, has lifted against the Corrupt
Use of Money in Elections. In the present
time when the campaign funds in an
ordinary State election amount to hum
dreds of thousands of dollars and candi-
dates spend a million or more in con-
test for the United States Senatorship,
when frequently the chief inducement to
nominate a candidate is that he is
wealthy, Mr.. Pous voice is only voice
in the wilderness; but we may be thank
full for that, and give him our approval
in hope that time will reveal in him
the harbinger of a better day
Last March Mr.. Pou sounded this note
in Congress:
"There is one real danger in this Re-
public, one ever present menace to liber
ty. 1t overhangs our beloved country
like a black cloud. 1t is the corruption
of the American electorate by the use
of money. No man should be willing for
his party to do that which he would not
do himself"
And he introduced resolutions calling
for an investigation of the corrupt use
of money by all the political parties. In
the course of his speech he also said,
Neither party can justify the practice
by chargir that the other party is
guilty." re Ealing an attitude and pur-
pose far above that of the mere partisan.
We regret that the resolutions were
not given a chance to be considered.
While it may be readily granted that
a certain amount of money is legiti-
mately needed in the conduct of cam
paign il VIII not be denied that per-
hai one hundred times as much as
legit,nately needed is used; nor will ii
be denied that the chief question in
modern campaigns has not been of poll
cies Or principles or men, but of cam
paign funds. The voice of the people
has been interpreted to be on the side
of the heaviest barrels. 1t is already
all but impossible for party or cause
of poor citizens to win, money is SO
essential.
AS Alumni Orator at the University
commencement Mr.. Pou found better
opportunity to voice his convictions on
this important subject, and, We may cite
as an evidence of his interest in it, his
remarks were almost wholly employed
in exposure of the extent to which this
corruption had been developed, and in
pleading against it.
Mr. Pou has laid his finger upon one
OF the diseases that threaten the life
of government by the people. If to give
the sovereignty to the people is only to
give it to men who will sell themselves,
it were better to have an absolute mon
archy. For a monarch is to a. degree
responsible. We are not so pessimistic
as to despair, but we do know that money
has become such a decisive factor in
politics as to demand the gravest con-
Germ.
We take hope from the stand of Mr..
Pou. 1t is worthy of a Representative
OF North carolina, and, together with
| his ability and the loftiness of the plane
upon which his political career has
moved, it marks him for a singular ano
strong and purposeful career in State
and National life.