The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-01-16
N. W.C.T.U.COLUMN, T. N,
CONDUCTED BY MRS. n. L. HOBBS.
from Patriot Phaianx.
Use of Money in Politics.

Barring the fact that the writer Of
the paragraphs here quoted, Will
liam j. Bryan, is Democrat, and
As such would naturally lay the whip
heaviest on the opposite political
party, and considering the further
fact that we have no political mo-
tive at all in republishing his SEN
but a purely moral one,
we are constrained to say that there
is not only sordid truth in his time
ly and courageous utterances, but
the state of things as he pictures
them is, and has been for years, in
creasingly detrimental to, and pre-
ventive Of, good government. We
are therefore glad to see the subject
discussed in so able paper as that
Of The Commoner, snd trust that it
will start a sentiment in favor OF re-
form in this direction, for politics
cannot be clean while money is
so recklessly, nor can
legislation be impartial go long as
the members Of Congress and the
Legislatures are under obligations
to the great corporations for their
positions. Mr.. Bryan says: "The
growing use OF money in politics is
an evil which demands immediate
and serious consideration. No one
acquainted with the facts can be-
lieve that the large campaign funds
expended everywhere by the repub'
licans, and in some sections by the
democratic reorganizers, are either
necessary or legitimate. In one vo-
ting precinct Of Nebraska the re-
publicans boasted that they spent
more than one hundred dollaas.
As there are only few more than
one hundred voters in the precinct
referred to, it would mean a cam
paign fund of about OO,OOJ for
Nebraska alone, if the same effort
was made in all the precincts. A
Connecticut paper, speaking OF the
democratic campaign says that the
|twenty-four state committeeman
should be required to raise one
Thousand dollars each. III any
com mitteeman cannot produce this
SUM-" says the paper, "let him
step down and make loom for an
other who can do it," and it adds !:
with the sum Of $24 900 assured
beyond question, there should be no
difficulty in securing enough more
to enable all the legitimate expenses
|of the campaign to be met without
a heavy assessment on the candi-
dates" Twenty four thousand is
only a start in Connecticut!
There are certain proper and le-
Ultimate expenses which Cannot be
avoided, but is it not notorious
fact that large sums are used fol
purposes which cannot be defended!
Men are hired to "work" when il
lis known that the money is intended
lfor their votes; some are hired tc
stay at home, while still others are
bought outright.
Asa rule, the large campaign
unds are collected from corporations
that have favors to ask at the hands
|of the government and the money is
subscribed in return for assurances
that make it impossible for the par
Ity receiving the same TO do its duty
TO the people. In the sugar trust
investigation few years ago Mr.
Hayemyer testified that the trust
|Qave to the democratic party in New
York and to the republican party In
Massachusetts. When asked abou'
New Jersey, he said that that state
was doub ful, and that he would
have to look at the books before b.
lcould say to which side the tru-l
contributed.
The use Of large funds gives {
!prea, advantage to the party whict
1.-The corporations support. For IN
lstance in Nebraska the rspub ican'
|offered thi, year u furnish tra )
'portation to any college boy, or 9th
iIer person away from home, wis
;lwould return home aud vote tbs re
publican ticket. Ia close leglsla
Tive or congressional contest the vo
tiers thus returned at the committed
|exrense might turn the scale not t
lspeak Of the effect of this offer o.
Ithe mind OF person away iron
home and arxious to visit his fami
|ly.
In the heat Of a campaign stronI
partisan might rejoice in the fac
THAT his party had the largest cam
|paign fund, but no lover Of his coun
Itry can, on reflection, doubt th
lcorrupting influence OF immens
campaign funds drawn from inso
lent and arrogant monopolies.