The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-05
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 6, 1903.
THE rloNEY POWER.

H The House Committee on Privileges and
Elections has taken the life and force
2 put Of the Barksdale pure elections law
~ inserting the word "corruptly'' before
] lhe clause relating to tho use Of money
iln6 Influence In elections.
we give warning, to the General Assem-
I bly, and to the people OF the State that
there is danger ahead II the bill passes
R:t1s this amendment. After all that has
been said for the Legislature now to re-
Ject Mr.. Barksdale's proposal to put
! atoI, to the use Of money In elections will
4 be to give countenance to the use Of mon
~ freely and practically in any way that
: the candidates may SEQ ft to employ It,
j II. indeed, It will not be an Invitation to
Mem to do so. There Is danger ahead,
we repeat, and we give warning.
s Democrats have talked great deal
lurng the past several years about the
l.oney power, about the control in our
politics OF men and corporations OF large
heans. and they have done well to lift
& lEeir voices in protest. We have often
Jaia in discussing this question that the
1 great danger of corporations Is not in
their existence as purely business con-
rerns. but In the power which they may
exercise in legislation, in nominating and
selecting men to serve In our legislative
body, who are sent there to serve not the
Interests of the public but the interests
" their masters. We are not afraid Of
Vie corporations, per Sc; we nre not afraid
II the nillionalres Of the country, per Sc;
tut when they use their money to elect
g;,ficers andTto influence legislation they
oelre indeed ahnhenace to individual rights
lind poular government. 1t therefore be-
hooves the Democrats to exert their intlu-
,nce to prevent the use Of money In the
elections, and it behooves our lawmakers
to make the laws governing such use as
rigid as possible There Is nothing in an
election more demoralizinG than n cor
ruption fund. for it can be employed In
nil sorts of devilish ways. 1t can be en-
/. ployed as bride direct. us a bride indl-
vices of the lowest order Of politicians
\ who work not for the good of the party
y1not for the good of the country. but for
the pay that they receive These so-called
workers. are in many cases responsible
.Sfcr most of the meanness and corruption
{ In politics, and SO far from being en-
piuyed in canvass. they should, as far
as possible, be kept out.
& Apart from all this, the use Of money
/, III elections especially In primary cleo
lions, where the contest is between DEM
z ocrats, gives the rich man an unfair ad-
I vantage over the poor man. even though
( The money that Is used Is not. strictly
speaking. used corruptly THERE'S no oc-
casion in the State Of Virginia for the
u use Of money in elections except for alb
s solutely necessary expenses, and the sum
so required is small. When money Is used
freely, no matter how honestly, it un-
;i doubtedly gives the man with the full
Vent a full and fair and free expression
2 Of the wishes of the people. A candidate
5 may be ever SO honest and may give pos
..ltiye instructions as to how the money
q Is to be used. but when it Is paid out
and when It goes out OF his hands into
Me hands of others. 1t is simply impos-
! tible for him to follow each dollar as it
rirculates and see how 1t Is used. The
only safeguard is in preventing the money
7 from being put into circulation.
We do sincerely hope the General AS
z scmbly will take UP this question care
|. fully and prayerfully and decide it in the
Interest of pure politics, public morals and
good government.