The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-09-22
DICK SEES NO
REASON FOR IT.
Declines So Accept Salen'S
Challenge to Make a
Public Statement.
OF EXPENSES OF CURRENT
CAMPAIGN.
He Declares That the Republican
State Committees Books Are
Always Open For In
SpeCtiOn.

Special D.spatch to the Leader.
Columbus, Ohio, September IS
General Dick, chairman of the Re-
publican State executive committee,
today replied to the challenge of
Chairman Salen, of the Democratic
committee, to make a public state
ment of the expenses of the current
campaign. General Dick declines to
accept the proposal on the ground
that what the committee spends is
the committees business, and takes
occasion to refer to the Democratic
record on the corrupt practices act.
He writes as follows:
CHAIRMAN DICKS LETTER.
Hon Charles P. Salen, Chairman
Democratic State Executive Com
mittee, Columbus, Ohio:
Dear Sir: Acknowledgement is
hereby made of your letter of Sept.
II. You are right in taking it for
granted that the Republican organi-
zatien will confine its meetings, lit
erature, and other proper expendi-
lures, incident to the campaign.'
Regarding your several PROPOSE
tions, must say as to the first, that
every expenditure made by the Re
publican State organization, or any
agent thereof, in behalf of the elec-
tion of the State ticket or legislative
candidates is first authorized by me,
and all such expenditures are entered
in itemized form in record kept and
maintained for that purpose at the
headquarters of the. Republican
State committee.
"As to the second proposition all
receipts of money by the Republi-
can State organization, or any of its
agents, are now entered in such a
record, with the names and address
es of the donors, and the
AMOUNTS CONTRIBUTED.
Concerning the third and fourth
paragraphs of your letter, 1 will
state that during the past seven
years, or since 1895, when the law
known as the Garfield corrupt prac-
tices act making it obligat to file
such statements as you now propose
was passed, the only party organiza-
ton and candidates carefully and
conscientiously complying with all
the provisions of that law were
those of the Republican party.
"The records will show the con-
trary to have been the course of the
Democratic organization and candi-
dates, which you now represent.
The law was repealed by the last
Legislature, the bill for its appeal
being introduced by Mr.. Devaul, the
Democratic Representative from
Monroe couhty, large majority of
Democrats and Republicans voting
| for it.
| There was no request from the
Republican State committee for its
repeal. That committee was willing
to comply with the provisions of the
law so long as it remained in force
There was no public demand for its
repeal. Ny observation is that there
has been no public demand for its re-
enactment. Therefore. 1t is logical
to conclude the public has little OF
no direct
INTEREST IN THE MATTER.
"Since your party did not comply
will the law when it was in force,
can not now understand your great
anxiety to carry out its provision:
after it has been repealed. So fan
as the State Republican committee
is concerned, it's books are oper
to the inspection of all whose
business it is to examine them Be
yond this the committee declines tC
go, believing there is no adequate
reason or call for making pub
lie its offairs. We believe that by
reason of the faithful compliance
with the law during the past sever
/ Years, the public mind has beer
Idisabused of the suspicion that the
Republican State organization il
given to the corrupt methods in
the use of money.
Sin view of the above considera
tions, am led to the conclusion that
sufficient reasons do not exist why
the Republican State committee
should entertain your proposition
tn ough it is not our desire to suggest
or advise what course your commit
tee should pursue in the premises.
every truly yours,
Charles Dick, Chairman.
GEN. KEIFER is a candidate for
Congress in the Springfield district