The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-13
RECOMMENDED REFORM.

In his message President Roosevelt admirably
declares: There is no enemy Of free government
more dangerous and insidious the corr7lp-
ton Of the electorate No one defends or excuses
corruption, and 1t would seam to follow that none
would oppose vigorous measures to eradicate Il.
recommend the enactment: Of law directed against
bribery and corruption in Federal ele ctions. The
details Of such law may be safely left TO the wise
discretion Of the Congress but it should go far
as under the Constitution 1t is possible to go. and
should include severe penalties against him who
gives receives a bribe intended to influence his
act opinion elector; and provisions for the
publication not only Of the expenditures for nomi-
nations and elections Of all candidates. but also of
all contributions received and all expenditures made
by political conmittees.'
What Mr.. Roosevelt himself has done to en-
courage the very form Of corruption which he here
condemns rises up and thunders over what he says.
There can be no doubt of the sincerity the Wis
dom Of his recommendations and they may be taken
for their intrinsic worth but it is impossible TO
get the case of John Edward O'Sullivan Addicks of
Delaware, by al, odds the nest evil influence of
day in politics. Left to his resources Addicts
would have long since died out Of power, but he has
survived and prolonged his malgn control solely
through the aid and encouragement of Mr.. Roosc-
velt At all times Addicks has found the eNccu-
tive and secured what he wanted in the way of
appointments. Ad1icks has been Mr. Roosevelt-S
vice regent Of the Delaware machine occupying the
same relation to the national machine as the sena-
torial bosses elsewhere. Delaware has not had a
Senator, but the President has had his Ad1icks.
Now that politics is no longer the prime cCn-
sderaton or Addicks political necessity with Mr.;
Roosevelt the lattel's encouragement may be with.
held; q consummaton to he wished. For the public
good it is to be hoped that gratitude to the Della
ware man Will not influence the Presidents actions,
but that he will now for the first time pursue his
loudly exploited proposition that there must be nc
compromise with the corrupt boss in politics. His
message has the right ring.
Vigorous legislative measures against corrupters
Of the ballot are a demand of the day A strong
Federal law against bribery, equal to the task OF
furnishing the man who buys or attempts to buy OF
sells attempts to sell his vote, would have a cor
rective tendency. Just how far such a law could &c
under the Constitution is. as the President indi
Gates, question. The law would be intolerable as
an instrument Of imperialism force bill Civ
ing Federal courts Jurisdiction and control over State
elections but II It were possible to conne the law
to the mere punishment Of the specific offense ant
its operation strictly to the trial of criminal
it would undoubtedly prove salutary in instances
where the enforcement Of State laws was lax.
The constitutional question would seem to arise
also in the case Of a Federal law compelling State
committees to publish all contributions received
Much good would be done, however, by compelling
| the national committees to make such publications
That Republican Congress will pay serious heet
to Mr.. Roosevelts recommendations along this lin,
is scarcely to be thought of-the friends of protec
ton will not be likely to give the snap away o.
fho that lorx Tho
But all men will agree that vote-buying is a forl
of corruption at present too generally manifested il
this country and that honester politics is highly dc
srabe in national elections. II Congress- with ful
regard for State rights. can do something toward
suppressing the one thing and promoting the othe
the nhtion will applaud. incidentally. we shall b
glad to forget about Mr.. Addicks if Mr. Roosevelt
| will give us further occasions for remembering
! him.