Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-16
To Curb Electoral Corruption.

Bourke Cockran's promise TO move
I'm the coming session of congress a
resolution to provide for investigating
campaign contributions to presidential
elections Is already provoking much
discussion. There are few who will
dispute the patriotic purpose OF the
eloquent New York representative or
the desirability OF curbing the yenaIity
that disgraces our presidential con-
tests. II is estimated that in Indiana
alone there are no less than 10000
''fioaters." whose votes go To- the party
having the most money and making
the largest bids for them.
But the question arises as to the
power of congress to- enter into the
proposed investigation and to restrain
corruption of the suffrage. as IL Is
urged that presidential electors are
state officials. and therefore beyond
the reach OF federal legislation. Con
gress has inquired. however. into cor
ruption in the elections of members
OF both the senate and house. On
proof of election corruption. members
of the house have been elected from
their seats. \ way. therefore. may bO
found for congress to- deal with the
elections for president without infring-
ing upon the rights of the states or
amending the constitution.
An indecent plea. says the Philadel
phia Record. is made for the practice
which Bourke Cochran proposes to
curb with the assertion that every
body who knows anything of cam
paigns knows that corporations con
tribute more or less to- one side or the
other. and sometimes To both IL is
with this knowledge that il Is proposed
To legislate against gigantic evil. An
honest citizen will have no hesitation
to reveal what he contributes for the
legitimate objects OF a cause which
he deems promotive for the public
welfare. He has no motive for conceal
ments. IL j. not so with the corpora
tons Their campaign contributions
are made in secret They are often
made. too. without the consent of
stockholders. many of whom IL CON
suited would Indignantly protest
against such lawIess expenditure of
their money.
In this consists one of the iniquit-
Gus features OF corporation levies of
money for political campaigns. The
naive confession that they sometimes
contribute to both sides sufficiently
demonstrates that their money IS inten-
ded to corruptly influence both sides
for securing ends inconsistent with the
public welfare. The multi-millionairel
directors OF a colossal trust may indi-
vidually subscribe what they please
for a political campaign The more
they personally contribute TO maintain
a tariff system that enables them To
gather an enormous spoil the more
readily will II be seen that they have |
an interest hostile 10 the people at |
large. But IL is downright dishonesty
in them or in the directors OF any other |
corporation To dip into the corpora
tion Golfers and take money of the
stockholders not subscribed or intend
ed for use in political campaigns |
Money thus dishonesty taken from
stockholders without their knowledge
and consPp' : not designed for honest
use in political contests.
IL Is against this dangerous iniquity.
never tc-ore SO fragrant as in the pres
idential election just decided. that
Bourke Cochran has declared war He
deserves the encouragement and