The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-06

italists as jan individual has as much
 right to contribute to such purposes ana
 in proportion to his means, as has his
 less wealthy fellow citizen. Whatever he
 may do, based on a patriotic desire to
 help elect the candidates of that party,
 which 1t seems to him will best serve the
 interests of the country should be en-
 couraged.
 ]" Tt Is buc little while since the body
 of the people at large provided the legiti-
 mate expenses of a campaign. Then the
 farmer the lawyer, doctor and merchant,
 day laborer and banker each contributed something toward the erection of banners,
 the circulation of literature and the ex-
 penses of the public meetings, and each
 contributor was better citizen Tor It.
 Gradually and effectually, but surely, not permanently. has all this been changed. Some of the enterprises which have unduly thrived through favoritism and which have been permitted by stat ute to indirectly levy tribute upon the people have in the course of time become so rich and strong that they can and do contribute vast sums when 1t is made clear that it will be an advantage to them, and they contribute upon promise. direct or implied. that they shall continue to tax people for their own benefit. Upon such promises contributions have been not infrequently made in such large measure as to induce and procure col- onization, repeating and bribery in doubt ful states.
 CIacs Known as Floaters.
 'Thus was built up a class of voters
 known to local leaders as hoaters,' a
 class so numerous that party canvassers allot in their canvass books separate column headed with that name. This condition is recognized by party workers, local. state and national. They are no longer shocked by it. They sometimes l wonder where it is to end but under the
 stress of a campaign they postpone con- sideration until the next election. l am persuaded the time to begin the fight | against those who would control the re- suits of election contests for their private corporate interests, as distinguished from the public interests, should begin now, and whatever the result of election day be, it should be continued until the evil | is checked.
 "The excessively protected interests. which pour out their treasure in order | to continue existing and procure the pas sage of new laws permitting its further accumulation, have been Joined by the
 combinations popularly called trusts. Their plan Is to perpetuate the present eA
 or trusts as do not profit by tariff aid secure their profits by aid of monopolies. | Hence their officers are opposed to the enforcement of laws as against them. Purpose Clear as Monday. When such forces unite to furnish the ! money which they are promised controls | the election there purpose is as clear | as noon day. It Is to buy protection | to purchase four years. more of profit | by tariff taxation ana four years more of extortion from the public by means | of monopoly.
 Political contributions by corporations | and trusts means corruption. They can | not be honest. Merely business inter- | ests are moved by merely business con | alterations. A corporation subscrbes to l political party only because the corpor- ation expects that party through It's con- | trol of public officers-executive or leg | islative-to do something for the benefit | of the corpora ton, or to refrain from do- I ing something to it's injury. No other motive can be imagined. In the nature of | things no other motive can exist. The | relations established mean the expecta- | tion if not agreement. actual or implied, l that governmental action is to he influ-