New-York tribune., 1905-11-15
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.

The annual farce of filing statements OF eiec-
+ion exnenses by candidates is now being en-
acted. Beyond satisfying certain curiosity con-
corning the personal relations OF Candidates 10
their campaigns. about the only use of the state
menfs is TO call attention TO the need Of sys-
fem which will secure real publicity for poiftlcal
contributions and expenditures.
II has sometimes been interesting for members
Of one party, when they have risen to heights OF
non partisanship and named for reelection a
ir1dge of the opposite party the strength OF
his aloofness from politics, to learn that wnlie
he was asking for their votes he was giving
thousands Of dollars TO defeat their candidate
for Mayor or Governor. Some speculative amuse-
lnent is likewise derived from a return OF $4,000
by candidate whose barrel" nobody doubts
was in some mysterious manner tapped to the
extent of $4,000 between the talk of the nomi-
nation and the canvassing of the returns. There
are so many ways of evading the law that re-
turn need not really measure the ultimate cost
TO man of his candidacy: and even when the
statement is perfectly complete and stralghttor-
ward as it doubtless is in most cases. 1t is OF no
significance as a safeguard against excessive eA-
penditures and corrupt practices.
What is needed is rot an account of the money
that candidates spend from their own purses
but an account of what is spent for eiectloh pur-
poses in any form, by them or by committees,
campaiga funds of both parties are usually much
larger than need be, their collection opens the
door TO grave abuses and their distribution, even
when honestly intended, tends TO demoralize the
electorate Therefore we heartily welcome Tue
formation of body of public spirited cltizehs
seeking laws to restrict campaign collections ana
provide more adequate safeguards against elec-
toral corruption. Public opinion is ripe for such
a reform Stockholders in corporations would
In IL
ticians and even the politicians have come to
realize that the money absorbing worker and
the brbe taking voter are both daughters OF tne
horse leech who can never be satisfied. Ii the
drain on both political parties could be stopped,
they would both be better off
A first step in reform should be the absolute
prohibition of the use of corporation FUNDS Ior
political purposes. Such use is wrong TO NIL
nority stockholders who may not share the
views of the managers using their money LIE
more serious objection. however, is that this is a
government of individuals based on manhood
suffrage and it is improper that an arunclal
corporation created by the people for speclnc pur
poses should employ its powers TO interfere WIN
the peope'S government. Any Sucn prohlbllloh
would doubtless be evaded TO some extent oIii-
GERS might make personal contributions and theh
receive increases of salary. Nevertheless, IN the
main the abuse can be stopped Then more eff
W S~NP
ment of officeholders. The laws are stringent on
that subject now but are hard to enforce, be-
cause the clerks pretend that they pay Volun-
tarilv and even when the law has been Squareiy
broken, are chaTy about giving evidence Oh ihe
fact Perhaps the requirement of pubic rec
ord of all contributions of placehoiders might De
useful: or even an absolute prohibition OF poilCl-
cal contributions by placehoders, at least In the
classified service. Tammany, however gets
hy-i iic clubs
to which clerks belong and make contributions
that are of course entirely non-political. F1nai-
lv it is obviously needful to require detailed
accounting of the ultimate destination of all po-
Iifical expenditures. Thus only can these be re
! stricted to legitimate campaign purposes
The task of those who are drafting bills on
this subject is by no means easy, and 1t VIII not
do for them to strike off what looks IKE
sweeping measure and hold 1t forth for the
legislature to pass under pain of denunciaton
corrupt 1t is necessary that the possible effect
of any measure be carefully considered. Some
nersons tried to dragoon bill through the leg1s-
lature last winter in the name OF reform whlch
would have been most unwiSe- 1t has Deen pro-
nosad that any officer be unseated / whose be-
half corrupt practices are proved 1hls Woulu
be an invitation TO n candidate expecting defeat
to put up job IN opponent ana IL might also
result in vacancies and litigations which would
block the machinery of government. Any meas
ures providing for forfeiture should require
thorough preliminary sitting Of the facts and the
making of a prima facie case In the opinion OF
competent tribunal before an officer should De
put 10 the expense of meeting an attack. Prob
ably the present English corrupt practice laws
will be found to offer the most valuable hlnts
for US We want to make decision OF elections
speedy and title to Office secure from pettifogglng
attacks At the same time, we want the most
effective and simple safeguards that can De oe-
vised against the excessive 1evying OF money for
campaign purposes as well as its corrupt use