Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-12-14
FOR ELECTION REFORM
To Legislate Against Campaign
Contribution Evil.
FREE TRADE WITH PHILIPPINES
II May Not Come This Session-Mod-
crate Tarif 10 he Continued Against
Sugar and Tobacco Senate Per-
kins' Remarkable Memory.

0OkME anu IOUacCO MI =
kins' Remarkable Memory.
Washington, Dec. IL. - Especial. =
Election reforms. especially In h mat
ter of contributions to campaign fund s
viii, receive "A large amount of atten
ton ia congress-, although just how u
pass a satisfactory law covering such
cases is one of the unsolved problems
Several able lawyers have introduced
bills designed to reach the evils, but
elections belong to the states almost
wholly. Even the presidential elec
tons are state affairs. The states
choose the electors, and the electors
choose the president and vice presi
dent. These electors might be chosen
by the legislatures IL that course was
preferable, and in the early days OF
the nation that was the method pur-
sued. Ii may seem anomalous that
the national legislature a no control
over the election of a president OF the
nation, but such Is the fact. Congress
sentatives and on that account may be
able to regulate campaign contribu-
lions and expenses in such elections.
Funds Go to State Committees.
In presidential years campaign funds
are nearly always sent to state com
mittees by the national committees. OF
course there are expenses for speak
ers, literature, headquarters and cam
paign paraphernalia, but the disburse-
ments for getting out the voters and
for the of voters in doubtful
states are made through the state or
CARNATIONS. National legislation can
not reach state committees, and there
Is some doubt whether a national com
mittee could he made subject to a fed
eral law.
Reverts to Public Sentiment.
In the opinion Of those who have
given the most careful attention to the
subject the beneficial results which
will follow the introduction Of many
bills and the discussion in both houses
Of congress Is the effect on public sen
timent. Large campaign funds will be
discouraged, and corporations will hest.
tate before giving liberal sums as In
the past. The party workers and the
men to whom the money Is paid will
be as clamorous as before, but they
will have to take smaller amounts.
Free Trade With Philippines.
1t is not the intention Of the Repub.
leans to allow absolute free trade with
the Philippines during the present ses.
sion of congress, though very few Re
publicans have any fear on the score
of damage to American products. Sen
ator Elkins, who joined the beet sugar
men In the fight against Cuban reel
procity, says that he has not the slight
est fear that Philippine products will
compete with those of the United
States so as to do the least damage to
American Industries. Other senator's
and representatives feel the same way,
but out of Difference to promises that
were made when the treaty which ced-
ed the Philippines vas ratified there
seems TO be a disposition to continue q
moderate tariff against the chief prod
ucts of the island, sugar and tobacco,
until ten years from the time the ces-
sion was made. That will be four
years hence.
System Of Memory.
Senator Perkins OF California has a
marvellous memory for names and
faces. He never forgets the name or
face of a man IL he is of any conse-
Quence or Importance. He does II by
association. III he Is introduced to a
man he learns his residence. IL In a
city he ascertains the street and num-
Der, II In the country the town and
county. He associates the mans face
and name with a place where he met
him and also with his residence. This.
together with a naturally acute men,
DRY, enables him to place men quickly
when he meets them a second time
even after the lapse of many years. 81
could now sit down and name a thou
sand men In California;" said the SEN
ator, "and give the street and number
and town in which each lives"
Contemporary Of Allison.
The late Senator Mitchell OF Oregon
| ChtCtCu lnc SCuutC uESl VIII Wlilldll
B. Allison Of Iowa. That was In March,
1873. His service had twice been in
terrupted, but he had always been a
strong man In his state. It Is doubtful
when reckoned by dollars and cents IL
any senator ever procured as much for
his state as Mitchell. Oregon was pc
culiarly situated In its demands. Its
rivers and harbors need a great deal in
the way Of improvements; public lands
and Indians required legislation; laws
relating to mines, to bridges. to forest
reserves, had to be passed.
There were constant demands upon
Mitchell which required visits to all of
the departments. Few senator's ever
work as hard for their constituents as
did the late Oregon senator.
An Old Story.
Year after year the report Of the
Maritime Land company of Nicaragua