The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-03-10

IN rne s"y@fs' -ta,.s. m accordance VIII
Tho 'leourlging tendency Of the lesisia-
| ton ~ the hftecn SiatrH already enumer-
| stcd.
II IN especially incumbent upon the State
| OF New York, having IN 1880 taken the
| initla auve tn this form ~ legislation, 20 at
| once supplement It's deficient and ineNec-
| tive law New York. an important centre
| OF political activity In national campaigns
should place its.lf In line with the most
advanced isgisla lion Of other States O"-
Ing 10 the failure OF the New York statute
10 require any statement from political
or campaign committees. n Is possible 70
avoid publicity in respect 90 expenditure
for any amount or for any purposes. III
an irresponsible committee and not ths
candidate can be- made the medium OF dis
bursements. evasion Of the existing Law u
invited should publicity b. required ~
committees. under penalty ol forfeiture 0t
office and other effective punEhments
Fnch as are provided In several states, the
New York law would be rendered opera.
tive.
VII.
Should publicity Of expenditure by po-
litlcal committees have m" effect of re-
duciuI campaign contributions, Poltcal
machinery and party efficiency wou'd not
be- harmed The reduction would cut on
the camp followers. whose slight party
affiliations serve no other purpose than 70
give occasion for utterly useless and cN-
travagaut expenditure. poiiicsl or
gauizatlOn cannot be- too perfect 10 De et-
fectiye. but managers OF national STATE
and local committees have often expert
cnc"d the injury caused bY me employ
ment o. unnecessary campaign FUNDS. ab-
sOrblng and divcrting from then normal
ard more effective functions the NitaI en-
ergcs of political leadership
PARTY organizations are essential 70 par
~ government; their importance and use
filness iu our political system should be
fully recognized. They can not br main
taincd without the expenditure needed In
legitimate and honest politics but no pop
ulnr organization. commanding sufficient
amount OF interest among its followers,
viii suffer permanent disability because
Of limitations ana restraints upon con
tributious and expenditure me great
deuominatiOna religious organizations of
this country are supported ln great part .
bv small contributions when political or
ganizations are sustained hy the large
subscriptions Of the fcw. their activioes
become paralyzod hy the Development OF
n spirit Of dependence ON the few.
Voters should boz Informed 10y unr'-
strcted ara general diffusion ~ FACTS and
rguments pertinent 10 IN" issues hcfor'
tho country. The great mass "i voters
reach their conclusions with Iittl" assist
suce from the insirumcuialiti"S iowarc
which campaign Expense are toO "ftcu III
rectcd. Newspaper and periodicals arc
a moro effective educational force mar
tons ~ pamphlets usually distributed dur-
ing elections.
Voters depord upon mo Gg"t p1riio' = |
frame Issues 10 command ihrir .upp"r'
and 20 nOmius te proper" V"|lhcd 'ahdi |
dates II party organization ""r' H'
prove equal 10 this task n w. matter
small moment that b. succeeds iu raisIn |
large sums. on in p"rf"ciiu< " WHch1
that absorbs and distracts the W1iot por
tion Of the political activity 40 ih" com
maud Of the party.
Contributions by corpora tlous sh"uld he
restricted. The freedom Of individuals T.
contribute according 20 their m'ous anc
inclinations tu party organization n""c
not he intcrfercd with 10Y lcgi"lntion
There H. however, no inherent intividudi
right To- secrecy in respect 10 activities IN
hucncing the great court ui public opin-
lon which. as the result Of each national
election passes upon the rights ANA prop
crty OF all The turning ou of the light
cannot be deemed au unconstitutional In
crease OF Federal OF state control