New-York tribune., 1905-12-18
ASK NEW VOTING LAWS.
Committee on Reform Suggests
Election Legislation to Governor.

Albany Dec. 17-The executive committee OF
the Association TO Prevent Corrupt Practices at
Elections of which ex- Mayor Seth Low of New
York Is chairman. and William Church Osborn is
secretary, gave out tere tonight letter which
they had sent to Governor Higgins suggesting
legislation for the publication of elections, which
they regard as desirable. They call attention to
the fact that bribery is alleged to be rampant
at elections in many parts of the State, and
declare that the explicit anti bribery provisions
of the Penal Code are disregaTded because no
person has motive for their enforcement suf-
hcient to make him invoke the criminal laws
against one who may be a neighbor and
friend
1--WE believe" the letter says, that the legfs-
lature should give other weapons than the GRIM
inal law to protesting citizens. Campaign con-
tributions by corporations should be prohibited
Itemized statements OF expenses should be re-
quired of political committees and others as
well as Of candidates Candidates should be
punished for bribery by forfeiture of office and
political parties should be punished by loss OF
votes"
It declares that recent joint compacts, as at
Lyons and Elrnira- against bribery and many
other indications, prove growing public senti-
ment on the subject and that by giving re-
sponsible citizens the right to force judicial
investigation. free from the complicated ma
chinery the criminal law. of the truth of state
ments as the fact of bribery. public opinion
will rapidly and successfully assert itself"
1t proposes legislation differing from that in
force elsewhere in two important respects:
First-By providing that any citizen may force
judicial inquiry to which he shall be party
with the right Of producing testimony and OF
examining witnesses as to the truth or state
ments, and the existence of bribery.
Secondly providing that where political
party has been guilty, by its agents. Of bribery
in election district IL shall lose its votes in
that district.
The letter adds:
Candidates practically never bribe in person;
it is for the most part conducted through the
political parties hence the party should be pun
ished and the honest voters OF party should
be punished, for allowing their representatives
to buy the dishonest. The loss of the votes OF
a few election districts would not affect the
larger offices, but would be fatal to the smaller
The hope Of defeating an opponent by sucn
means is strong enough motive TO secure the
active aid of citizens not usually identified with
the publication of politics.
The of this principle elsewhere has pro
duced the only successful legislation against
this disease of the electorate The law already
provides forfeiture against a candidate; we sug-
gest forfeiture against a party, by depTiVing 1t
of the vote in each election district where 1T IS
proven guilty. This is merely extension OF
principle already adopted by our law The local
agents of d party bribe for the party and It's
candidates; we urge that the parties and can
didates should suffer for the acts of their agents
Both ex-Mayor Low and Mr. Osborn signed
the letter to the Governor. which urges him to
include these suggestions in his message to the
legislature.