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

10 contribute large sums OF money "
campaign funds, would ind In an abso
forfeiture OF their charters. q reason VIII,
they should not make such contributions
/ think II will be a protection to corpora
uons and TO candidates against demand
upon them. and a protection To the people
against the payment OF consideration fo
contributions by them. TO the injury o
the representation OF the people. IL In.
repeat, because Of the difiiculty OF prov
Ing and Furnishing the crime OF buyins
votes that some other measures seem u
b. desirable fp $50.
President Jackson. I'm "a communicated
10 his cabinet in 1893 condcmning the us<
of the funds OF the Bank In its attempt
20 secure "A renewal OF It's charter, said:
"Hovins taken these preliminary step,
10 obtain control over public opinion. th'
Bank came into Congress and asked a
new charter. The object avowed by many
of the advocates OF the Bank was 10 ps
ne President 10 the test. that the country
might know his final determination reis
tive To the Bank prior 10 the ensuing
election. Many documents and articles
were printed and circulated at the ex-
pense Of the Bank 20 bring the people tc
n favorable decision upon It's prctensions
Those whom the Bank appears 10 have
made its debtors for the special occasion
wsre warned OF the ruin which awaited
and attempts were made 10 alarm the
whole people by painting the depression In
the price OF property ana produce and the
general loss, Inconvenience and distress
which u was represented would imme-
diately follow the reelection of the Presl-
dent in opposition 10 the Bank. "-"Mes-
sages ana Papers Of the Presidents" Vol
III. y. ..
The president Of the Bank was. by reso.
f,,,f - al AT bD N Ila
20 be prepared and circulated such docu-
rnents and papers as may communicate a.
the people information In regard 10 the
nature and operations Of the bank" The
expenditures puTpOriing To have beer
made under the authority Of such reaolu-
tlon were about $4,000. including the pur-
chase OF some 100 Oo0 copies OF newspapers
reports and speeches made I'm Congress
Tho government directors OF the Bank
having called for IA specific account oi
these expenditures. the board renewed the
power already conferred and. by resolu'
tion. authorized It's president "to continu'
his excrtions for the promotion OF said OBJ
1cct" Referring 10 this propaganda, Jack.
son said In the message above quoted:
"The Bank T. thus converted into n vast
electionccrinp engine.
"And the money which belongs 10 the
stockholders and 10 the public has beer
freely applied In efforts to degrade IN
public estimation those who were sup
posed 20 be instrumental I'm resisting the
wishes OF this grasping and dangerous In.
>tituton.
'''Thc refusal to render an account OF the
mnnner In which a part OF the money sx.
pended has been applied gives just cause
for the suspicion that II has been used for
purposes which IL is not deemed prudent
20 expose tn the eyes of an intelligent and
virtuous people. Those who act Justly do
Lao. Ite,I.s H.. hgtF rll a y
plantations when tho propricty Of their
conduct Is brought into question
In his afth annual message. Jackson
said
The question is distinctly presented,
whether tho people OF the United STATE
are to govern through representative,
chosen by their unbiased gunragcs, oi
whether the money and power of great
corporation are to be secretly cxerted ia
influence their judgment and control thcl,
decisions. II must now be determined
whether the Bank shall have its candi.
dates for all Offices I'm the country. from
the highest to the lowest, or whethe,
candidates on both sides OF political ques
ton- shall he brought forward as hereto
fore and supported by the usual means.
Again the relation OF the money OF cor
poratons To party organizations ana ths
ballot has become nm Issue but we now
that anmating the contentious OF an ear.
lisr pcriod. In the recent Prosidcntin'
campaign, u awakened n recognition 10y
both the loading candidates OF It's extent
and OF it, consequent dangers. The ne
cessity for remedial legislation has since
found expression In the following recon-
mendat!ons Of tho Presidents message:
''rhc power of the Government 90 pro
tcct tho integrity of The elections OF It's
own officials is inherent, and has been
recognized and affirmed by repeated dec
larationp of tho Supreme Court There Il
no enemy Of free government more dan
gcrous and none 80 lnsidious ms the cor
ruptionS OF tho electorate. No one dctend'
or excuses corruption. and II would seoi1
to follow that none would oppose Nlgor'
Gus measures to eradicate II. | recon.
mcnd the enactment OF law directed
ngaiust bribery and corruption In Federal
elections. The details OF such law may
be 10 fcly left to the wise discretion OF the
Congress. but 1t should go as far az under
the Constitution IL is possible TO go. and
should include severe penalties against
him who gives or receives "A bribe intend
cd 10 influence his act or opinion rs AT
clcctor: and provision for the publication
not only OF tho expenditures for pomina
tions aud elections OF all candidates, bW
olso of OH contributions TccCired aud crpendi
tuves made BY political conniiices.'
Ill.
Therefore. upon the highest ana best
authority, II ~ evident that somcthue
should bc done. Facts are moro pcrsua
sive in an appeal 10 public opinion thar
the most powerful argument. especially
upon "A subject about which almost every
one has views, moro or less well founded
American patriotism Is n living reality
and finds expression during national Pres
IdCntial elections. However great th'
prosperity OF tho United states, sentiment
and Ideals arc In the end tho most con
trolling forces. There IL on that accoun
a good deal of scnsitivcness i'm regard {,
our electoral practices rather than 10 on
electoral system, but the resulting critt
cIsrn is a healthy one and does not mean
90 those who understand Il. that polite
I'm America ere more corrupt or ,rS7 tu
spirinE than In other countries. but j
does mean that the American people i'm
sIst that their politics shall bo loss cor
rupt and more inspiring Conditions h,r
prevailing demand that We seek in uu
own historical experience guidance tu de
tcrmine the way To further efcCtuul prog
ress. The principle at the foundatlcr H
| American political Institutions iS CS>rE
tiaIly that OF individualism and Solf-d.
| rccuon.
To guide us In the solution ~ the prob
lem. there are abundant Legislative prccc
dents Fifteen States have. since iNN
adopted so-called Corrupt Practice
Acts to restrain and limit rapidly In
ercssing campaign contributions and eS
| pcndtures.
The first OF these iaws vTs enacted Il
/ New York In 1910 X defined such prsc
| ticcR In some detail, but was very inef
fcctiVc. requiring merely reports OF tn
expenditures OF candidates. there being NJ