The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-09-28


Judge Parker's comment upon the
action OF the New York Life Insur-
ance company in giving nearly fifty
thousand dollars To the republican
national con mittee for campaign
purposes hits the nail pretty squarely
on the head.
Aside from the question OF wheth-
or the policy holders money should
he squandered In this way, rests the
more weignty consideration OF the
influence upon the party accepting
such contributions.
The forefatheIs Of the nation rec
o2nized the principle that II a person
receives iayors froui another, II Ii
human nature for him TO try and re-
ciprocate, so they forbade even the
president from receiving gifts from
foreign governments or rulers
II may not be generally known,
but 1t Is fact that In past years
soue OF the large corporations In the
east have contributed TO the treasur-
les OF both the leading political COM
mittees.
OF late years the republicans have
received far more money than the
democrats, and in many instances
companies that formerly gave up to
both parties have donated only to
the republican organization, for the
reason that they felt that party bet
ter represented their interests, and
because they did not think the dem
ocrats had much chance, 80 there was
no reason 10 curry favor with the
last named organization.
The fact that corporation con-
tributes large sums Of money TO q
campaign shows upon Its face that
the act Is improper.
| II Is done for the purpose OF put
ting the political party under obliga-
tions to the company that does 1t.
In other words, IL sisa very .hiniy
veiled form OF CORRUPTION. The COR
porations that give UP this money
want to stand In. and they expect "a
more than make their contributions
back by being allowed to do some
thing In the future that Is not actual
ly legal.
IL Is an indirect effort TO corrupt
, every Officer who may be elected or
the ticket OF the party accepting
} such donations.
/ Not infrequently these contribu
tions are made without the candi
! dates knowing anything about then
/ until after they are elected and the
! money has been spent. and then
e when the nominees have taken once
5 the first time that corporation tha
: has made donatson.to the campaigI
: wants something done that is irregu
y lar, It's agents inform The officehold
a ers that they owe their election, OF al
a least valuable assistance 20 that end
o TO some company that II Is possihl
n the public servant knows little o
q nothing about.
y II Is high time that stop wa
e put 10 this pernlcious practice, an
c the reform In this direction shoul'
u 20 even still further, and TO the ex
O tent OF cutting down the immens
-campaign funds that some party OF
panlxations hnd themselves In pos
session OF. prior n a presidential
e election.
n IL Is no secret that the republican
e have had millions al their dispose
o ia the three last national campaigns
= and Il is ridiculous 10 suppose tha
/ such a vast amount OF money Is use
Ie for legitimate purposes.
J. lly courtesy IL Is called campais
e fund, while actually II Is corruI
- tion fund.
n The system should be changed, 4
n II Is demorallzing and often placs
N decent public servants Ia most en-
Ig barrassinR position, as without an
previous consent Upon their par
Of they are likely 10 ind upon takin
~ otiice that they have been alread
4. sold by the campaign COMMITTEES
A. the corporate interests -- Butte Mine