The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-03-03
PUBLICITY OF
ELECTION
EXPENDITURES
PERRT BELM ONT In
N0rfb AmSyitdH Repiefo
For EebTnary

.,r,r.t..,, ~ isfG wag a little over flfDG1p
rbe enormously increased campaign -
oenditures during several of IN" recent
Presidential campaigns are 10 bs estl-
mated in millions.
Does the contrast imply corresponding
increase Of votes bought Docs the
change mean that corporations have been
brought into politics by assaults on Inc
currency and on vested rights? Docs II
mean that money protects money or thh'
the war-chest OF protection IL ineXhaust-
lllo7 Does II indicate that the destinies
OF the country are To be regulated by
combined interests?
II n remedy Is 10 be applied should u he
BY now laws or by party orEanizauohh
reforming themselves? Should tho new
laws be federal? Should corporations
should tradcs-unions DO permitted 10 give
money Ira elections? Ought the people 10
know how much money IL devoted 10 ths
defeat Of a candidate. or policy or party
VIII publicity promote or impede Such et'
forts? Would IL not, II required under et-
foctive penalties. increase the cmclency "'
existing laws?
Only wcll-nstructcd public opinion can
correctly answer such questions. Parry
leaders IN intimate touch with tho CON
duct OF political campaigns appreciate the
Intolerablc burdens and growing cviis OF
present conditions. Those who have CON
trlbutcd 10 campaign funds. and who nave
hoen closely identified with the more I'M
portant corporate and political activities,
arc among the most earnest advocates OF
measures tending 20 restrain such contrl-
buttons. especially on the part OF corpora
tions. Those who represent interests oi
,toclxholders. or who are themselves stock
holders. in corporations have perhaps most
keouly recognized the menace OF such
increasing exactlons. n is true that noth-
ing need be added 10 the present lesaI
rights OF the stockholdcr, a single btoch'
holder having already complete right OF
action I'm case Of expenditure Of any por-
tion OF corporate funds for pollucaI pur'
poses. Owing In part TO the present dlhi-
cuItios Of obtaining necessary information
individual stockholders have rarely bech
disposed 10 vindcate their rights. The en-
forccment OF publicity by Federal ana
state laws will assist IN bringing STOCK
holders suits.
Those who best know the danger lead ia
pointlng out the practical avenues OF sH-
cape. Unlike almost all other reform
movements this one has its origin amohS
politicians. 1t starts IN tho very center OF
politlcg. Usually, the rctormor encounters
objections arising out of tho experience OF
those charged with party responsibilities
Jackaon. Democrat OF Democrats, In his
contest with Tho i'ank of the United
states. first recognized ns nm issue the
threatened domination Of national pol
flies by corporate influences, ana CON
oucrod I'm what Professor Sumner IN his
Life of Jackson calls "onc OF the greatest
struRglcs between democracy and the
money mower" Tho clements OF mat MS
toric controversy seem now to ho gath
eriup for renewed conflict, but II ls IDLE
10 attempt To identify the present move
mcnt. essentially non-partisnn I'm It's ma
turo and national In ita extent win
either OF tho groat political parties
,,loee upon tho heels Of tho Presidential
campaign OF 1892, In which. 1t ~ known
millions were expended on both HidcH. MT.
Root speaking IN tho New YORK consul
tutlonal Convention OF 1894, In reference
to tho proposed Incorporation Into the
state Constitution OF an amendment rclh-
tive to Corrupt Practices said uHoNlS'u
Record. Vol. III. page $40:
"Tbe object of this provision is 60 ...
require tho Legislature to say what mon
ey may be used to procure the election ol
n candidate. Until that lS done. there ~
absolutely no limit to tho corruption. no
limit TO the purchase of votes, no limit 'o
the improper influence ~ votes or OF par
ties or OF party men.
'That is a very small step In tho dlrcc-
zion of tho Corrupt Practices Act In fore,
in ENGLAND. which has worked such adml'
robIo results. ... " you onumcrate the
wnys Ia which money may be used
and then Conhne candidates for OF
ace. marty committees, party agents, the
agents OF candidates, to those uses ana
as "A penalty for any knowing departure
from those limitations. forfeit the office
| Won will have a very different state of at'
foirs in respect to what has be
come one OF tho great and crying owls
, of our politics. .., The use OF money
! has come to such n pass at the hands ol
/ both Of the great political parties in TINS
country that We find enormous contribu
| tions necessary To maintain party ma
! chincrv. to conduct party warfare, and
! the effect IS that great moncycd interests
! corporate and personal, are oxcrlng year
/ Ia more and more undue innucncc IN 20
| lltlcal affairs. ... and political parties are
| every year contracting greater dents t'
| the men who can furnish tho money t'
! nsrforn the necessary functions " party
| warfare
Tho amendment reported from the Ju
| dietary Committee was as follows:
Article . is hereby amended Ivy addin,
! the following sections:
! "Scc. g. Tho Legislature shall. by gen
! ersl laws. declare the uses which may ~
| lawfully made of money or other valuable
! things by. or on behalf Of, any person. &
| nromote his nomination as a candidate
! FOR public Office. and by or on behalf of Z
| c,pdidat, to promote his election.
! .,Thc use or promise of money or othe
! valuable thing TO promote tho nomination
| for. or election 20, public office 90 any pcr
/ son otherwise than is expressly author
lied hy law. Is prohibited. and the persoi
] by whom or for whose benefit with In
J consent. couuivancc or procurement. tn
| same - so used or promised. AZ elected
| snail forfeit his office.
"Soc T. M corporation shuu directly ~
| Indirectly usc any ot It's money or prop
| ortv for. cor in aid w. any political part
| or organization. Or rur. or IN aid OF. an!
| c,ndIdatr for political ofticc or for noml
! nation for such office. or ~ any name
| use any ot it's money or property for an,
! political purpose whatever. or tor the re-
| imburscment or decentralization ~ an,
person Tor moneys or property so used
The third reading Of the umeudmon
was ordered nv q vote Of - to "a. but
| dld not pass mainly because. power bcin
/ 1lrrady lodged In the Legislature. 10 va
| unnecessary to Incorporate In the Con
! sututinu of the state what wns practical
4 lv statute.
Mr. Root referring to tho proposed r.
strictlou of corporate contributions. sale
II think some qualification would hay
| TO hc inserted. otherwise the gencr,
language would apply to such cofporr
tions as those which publish ncwspa
pcrs. The idea is to prevent N
great railroad companies. the great "