Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-11
Mr.. BELMONT HONORED
CHIEF GUEST AT PUBLICITY AS
socIATIoNDINNER IN NETWORK

NEW YORK, December 11-More than
hundred nonpartisan reformers gathered at
Healy's restaurant, Columbus avenue and
Goth street, last night at dinner given to
Perry Belmont by the Publicity Law Or
ganization, which succeeded. in the last
session Of the legislature, through the en-
ergy of Mr. Belmont, in having passed the
bill compelling campaign committees to
disclose the source of campaign contribu-
tons and the purposes for which such con-
tributions were used.
AS the guest Of honor Mr.. Belmont sat at
the head Of the room, next to Herman Rid
der, who was asked to preside, as he said.
because 1t was well known that he could
not make speech" In introducing Mr..
Belmont as the chief speaker, Mr.. 7Ridder
said that it was a gratifying thing to find
"a millionaire who was willing to give up
automobiling and devote his time to poll
tics" The dinner. he said, honored the
man who not only did the work of having
the bill passed, but also furnished the am
munition. The reformer, Mr.. Ridder said,
had a very hard row to hoe, as he knew
from his own experience. 49, =
Mr.. Belmont's Thanks.
Mr.. Belmont said, in part:
ut will not be possible to express ade-
quately my appreciation of such kindness
as you have shown me tonight, but is not
the presence of so many representative
men to be regarded chiefly as an encourage
ment to the movement in which we are
all enlisted rather than as a special COM
pliment to any one?
1.-THE report Of what our essentially nom
partisan organization has accomplished
since its inception and of the formation Of
national organization arising from 1t on
the same lines has been placed in your
hands. 1t is of itself an inspiration to go
on with the work until finally completed to
the satisfaction Of all who desire letter
conditions in our municipal state and ma
tional elections"
After referring to the diversity Of the
organizations interested in the, movement.
mo political organization can monop-
olize the consideration, discussion or soiu-
ton of political questions of an economic
or social character for the advancement of
which they may be specially organized. 2
EVERY shade of opinion is represented in
our state and national publicity organiza-
tons. All Of us desire for the discussion
Of our respective principles and opinions
an open field during electoral campaigns
freed from the undermining and paralyzing
effect Of the secret money argument. All
campaign expenditures, but believe their
legitimacy best determined by publicity.
The Publicity Law. 800
1.-THE recently enacted publicity law, adj
vocated at Albany by our organization, has
successfully passed through its first trial;
its provisions have been generally complied
with. We have established in this state
the principle for which we have so long
contended-that campaign money is public
money. 1t now remains for US to aid in the
strict enforcement Of the new law, to en-
deavor to amend it IL in any respect it
proves Ineffective and if violated to insti-
tute searching inquiries and to secure the
infiiction of the penalties provided by the
law"
Ex-Representative Towne, after urging
the necessity Of passing a publicity bill
through Congress, said that he was sur
prised that the President had not men,
TONED such a. thing in his message and
thought that perhaps 1t was because of the
fact that some of his cabinet advisers were
well Informed on some of the occurrences
of the last presidential campaign
Mr.. Circuit urged that law be passed
that campaign contributions should be
used only for certain specified purposes.
He said that he did not think it was right
that one man should spend $4,000 in one
campaign for his own election, This criti-
cism of Hearst was echoed by. alexander
Troup of New Haven Bryan's friend.
Among those !, present were James p
Archibald, August Belmont, Charles NJ
Beattie. John s. Cosby, HomerSDavenport,
Robert E. Deyo, John H.. Delaney, William
B. Ellison. Ralph NJ. EASILY, Charles "
Fornes, Thomas Il. Feitner, Cha rles A.
Gardiner, Edward NJ Grout Bird S. Coler.
s. 8. Mcclure, John F. Mcintyre, Warner
Miller, Daniel Moynahan, Thomas E., Rush,
Charles H. Truax, Alexander Troup, R. B.
van Cortlandt, Herman Metz Charles A.
Towne, Samuel B. Donnelly, John Hen
messy. Arthur Greaves and Robert ADAM,