The Washington herald., 1906-12-11
BELMONT IS HONORED
Efforts in Behalf of Publicity
Act Recognized.
RENDERED DINNER AT HEALY's
Distinguished Democrat Discusses
Law and Hopes for It's Application
TO Federal EIections-Statute. He
Says, Has Been Complied with in
HuEbes-Hearst Contest.

New York. Dec 10.-Bird s. Coler,
Charles A TOwne. Edward Lauterbach,
August Belmont, and about 10o other re-
formers. members of the publicity law
organization, sat down al a dinner given
at Healy's restaurant tonight in honor
OF Perry Belmont's leadership in the
movement for corrupt practices Iegisla-
tion.
The TefOrmers were unanimous n prais-
ing Mr. Belmont, but so decidedly ct odds
when il came to personal questions among
themselves. that Comptroller Metz was
led 10 remark toward the close OF the
dinner that if he had been blindfolded
ne might have imagined himself at a
meeting Of the Carpenters Union.
Herman Ridder presided Mr.. Ridder
admitted that the reformers' road is a
hard one 10 travel. The ordinary re-
former deserves considerable credit, but
when one appears who turns from his
automobile and such Iuxuries to devote
himself to a movement like this he is
doubly entitled to applause.
Leading Citizens at Feast.
The occasion has also the further pur-
pose Of impressing upon Congress the en-
tire practicabflity and virtue Of a like
measure to be applicable to national and
Congressional committees in their con-
tributious and expenditures during cam
paigns.
The subscribers embraced such men as
Herman a Metz comptroller; Bird s.
Coler. former comptroller; ex-Judge John
4 s
national committeeman; former Senator
Warner Miller, Congressman William
Sulzer Edward A. Bates, secretary Of
the State Workingmen's Association;
James J. Murphy. president OF Typo
graphical Union. No. 9; Samuel E. Don
nelly. secretary building trades arbitra-
tiOn committee, Edward n Shepard, Eu-
gene A. Philburn, Herman Ridder, pub
Usher Of the Stats Zeitung; Edward NJ
Grout. Supreme Court Justice Charles
II Truax. Cord Meyer, William McAdoo.
:. s. Mcclure. John 4. Henuessey, presi-
dent of the New York Press Club; Homer
Davenport, Corporation Counsel E. W.
Ellison. r. B. Van Cortlandt Edward
Lauterbach. Norman r. Mack. Demo
cratic national committeeman, and
Charles A. Conant.
Would Apply to Federal Elections.
Responding to the Fluctuations. Mr.. Bel
mont. the chairman of the New York
publicity committee. after expressing his
grateful appreciation Of the tribute, and
referring to what had been accomplished
in New York, had this to say of the
future of the organization and its intent
with respect to a wider scope:
The recently enacted publicity law
advocated a 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 ccntended-that campaign
money is public money. Il now remains
for us TO aid in the strict enforcement
of the new law. TO endeavOr to amend
It If in any respect it proves ineffective,
and if violated to institute searching in
quiries and TO secure the infiiction OF the
penalties provided by the law. 1t is the
purpose of our organization 10 promote
similar and uniform publicity laws in
other States where they do not now exist.
Ne are further called upon to aid our n2-
tional organization in securing a Fed
eral publicity law covering the national
and Congressional campaign committees
in order that the efficacy Of existing
State laws be not impaired by the alb
sence Of such national legislation. and
that the approaching Presidential cleo
ton may be conducted upon the lines of
publicity we have found so advantageous
and satisfactory in our own State"