The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-05-02
ETHICS OF CONTRIBUTIONS.


Tho Chicago Chronicle. something
of a moral delinquent among Amer.
lean newspaper. discusses the or
tributiUn oi 800 600 by the uiitci
states steel corporation 10 the Cali.
iornia relief fund and compares " with
much larger contribution Ly the
same intrrcsts to TIE l,.pI}iicr com.
paign funds Of 1896 1900 1ui 1905 II
says that perhaps r)ni' iissrun;icd
stockholder may htat'.Hr cJ'EpI'in
at the donation rs Wrongful diver.
sion of stockholders money by of
cials Then It commends the neccs.
sity ~ the contributions as help ~
enable people to resume industry and
business in which the steel trust is di.
roctly concerned and contends that
the campaign contributions we're justi
fable because they were Intended 90
protect fho values Of the steel com.
panys property and prevent the de-.
probation of It's value. says the H'rs
ton Post
Sensible people viii have uo tsou
bile in reaching the conclusion ths'
There is vast difference bet yocn %
corporation using iIs resources for a
humane purpose and divcrting 70 for
the purpose Of corrupting the suf.
fraco of the country in order that its
special privileges may not be- tam
porcd with Any influence that appeals
otherwise than 10 voters reason Is
corrupt and should not be tolerated
Nobody will contend that the mil.
lions used by the Republican national
committee In 1906 we're expended 10
appeal to the intelligence Of the yo..
crs. The money was devoted 10 whole.
sale bribery and the marshaling under
o single banner Of all the corrupt ~
ements OF the country A cause that
must be- maintained bv such methods
as the late Senator Hanna pursued
can not possibly involve the honor
Of the nation. and experience has
shown that thos" methods have been
gricyously buTdonsomc 10 the people
The money contributed by the steel
trust did not save the people any
thing ON the contrary. In return FOR
10. donation the steel duties were IN.
creased and in the nine years that
have elapsed since that concern has
oNtorted through the instumcntality
OF Dnglcyism several billions Of dol
lars from the producing masses ~
the country Moreover b was found
that Hanna's system worked so well
that IL opened an era OF easy money
for the Republican campaign mana.
gers. for the system Of exchanging
predatory legislation for campaign
funds seems to bc firmly fastened
upon the country
There has been a great outcry since
The insurance revelations Tor cleaner
methods. The president recommended
law requiring publicity for campaign
commiit' q rocoipri and expenditure
and the sentiment In favor of laws pr1.
hlbiting corporate contributions 20
campaign funds rs strong. but Il Is no.
tlccd congress is slow 10 enact into
ne bills relating 10 the subject. the
majority apprchcnding the danger 20
republican control involved In shut
ting of campaign funds from those
sources which have furnished the sin.
ows of war for ten years past. In
these days Of newspapers, telegraph
and easy communication. il Is not
necessary for political party 20
spend more than half million dpi-
lars In campaign unless It Is 10 bribo
the vicious elements OF the country.
and that is a poor way, indeed, no
maintain our national honor"