Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-12

WIN He Fight For This Measure7
President Roosevelt has been signally
successful in making his personal and
official power and influence felt in legis-
lation by Congress. His course in this
respect has not received the unqualified
Endorsement Of the country. and leaders
Of his party are at odds with him in con-
sequence. but he has persisted in cxerting
executive influence upon the Congress
since the opening Of the present session.
And together with uniavorable comment
upon the wisdom Of his course, serious
doubt has been raised as to the expedi-
ency of such interference, whether for
good or improper purposes.
However, now that he is launched upon
the comparatively new and doubtful field
Of executive interference. President Roose-
welt may as well go further, and direct
his efforts towards another pending mea-
sure, which thus far seems TO have escaped
his attention Il is known as a corrupt
practices measure, and is designed to pre-
vent national banks and other corpora
tions making contributions OF their funds
10 aid in the election Of President and
Vico-president and members OF Congress.
The text Of the bill is as follows:
"That il shall be unlawful for any ma
tional bank or any corporation organized
by authority OF any laws Of Congress TO
make a money contribution in connection
with any election 10 any political Office
Il shall also be unlawful for any corpora
ton whatever 20 make money contri-
button in connection with any election at
which Presidential and Presidential
electors or a Representative in Congress
Is TO be voted for, or any election by any
State Legislature OF a United States SEN
ator
every corporation which shall make
any contribution in violation Of the fore
going provisions shall be subject TO q fine
not exceeding 5000, and every officer
or director OF any corporation who shall
consent to any contribution by the cor
poration in violation Of the foregoing pro
visions shall be subject to a fine not ex-
ceeding 81 ,O0O"
This bill has passed the Senate and is
pending in the House Of Representatives
The responsibility for It's enactment
therefore, now rests upon the latter body
and the power TO secure favorable action
roposes with President Roosevelt and
Speaker Cannon. Ordinarily, the Presi-
dent would be absolved from all respon.
sibility for legislation by Congress, but the
policy of executive interference upor
which he has deliberately entered changes
the situation and leaves II for him to say
10 a large degree, what measures Congress
shall pass and what measures il shall
ignore All that he need do in relation
to this pending measure Is TO give th'
word 20 Speaker Cannon and the Speaker
viii see that the House votes accordingly
Thus the President, In the event that h,
really desires the passage Of this bill, car
bring about such result much more easil,
under existing conditions than he coulC
II the situation were reversed and The
bill awaited action by the Senate, insteaC
Of the House.
The situation is an awkward one for thI
President, it is true, but il is one that h
should not be afraid to face. He hal
taken other measures Of legislation unde
his charge, and there is every reason why
he should declare himself either for ol
against the proposed law TO prohibit
political contributions by large corpora
tions He stands charged with having
been materially aided in his election Z,
the Presidency, II not actually elected
by liberal contributions made by grea
corporations. Of money illegally takei
from their stockholders, TO the cam
paign fund Of the Republican Nationa
Committee. During the campaign o
1904 the charge that corporation none,
was being used in his behalf was made b,
his Democratic opponent for the Presi
dency, and on the eve of the election
President Roosevelt made public an in
dignant denial in which he practical,
asserted that Judge Parker was a liar.
Today the whole country knows tina
Judge Parker was telling the truth. No,
one branch Of Congress has passed a bill
which aims TO prohibit such unlawiu
and oouupting contributions in tn
future. What will President Roosevelt
do win he further the enactment q
this measure, or will he use his oihci,
influences 10 dcfoaf IL