Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-14
WAR ON BRIBER Y
REFORM LEAGUE TO START a
CAMPAIGN.
President John e. Semmes Anxious to
Make an Example of Representa-
tive-Elect Jackson.

dispatch from Baltimore says: AS
| result of the revelations of bribery In
the recent election on the eastern shore
vigorous campaign for the passage by the
next legislature of a stringent corrupt
practices act will be begun Immediately by
the Reform League. This action waS de-
cided upon at specially called meeting Of
| the executive committee Monday afternoon
in the office of Mr.. John E. Semmes, in the
Equitable building.
The league is prepared to take an ag-
gressive stand on this question. Now. It is
believed. when public sentiment is aroused
and indignation is general over the expos
ures. is the time to make a successful
fight for the enactment of such legislation.
Mr.. Semmes. who is president of the
! league, speaking of the action Of the COM
mittee. said yesterday:
This is no new discovery-this bribery
and corruption admitted by Mr.. Jackson
on the eastern shore. While 1t Is true that
such practices are more general and ex-
| tensive there than in other parts of the
state they are by no means confined to the
first congressional district. 1t is fact
that votes are bought and sold in the other
districts as well. Nor is Mr.. Jackson the
only guilty man In the state. There are
others in both parties, the difference be-
tween them and Mr.. Jackson being that
they have not yet been caught.
Everybody has known for a long time
that large sums OF money are spent at
every election in buying votes on the east
ern shore. but Mr.. Jackson is the first man
to admit openly and publicly that such
things are done. His admissions have
impress upon the people with brutal frank
ness the disgusting nature of this traffic.
"Now is the Time"
1.-THE Reform League has known Of these
conditions for years, and we have time and
IN e1o
pass a corrupt practices act. only to have
the bill defeated each session by the poll
ticians.
There is nothing to hope from the poll
ticans. One side is as bad as the other,
and both democrats and republican poll
ticians have contributed to the defeat of
corrupt practices acts that have been Of
fered at our instigation at Annapolis. Now
because the people are indignant and
aroused over the openness with which the
bribery has been conducted and the defiant
attitude of Mr.. Jackson, these politicians
are all declaring in favor of g. corrupt prac-
tees act. The only time a politician will
promise to be good is when he is afraid of
being caught.
I'VE have been hammering away at this
bribery question for long time, endeavor-
ing to accomplish something that will check
it. Now that the Sun has taken up the
fight and public sentiment against the evil
is crystallizing, 1t seems as If there is an
excellent opportunity to put through next
time the bill for which we have been fight
ing for years.
I'VE will take the initiative in this mat
ter and viii begin an aggressive campaign
Immediately with a view of keeping the
public aroused to the Importance of this
legislation and the disgrace of existing
conditions.
THE fight against bribery and in favor
of a law that will render 1t impossible
must be kept up until it is won. Now is
the time to strike. Mr.. Jackson's admis-
sions have undoubtedly greatly helped the
no
men throughout the state in way that
they have not been aroused before on this
subject
To Revise the Act.
At the meeting Of the executive commit
tee there was some talk Of taking action
looking to the unseating of Mr.. Jackson
beca use of his confession that money which
he had furnished was used in Influencing
votes for him. This statement alone il
was considered. should be ample ground
for Congress to declare his seat vacant and
for the governor to order a new election on
the eastern shore.
1t was also suggested that the league
take some steps toward Furnishing the men
who actually handled and distributed to
the voters Mr.. Jackson's money but II
was finally decided that the league should
concentrate Its efforts upon the corrupt
practices act and leave the contesting Of
first district.
Mr.. Semmes, however, did not hesitate
to say that he thought Congress should
not allow Mr.. Jackson to take his seat. and
added that he would like to see the men
who distributed his money convicted and
punished.
While there have been offers in both
parties. he said. who have been guilty.
or Just such things as Mr.. Jackson adj
mlts, 1t Is true that he is the most con-
spicuous example We have at present OF
these methods and while l have no feel
ing toward him think an example should
be made of him."
Inc committee adopted resolution de-
claring that 1.-The committee on legislation
be directed to revise the corrupt practices
act presented at the last session of the
legislature, if in the judgment of the com
mfttee such revision should be necessary.
and report its draft of such legislation TO
this committee at an early date, so that
the measure may De published and dis
cussed prior to the holding of the state
conventions