Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1906-09-08
DISCUSSES POLITICS.
The MONEY Onestlnn.

ne money question.
Thus far / have dWclt upon subjects
which may not be regarded as strictly
partizan, but ] am sure that you will
pardon me If In this presence | betray
my interest In those policies for which
the democratic party stands. | have not
had ON opportunity to make a demo-
cratic speech for a year, and no one
not even u political enemy could be SO
cruel as to forbid me to speak Of those
policies on this occasion. our opponents
have derived not only partizan pleasure,
but also parti2an advantage from the
division caused I'm our party by the
money question. They ought not, there
fore, begrudge MS the satisfaction that
we find In the fact that unexpected con-
ditlons have removed the cause of our
difference, and permitted us to present
a united front on present issues I'm
lookedfor and unprecedented increase in
the production Of gold had brought a
victory to both the advocates of gold
and the advocates Of -metalism-the
former keeping the gold standard which
they wanted. and the latter securing the
larger volume OF money for which they
contended. We who favor bi-metalism
are satisfied without victory if the
friends Of mono-metalism are sat-
with theirs And we can invite them to
contest of zeal and endurance in the
effort to restore to the people the rights
which have gradually been taken from
them by the trusts.
Campaign Contributions.
The investigations which have been In
progress during the past year have as
closed the business methods Of those who
few years ago resented any inspection Of
their schemes. and I'D their rascallty I'M
der high sounding phrases These inves-
LEGATIONS have also disclosed the source
of enough campaign funds which have
been used to debauch elections and cor
rupt the ballot The people see now what
they should have seen before, namely
that no party can eXterminate the trusts
so long as It owes its political success
to campaign contributions secured from
the trusts The great corporations 40
not contribute their money TO any party
except for immunity expressly promised
or clearly implied, The president mas
recommended legislation on TINS sub)ect
but 40 far his party has failed TO respond
this banpfu influence Is eliminated anu
| hone that the democratic party VIII NOT
only challenge the republican party to
bring forward effective legislation on thls
subject. but will set an example by re-
fusing TO receive campaign cohtrlDutloiS
from corporations, and is opening. tne
books so that every contributor OF any
considerable sum may be known TO the
public before the election. The great
majority of corporations are engaged ~
Legitimate business. and nave hothluE
to fear from hostile legislation ana tnt
officers should not be permitted 10 use
their own political opinion. Contributions
should be individual, not corporate anu
no party can afford to receive contrin ,
tions. even from individuals; when me
acceptance of these contributions re-
cretly pledge the party to course WhlSu
II can not. openly avow. In other words
politics itI 81" should be honest, and ! mistake
present conditions in America, II they 90
not receive Improvement IN the cohuue'
Of campaigns.
The Paramount Issue rusts, ,,,,,
,,,,no ,,lie NJ issues. and while the next
c lnpTr viii largely shape the lines upon
which the coming presidential Sampaisn
viii be fought, think 4 is sate , 10 sa ~
that the paramount issue In Inc minus VI