West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-08-02

Nv AAtaA y 10 prevent inf
great railroad companies. the great IN
surance companies. the great telephone
companies. the great aggrcgations OF
wealth. from using their corporate funds
directiy or Indirectly. 10 send members 81
the Legislature 20 these halls In order 10
vote FOR their protection and the advance
ment Of their interests as against those of
the public. IL strikes at constantly
growing evil which has done more TO
snake the confidence OF the plain people
OF small means Of this country In our po-
nucal Institutions than any other practice
which has ever obtained since the founda-
uon OF our government. And ! believe
that the time has come when something
ought 60 bc done 10 put check to the
giving Of 10000 or $4,000 by a great COR
Eoration toward political purposes upon
the understanding that a debt IL created
from a political party TO a. .. I ap-
prehend that many corpora tions which
are now called upon before every election
10 contribute large sums ~ u.orcy 20
campaign funds. would ind in AN ahvo-
lutte prohibition, with the penalty of the
forfeiture OF their charters "a reason why
they should not make such contributions.
think Il will be protection Co corpora
tons and to candidates against demands
upon ,hem. and protection 20 the people
against the payment OF consideration for
contributions by them. To- the injury OF
the representation Of the people II ls
repeat. because OF the difficulty OF PROV
Ing and Furnishing the crime OF buying
votes that some other measures seem 20
be desirable" %. $50.
President jackson II a communication
TO his cabinet In 1888 condomning the use
OF the funds OF the Bank in it's attcmpt
10 secure a renewal OF it's charter said:
Having taken these preliminary steps
TO obtain control over public opinion the
Bank came into Congress and asked a
new charter. The object avowed by many
OF the advocates OF tho Bank was To pat
the President 10 ho test that the country
might know his Hnai determination rcla-
tive TO the Bank prior 10 the ensuing
election. Many documents and articles
were printed and circulated at the cN-
pense OF the Bank 20 bring the people to
n favorable decision upon it's pretenslons.
Those whom the Bank appears 10 have
made its debtors for the special occasion
were warned OF the ruin which awaited
them should the President be sustained
and attempts Were made to alarm the
whole people by painting the depression In
the price OF property and produce and the
general loss. Inconvenience and distress
which II was represented would imme-
diately follow the reelection OF the Prcsi-
dent In opposition to the Bank Mes
sages and Papers OF the Presidents" Vol
III. p. 8.
The president OF the Bank was by reso-
luton Of It's directors. "authoried To cause
TO be prepared and circulated such docu-
ments and papers as may communicate TO
the people Information in regard To- the
nature and operations OF the bank" The
expenditures purporting To- have been
made under the authority OF such rcsolu-
tiOn were about $50 600 including the pur-
chase OF some 10000 copies OF newspapers.
reports ana speeches made I'm Congress
The government directors OF the Bank
having called for n specific account OF
these expenditures. the board renewed the
power already conferred and. by resolu-
tion, authorized its president "to continue
his eNcrtions for the promotion Of said OBJ
ject.' Referring TO this propaganda. Jack
son said In the message above quoted:
''The Bank is thus converted into a vas;
electiOneering engine.
And the money which belongs to the
stockholders and TO the public has been
freely applied IN efforts 10 degrade in
public estimation those who were sup
posed TO bo instrumental ia resisting the
wishes OF this grasping and dangerous in-
stltution,
"The refusal TO render an account of the
manner I'm which part OF the money cx-
pended has been applied gives Just cause
for the suspicion that II has been used for
purposes which II H. not deemed prudent
TO expose to the eyes Of an Intelligent and
virtuous people. Those who act Justly do
not shun the light. nor do they refuse ex-
plantations when the propriety OF their
conduct is brought into question"
In Ills fifth annual message. Jackson
said:
"Tlo question is distinctly presented.
whether the people Of the United States
are to govern through representatives
chosen by their unbiased suffrage or
whether the money and power OF great
corporation are TO be secretly exertcd to
Influence their judgment and control their
decisions. IL must now be determined
whether the Bank shall have It's candi-
dates for all Offices in the country. from
the highest To the lowest or whether
candidates on both sides OF political ques-
tlons shall be brought forward ne hereto
fore and supported by the usual means"
Again the relation Of the money OF cor
poratiOns to party organizations and tho
ballot has become an Issue. but we now
approach II In n more tolerant spirit than
that animating the contentious Of an ear
lier period. In the recent Presidential
campaign, Il awakened a recognition by
both the leading candidates Of its extent
and Of It's consequent dangers The ne
cessity for remedial legislation has since
found expression IN the following recon-
mendatiOns Of the Presidents message.
"The power OF the Government to pro-
tect the integrity OF the elections Of It's
own officials Is inherent. and has been
recognized and affirmed by repeated dec
laratiOns OF the Supreme Court There Is
no enemy OF free government more dan
gerous and none so inaldious as the cor
ruptons OF the electorate. No one defends
or excuses corruption and II would seem
10 follow that none would oppose vigor-
Gus measures 60 eradicate a. / recon-
mend the enactment Of n law directed
against bribery and corruption In Federal
elections. The details Of such law may
be safely left 90 the wise discretion OF the
Congress. but "a should 90 as FAR as under
the Constitution IT is possible to go. and
should include severe penalties against
him who gives or receives n bribe intend
cd TO influence his act or opinion a. an
electOr. and provision for the publica ton.
not only Of the expenditures FOR nominar
tiOns and elections Of all candidates Jnt
also Of aN contributions rcccircf and crpcrdi-
tVcs made Jv political committee"
III
Therefore. upon the highest and best
authority ~ Is evident that something
ihouid be done. Facts are moro p.rsua-
sive in an appeal 90 public opinion than
the most powerful argument especitl
upon q subject about which almost every
one has views. more or less wcli founded
American patriotism is living reality
and finds expression during national Pres.
idential elections However great thu
prosperity Qf tho United States sentiment
and Ideals are In the end the most cone
trolling forces There On ON that account
a good deal Of sensitivcboss in regard %
our electoral practices rather than TO- our
electoral system, but the resulting cr.ti-
cism is a healthy one and does not moan
10 those who understand &c. that politics
in America are more corrupt or less in-
FpirlnT than in other countries. but it
does mean that the American people in
sist that their politics shall be less core
rupt snd more Inspiring Conditions here
prev giling demand that we seek in our
own historical experience guidance to de-
terminc the way 90 further cffcctuai prog-
rcss The principle 90 the foundation ~
American political institutions is osecu-
TALLY that of indivlduaiism and Falf-di-
rcciion
Nv
10 guido us IN the solution ~ the prob-
lem. there are abundant legislative pfcce-
dents Fifteen states have since fsg0
adopted so-cIllod "Corrupt Practices
Acts' 90 restrain and limit rapidly in-
Considering that the Admin.
;etaot;on 10. h,d f,u