New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
MONEY In ELECTIONS.
Dir. Hearst Urges Passage Of HIS
Corrupt Practices Bill.

Washington Feb. 9.-Representative William H.
Hearst to-day issued the following signed state
ment. giving his reasons for urging the passage OF
his bill prevent the corrupt use or money at
national elections;
1t seems to me that the root OF all corruption IN
pubic life is the use OF money in elections. The
evil is not merely the use of corruption money IN
elections, or the use OF the money Oh anotE
but the OF money at all TO influence me ESsq
of the citizens Election Day. To Illustrate what
mean let me cite the last New fQIh go f tn
ton. The of something over Sl,VVbeO III inc
nittces Of the Republcan party. In addition ,t TO
that there was great deal OF money sPes w S?b!eh
did not come under the restrictions OF the elecCI0
ery in merely informing The voters on the issues
Of the c4mpsn ana n guaeg e Sq bart Of il
must be spent Improperly, in directly or indirectly
Nj Hughes makes an extraordinary. recon-
mendatlon corrupt practices act. Il! WtItl
by any individual candidate be limited TO a sll4 t
sum II there Is no PROVISION nidlaLss ~, of Iir
hughes would merely compel ali candidates TO pe
fnanciai interests who deal in PoiIcs IT, for ex-
ample. $,Vv0o0 is still permitted to be spgt ~
tribute $4,000 there would remain $1,000 20 oI
to those who invest their money in politics ana IL
Candidates. 1 would call Mr.. hughess sugsesnon
the part of tne candidates ana TO coipG5 in
terests for their campaign funds. ,t ,.r,5 M
The public knows sufficiently well Wal hl!tu ,oa
from elected otSs III return for the campaign
contributions that nave he!pea 10 ere I9etbod is
to limit strictly the amount Of money WilltLl
The amount which a candidate may himself con-
tribute in an effort TO be free and Independent OIL
Ny "' bill is framed to limit strictly The amount mount
Of m0nfg s mat cam an5 ne ay p 6 enes any other
pcuditures OF money az bribery; II iui
iuteiy effective in the detection of this bribery
his jmbroper use OF money is, under my bill pun
ishable by fine of not more than $lc;gn nor less
infoTmeE logger W. mffnred Of from 5000 20
g. 900 IN e{srv case Of thu improper OF money
the bride automatically offers the reward FOR his
own detection. Every time man oHers q i Ha!po
commits one Of these acts deIlleu a. a. Fai"nj
he thereby offers to any one aware 9 ms ,rt
Gus act reward Of from 1900 to %'o0 TO convict
There is further. the clause IN my HI IL w faisa
offers somewhat similar puhlsIlen{H dol 70 fSis
Former secures one half Of the fine Of from $1,000
70 & 90 and immunity Thus a continual reward
Of from 500 $500 Is offered By the eec tIsa
a penalties for these fFe5 @ We're p p
would prevent the corrupt use OF I iy ~ me
tons, which as have said ana Ree'efi orSn Of
saw that the use Of money by corporations Is
money by any individual or any collection OF mol
fuI 10 our institutions and to our political indie
This morning we all read in the papers that Mt
Rockefeller had given thirty-two millions OF dol
lars Tor public education most pulIloAlE hA''
praiseworthy thing for him TO do. I cannot COM
mend him too highly for such an act and yet we
cannot help feeling the possibilities OF the misuse
Of such great wealth to control the government
under present lax election laws. II Mr. Rookie
Teller give thrty-two millions Of dollars for,
certain purpose-no matter how benehcial-he
might give one-hfth or one-tenth Of thar sum to
preserve political conditions that make the accI-
mutation of such great wealth as this possible. SIX
million dollars. or three million dollars. would
go far toward carrying state even national elec-
t!ona. And II Mr.. Rockefeller should be too high
minded and devote amy part Of his great weaIth 10
such purposes, there are many mulu-mnhohf,iTe res
IN this country whose wealth has been secured by
political favors and special privileges who would
spend millions 20 continue the opportunities Tor
further political favors and 70 preserve their special
privileges 49,
seek TO interfere with the proper reward in bust
industry. enterprise and financial interest
We do wish 10 prevent the corrupt OF money IN
elections limit the power % money in elections;
and a do this should adopt most definite and
drastic measures. l am confident that my bill would
stop the corrupt OF money In elections but /
do NOT think Il will be passed. for do not believe
that there is any sincere desire ou the part OF
either OF the old parties 10 interfere with tie use
OF money in politics