The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-16
FOR A PUBLICITY LAW.
Big Meeting Held at the Victoria
Hotel. New York

New York. April 16.-The adoption
of an effective national publicity law
which would require the publication
of the contributions to national and
congressional committees as we'll as
the expenditures of these committees
was the question discussed today at a
meeting of the National Publicity Law
orga nizatior at the Victoria hotel
Perry Belmont. the president of the
association. was the chairman and the
guests included William J. Bryan and
Samuel GOmperS. president of the
American Federation of Labor Many
states were represented by the MEM
bers who were present
Among the latter were former SEN
ator William Z. Chandler of New
Hampshire: DIR. E L. Jones. chair
man of the state Democratic commit
tee of Minnesota; Alexander Troup,
member of the national Democratic
committee from Connecticut; w. H.
Martin. national committeeman from
Arkansas: former Governor Tyler of
Virginia: George Fred Williams and
Joshua W. Quincy of Boston: John
Brisben Walker and Abraham Straus
of New York. and John w TOmlin-
son OF Alabama.
Nj Belmont in his opening remarks,
after pointing out that the publicity law
OF the state of New York was brought
about by the combined efoff-ts of organ
lied labor. Democrats and Republicans
and that this law already had proved
beneficial. urged united and non-partis-
an effort 10 secure a national law. The
bill before the last congress compelling
a publication of contributions and ex-
penditures had been theoretically sup
ported by the minority members of the
committee having the measure in
charge. but the bill eventually report
ed was so drastic that it was almost
impossible of enactment In Mr. Bel
mont's opinion the bill failed because 1t
interfered to much with states rights.
an interference which the Democrats
could not cordially support Mr. Bel
mont made an appeal for a practical
law that would be in operation in the
national elections next year
William ]. Bryan was introduced as
man who had given powerful aid to
the publicity movement In a brief
speech Mr.. Bryan told what he thought
the National Publicity law should be-
He said that all contributions above the
minimum should be made public before
the elections both by the committee re-
it and by the person or corpora
ton making il. Failure to comply with
this he said should be punished as
penal offenSe- The publicity movement,
he declared. rests upon the principle
that politics should be honest, but he de-
cIared there could be no honest politics
when any interest could purchase before
election a promise that certain Things
shall be done after election and When
this promise is concealed from the vot-
arS-
Mr. Bryan said that the evil OF cam
oaign contributions was not confined
10 any one party and quoted evidence
given before congressional committees
n prove his statement Ten days in
advance of the election, he said, sup
elemental statement should be filed
giving the contributions up TO that
fme and it should be unlawful to re-
,eive any contributions after it was
90 late TO publish them The surest
way CT allowing the people to have the
lind of government they want he said, /
: to regulate campaign contributions |
samuel Compers. who spoke next. said |
hat corporations made their campaign |
for specific purposes and !
continuation OF that policy meant |
continued corporation domination of
he parties