The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-10
HEARST TALKS
ABOUT HIS BILL
Says Use of Money in Elections
S Is tire Root of Corruption
in Public Life.
eRiflcREs GOV. HUGHES
THINKS. HE HAS SOLVED THE
PROBLEM.

Washington. Feb. Eft seems TO me
that the root of all corruption in public
life is the use OF money in elections
said Representative William Randolph
Hearst tonight. in discussing his bill to
prevent the corrupt use of money at
national elections.
ITO illustrate" said Mr. Hearst let
me cite the last New York state cleo
tom. The use of something more than
"A million dollars IN. The state campaign
is admitted by the various committees
OF the Republican party. In addition
thereswas a great deal of money spent
by Individuals and by semi political or
gd1lizations which did not come under
the restrictions of the election laws.
These amounts OF money cannot be
spent properly in merely informing the
voters Of the issues of the campaign and
in guarding the ballot on election day.
and therefore the greater part OF it
must be spent improperly. in directly or
indirectly influencing the vote Of the
citizens.
crIticlzes Hughes.
Mr.. Hearst characterized as extraOr-
binary Governor Hughes recommen-
dalton for corrupt practice and act in
New York, I'm that IL failed TO limit the
total amount that can be spent in any
-cSf4npaign. He said:
Ny bill is framed to limit strictly
the amount Of money that can be spent
and the uses TO which it can be put. and
defines any other expenditure % money
as bribery. IL furthermore contains a
clause which / think will be absolutely
effective In the detection of this bribery
and improper use of money. The per-
son guilty Of this improper use of
money is, under my bin, punishable by
a fine of not more than $4,000 nor less
than $1,000, half OF which amount shall
go TO the informer. together with i'm
munity. Thus there will be a constant
reward offered of from $4,000 to 81 900 in
every case of the improper use OF
money i'm elections Another, moreover,
the man who gives the bride automat-
jcally offers the,reward for his own de-
lection. There is another clause which
provides punishment for false registra-
tion and illegal voting.
RockefelIer's Gift.
"This morning we all read i'm the pa
pers that Mr.. Rockefeller mad given
S32 00C 900 for public eduCation-a most
patriotic and praiseworthy thing for
him 80 DO. Vet we cannot help feeling
the possibilities Of the misuse OF such
great wealth to control the government
under our present lax election laws. II
Mr.. Rockefeller can give S32, 0a0, 900 for a
certain purpose, no matter how bene-
H'lal' NC hlshl give ohe-itlh CT one
tenth that sum to preserve political
conditions THAT make the accumulation
OF such great wealth as this possible
Six millions. or even three millions
would go far toward carrying state OF
even national elections. And if Mr.
Rockefeller should be too high-mindeo
10 devote any part Of his wealth to sucf
purpose. there are many multi-milliOn-
aires in this country whose wealth has
been secured by political favsrs and
special privileges. who would spend mil
lions 10 continue the opportunities foi
further political fayOrs. and TO preserve
their special privileges"
Mr.. Hearst expressed confidence that his
bill would stop improper use OF money
IN elections. yet" he concluded. IT dc
mot think il viii be passed for I do not
believe that there is any sincere desire
~ either OF the old parties TO interfere
with the use OF money In politics.