The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-16
Would Not Introduce Bill.

At the session beginning in Deem
Der. 1907 I tried to get Republicans 10
4hLIoduce the bill but did not succeed.
However, on February TO- 1895. Senator
I1Llman introduced It
II went 10 Committee on Privileges
anu Elections and remained over two
/ months ON April p Senator Foraker
( reported Il, striking out the prohibition
I against corporations engaged in Inter
state or foreign commerce. so as 10 al
low railroads 10 continue their political
contribution. and extending ii to PresI-
! oehlldl as well as Congressional cleo
SiOnS, buE II exempted consenting stock
! holqers and employees other than officers
. ana directors from penalties. The bill
JnuS amended managed 10 find a mas
cage through the Senate on June 9. and
after being delayed by reason of the ex-
lgencles OF another political campaign,
. Went through the House on January q.
1Stl. and became and now IS a law.
Disgrace of Last Two Years.
Had the investigation proposed in
1896 and 1897 been thoroughly made. the
country would have been saved the dis
grace which the inquiries OF the last
TWO years have disclosed But better
late than never.
why, we may be asked. did we not
succeed in the last Congress with a
measure so simple a the one we adj
NOcaLed2 Only because the Republicans
demanded bill which too much inter-
Tereu with State rights. and which for
that reason only, the Democrats could
not cordially SUPPORT do not assert
that such a situation was purpOselv so
arranged but possibly such was the
In opening the meeting. Mr. Belmont
said. Our organization is distinctly nom
partisan. Leading men of both parties
and of organized labor are active ia pro-
noting its objects
The enactment OF the publicity bill
IN the State Of New York was brought
about by the combined efforts OF or
raniZed labor. Democrats. and ReDub- !
leans The Republican party, control
ING the executive and legislative |
bTanches OF the state government, is /
emitted 20 fuH share of the credit. {
That law has been beneficial The ex- 1
perienCe of its operation i'm the last
State campaign is most encoura ging.
AS TO the course of the national pub
Lefty bill ! regret that tho minority of Z
the committee having the bill in charge I
In the House OF Representatives and /
members or the minority party upon the (
floor OF the House have energeticaIlv
and persisJently e1deavOred 20 bring ]
about the enactment of a publicity law
such as this organization favors, with /
out success ] VIII not say that the /
majority opposed II, but the substitute i
bill, reported by the chairman Of the /
committee. was obviously impossible OF /
enactment. Whatever its purpose, the /
effect was 10 block all legislation on the /
subject.
Controlling Powers Indifferent.
1t became apparent to the executive
committee of the publicity bill organi-
cation that. Notwithstanding all our
efforts. approved generally by the press
of both parties, the controlling powers
at Washington were either Indifferent
or unable TO obtain legislation.
I was authorized as president, TO
address TO the chairmen of the Repub-
ltCdn and Democratic Congressional com /
mittees, a letter, in which I stated sub
Stanualiy that as organized labor had
voluntarily, even IN the absence Of law.
made publication OF the contributions
and expenditures Of its campaign com
mittee in the last Congressional cam /
paign. il would be well il the Congress
sional committees Of the two great po-
htical parties wSuld follow so good an
example.
Chairman Griggs' Answer.
Mr.. Griggs, chairman of the Demo
cratic Congressional committee, made
an answer which under the CirCum-
stances might be considered satisfac-
tory. The absence OF any law CON
polling publication naturally made II !
dltncult Ior MN 70 publish the names
OF contributors, nor could he with pro
piety do so. he did say. however, that
no corporation, so far as he knew. had
contributed TO the Democratic Congress
siOnal campaign fund. 4
My letter TO Mr.. sherman. chairman
of the Republican Congressional cam
paign committee, was answered by his
secretary as follows:
90 IN tho absence of Mr.. Sherman, on
account OF his illness, I beg 10 acknOWl-
edge the receipt of your favor of the
18th instant, and 10 say that the mat
ter VIII be brought 10 his attention as
soon as he is able TO be in his office
1T is a matter of very great regret
that Mr. Sherman must still be labor
ing under The illness which is here de
scrlbed, and l think I may say on be-
half OF the organization that we trust
he will soon recover from his indispo-
sitiOn.'