New-York tribune., 1907-01-31
P4RTTSIfNSHIP DENIED.
Statement from association to Pre-
rent Corrupt Practices at Elections.

rent Corrupt PrdctlceS at EIectlOnS.
Albany. Jan 3O-The following statement was
given out TO might by the representatives here Of
the Association to Prevent Corrupt Practices at
Elections:
Efforts have been made on the part OF certain
politicians and newspapers to have IL appear that
partisan considerations. reasons of pique, or per
tives in the five judicial proceedings which have
been instituted by the Association 10 PrevenI COp
rupt Practices al Elections. TO compel addltionat
publicity Of election expenses. A knowledge of the
be sufficient dispose of such notion. if hon
esty held. because prominent actlve ana eaF1ese ar @
same cahbre IN its work. But knowledge OF the
ceednes the,nseIves must assurediv suffice The
following statement is therefore authorized on De
when Seth Low. the president OF this ass9cia-
ton. appeared before the Legislature last winter
Of 1906. he promised that the association would see
act were enforced. 1t pursuant 10 this promise
that Ave different proceedings in yal1ous parts OF
the state. obtain additional publicity OF election
expenses were instituted by the association Two
@ ices mar nseiy the Kepubcan County COMMITTEES Of
Clinton County and the Republican County Com
I'm Clinton County not only were there defects
ing to the belief that moneys had been corIu2Ytly
expended in the dir5ct purchase of votes at the last
election.
VOTE BUYING IN CLINTON COUNTY
.e'rbe report Of the Republican County Committee
Of Clinton County failed to acknowledge me RECEIPT
of SlD which congressiaan GeoLge ~ -, 3t Tn
apart from this apparent defect in the report. ev
Of voters had received money for their votes. and
afdayts were secured mat money 9aG peen @ sI tbis
purpose The money, in the shape Of bills. was Sc
GFf aSed q SR s2f s6a Judge ID f ef Re cy court Of
burg came into The possession Gt the
co9ntT This the associations Officers believe 10
have existed. notwithstanding the fact that the
party leaders signed the Elmira Compact limit
election district and obigang the different parties
20 observe t9s law an1 & Geng makes G Prize the
investigation referred 10 all the more necessary.
be heard the defendants questioned the validity Of
the law and 9sked leave OF te court 20 oD'al a
sired inf nation A!though the association was IN
iris irsts ice prohibited from bringing the inquest
cary hearing. We shall, az soon as the court
permits US to do SO. carry this matter 70 definite
condition OF affairs which we believe to have eX-
listed.
DODGING THE TRUE ISSUE.
1T Is singular that the local newspapers. while
bitterly attacking the proceedings, have wholly
failed TO question the true issue Involved namely
the corrupt use of money on a large scale In this
Linton CSahty proceeding the petitioner was rep,
IsSease4 "a ~ George > Blxoy Of Ptats6uIg ana
ael y Reilly. Of Albany. assisting
The proceeding against the Republican County
Committee OF Putnam County was based failure
20 file report within the period prescribed by law.
showing receipts Of s27o6 and payments to party
addition a payment Of 500 to newspaper a few
days before election There are several legal ques-
tons involved in this proceeding which the
sooiation purposes TO ask ruling from the courts
The law does not require reports from commit.
party committees took advantage of this provision
clearly defying the public desire to know how the
election money spent. II will be interesting
lowed to block the Iegitimate pubic demand for
full Information on this important subject.
THE HEARST AND GATES PROCEEDINGS.
The three other proceedings brought by the
association In reference OF fndi-
Viduals. The one In reference 10 a report Of the
president of the Independence League Of Putnam
report conforming to the law. The proceeding in
ed for the expenditure Of S31 500 in a Senatorial
by Senator Gates Of 81 200 TO the Republican City
Committee OF Oneida This committee denies the
is published by the Gates Republican City Com
mittee OF oneida. The circumstances surrounding
association feels that a public inquiry into these
has evidence that Senator Gates himself
fully cognizan OF the facts Of this transaction at
the time the payment was made.
The Proceedlns in reference TO the ne report % @ OF
which. according, TO the report or the a Albany &
Mr. Hearst. and further upon the discrepancies be-
tween newspaper expenditures accounted for by
Mr. Hearst and the Independence League and the
open and notorious items Of expenditure for ad-
league 1t Is already evident that considerable
eTnended must be shoW5 by the reu,ort OF Nr
Hearst of the league. but no matters have come
intent on the part Of MI Hearst to conceal expen-
ditures OF which he was aware at the time his
report filed.
'On investigation the association asoertained that
fourteen Democratic county committees had failed
20 fle report required by law. and that in
twenty-eight counties OF the state report from
! Independence League county committees had been
/ filed The association forwarded the informati'n n
/ in regard 20 these county committees to Attorney
General jackson, with the request that these ccm-
1 mittsss be compelled TO file their reports.
TIME FORBADE OTHER PROCEEDINGS
There are a number of other reports which, on
/ mature Investigation should have been subjected
20 judicial inquiry. but the limit OF fifteen days
I within which proceedings must be brought after
| the hlng OF reports. cuTtailed as 1t was. by the
confusion arising in the office Of the Secretary OF
State by the receipt OF several thousand OF these
reports made IL impossible for the association to
bring proceedings within the statutory time against
( every person committee upon whose report fur
I ther inquiry seemed necessary.
1T is too early 10 estimate the value OF the new
{ law. but the experience already had shows the
absolute value Of the provisions granting the right
/ OF inquiry TO any five citizens. II Is safe 10 say
! that few politicians who have had experience with
this system will hereafter proceed with light
1 heart 10 buy in the old way
| The essentials OF the law are sound whatever
details may need amendment