The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
HEARST BILL ON USE
OF ELECTION MONEY
Root of All Corruption, Signed
Statement Says
HUGHES RECOMMENDATION
William Randolph Hearst Gives Rea-
sons for Urging Enactment of
Measure Into Law Which
Would Stop Evil.

Washington. February 9-William Ran
dolph Heart today issued the following
signed statement giving his reasons for
urging the enactment of his bill into a
law to prevent the corrupt use of money
at national elections
1T seems to me that the root of all cor
ruption in public life is the use of money
in elections. The evil is not merely the
use Of corporation money In elections, or
the use of the money of individuals, but
the use of money at all to influence the
vote of the citizen on election day
MIR. Hughes makes an extraordinary
recommendation for a corrupt practices
act, in which he advises that the amount
of money contributed by any individual
candidate be limited to d small sum. If
there is no provision limiting the total
amount of money spent. this suggestion
of Mr.. Hughes would merely compel all
candidates to be under obligations for
their campaign funds to the financial in
terests who deal in politics. If, for exam
pie, a million dollars is still permitted to
be spent in a state election, and the cam
didate might only contribute $4,000. there
would remain s975.OOO to be raised for
which the candidate must be indebted 10
those who invest their money in politics
and in candidates.
THE public know sufficiently we'll what
kind of services those large financial in
terests require from elected officials in
return for the campaign contributions
that have helped to elect them.
MY bill is framed to limit strictly the
amount of money that can be spent and
the uses to- which it can be put, and my
bill defines other expenditures of money
as bribery. Ii furthermore contains a
clause which / think will be absolutely
effective for the detection OF this bribery
aud improper use of money. The person
guilty OF this improper use of money is
under my bill punishable by a fine of not
more than $4,000 nor less than $2O00 half
OF which amount shall go to the inform-
er together with immunity.
THUS there will be a constant reward
offered from 5000 to $1,000 In every case
of the improper use of money in elec-
tions. And, moreover the man who gives
the brbe automatically offers the reward
for his own detection.
There Is a further clause in my bill
which offers a somewhat similar punish
ment for false registration and Illegal
voting. According to this provision upon
conviction of the accused, the informer
ScCuItS Olit-Hdll Ol the line Oh lTOH SlVDU
to S5000 and immunity. There are, also,
jail penalties for these crimes, and I am
absolutely positive that if this bill were
passed. it would prevent the corrupt use
of money in elections, which l also have
said and believe is the most serious men,
ace to our republican form of govern
ment.
II say that the use of money by the
corporations is not the only evil that
threatens us; the use of money by any
individual or any collection of individuals
may be as greatly improper, and as HARM.
full to our institutions, and to our po-
litical independence.
'If Mr.. Rockefeller can give $32000,000
for certain purpose. however beneficial,
he might give one-hfth or one-tenth that
sum to preserve political conditions that
make the accumulation of such great
wealth as this possible.
II am confident that my bill would
stop the corrupt use of money in cleo
tions. but do not think it will be passed,
for | do not believe that there is any
sincere desire on the part Of either of
the old parties to interfere with the use
of money in politics.