Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-17
CALL FOR PUBLICITY
New York Conference Asks National Cam
paign Committees to Open Books.
RESOLUTION CAUSES LIVELY DISCUSSION
Mr. Chandler cOrsot' Misstatsmsnt About
President ROossvslts Attitude.
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN STATES HIS VIEWS
He Lsks Passage Of Law to Prevent Secret
Contributions
EVIL NOT CONFINED TO ONE PARTY
Nebrasksn Would Have Report Pub
Iished Before Election and Receipt
of Contributions After that
Time Prohibited.
EVIL NOT CONFINED TO ONE PARTY

NEW 1Ohht ADTn Ap--A IhbuAuNlDu IN
tended to secure the publication Of the
contributions made to the republican and
democratic committees at the last canvass
was offered at a special meeting today Of
the National Publicity Law organization.
II caused the members to engage in a
lively discussion. The meeting had been
called by President Perry Belmont to fur
ther the movement for an effective national
publicity law which would require a pub
lie record Of campaign contributions and
expenditures. The resolution, which was
offered by Alexander Troup OF Connecticut
Of the democratic national committee, rec
commended the ohairmen and treasurers of
the two great parties who served at the
last convention to make public a statement
Rs TO how the campaign funds were raised.
The attitude of President Roosevelt on
campaign funds was brought into the ques-
tion by Mr.. Troups insistence that the
president should favor the throwing open
Of the books Of the last campaign as well
as those OF the coming national contest.
The memorial was referred to the national
executive committee, which will report
later.
William j. Bryan urged the passage Of a
law by congress providing for a public
declaration both by the donor and the
recipient OF all campaign funds. He wanted
violations Of this law punishable as GRIM
inal ofrenses. BY this means alope, he
held, could the secret contributions given
for a sinister purpose be stamped out and
a great hindrance to honest politics be
overthrow other speakers we're Samuel
Gompers, the president of the American
Federation OF Labor, and Governor War
field OF Maryland
Plans were formed for renewing efforts
NJ fha nawt conureaa for nuhIfcitV law
Of national scope.
Perry Belmont PresideG.
The adoption Of an effective national
publicity law. which would require the
publication of the contributions 20 ma
honal and congressional committees, as
well as the expenditures OF these COM
mittees was the question discussed to-
day ct a meeting OF the National Pub
licity Law organization at the Victoria
hotel. Perry Belmont. the president OF the
association was the chairman and the
guests included William ]. Bryan and Sam
uel Gompers, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor. Many states were
represented by the members who were
present Among the latter we're former
Senator william =. Chandler OF New
Hampshire. DR.. p. l. Jones. chairman OF
the state democratic committee Of Maine;
Alexander Troup, member OF the national
democratic committee from Connecticut;
w. II. Martin, national democratic COM
mitteeman from Arkansas; former Gov
ernor Tyler of Virginia. George Fred VIII
liRms and Josiah Quincy of Boston, John
Brishen Walker and Abraham Strauss OF
New York and John w. Tomlinson OF Ala
bamR.
Mr. Belmont in his opening remarks
after pointing out that the publicity Law
Of the state Of New York was brought
about by the combined efforts OF organized
labor, democrats and republicans, and thai
this law already had proved beneficial
urged united and nonpartisan effort to Sc.
cure a national law. The bill before the
last congress-. compelling a publication oi
contributions and expenditures, had beer
energeucally supported by the minority
members Of the committee having the
measure in charge, but as eventually re
ported was so drastic that II was almos
impossible OF enactment. Mr.. Belmonti
opinion was that the bill failed because q
interfered too much with states rights. al
interference which the democrats could no
cordially support. Mr.. Belmont made al
appeal for practical law that would b
IN operation In the national elections o.
next year.
Bryan states His Views
William ]. Bryan was introduced as
man who had given powerful aid TO IN,
publicity movement In a brief speech Mr.
Bryan told what he thought the nationa
publicity law should be. He said that al
contributions over the minimum should b.
made public before the elections. both b,
the committee receiving It and by the per
son or corporation making IT, Failure U
comply with this. he said. should be pun
ished as a penal offense. The publicit
movement. he declared, rests upon tn
principle that politics should be honest
but he declared there could be no homes
politics when any interest could purchas
before election a promise that certai
things shall be done after election. an
when this promise is concealed from tn
voters
Mr.. Bryan said that the evil Of campaig
contributions was not confined 70 any on
party and quoted evidence given befoT
o0ngreseional committees to prove his state
msnt. Ten days in advance OF the election
ha said, a supplementai' statement shoul
be aled giving the contributions up TO tina
time, and Il should be made unlawful I
receive any contributions after II was 20
late 10 publish them. The surest way {
allowing the people 70 have the kind of gov
srnment they want. be said. Is 10 regulai
campaign contributions.
samuel Gompers. who next spoke. sal
that corporations made their campaign cor
tributons for specific purposes and a cor
tinuatiOn OF that policy meant continue
corporation domination OF the parties.
me meeting was thrown into considerub b
excitement BY a resolution offered by Ale,
ander Troup OF Connecticut which calls
uDon the chairmen and secretaries OF n
republican and democratic national con
nittees Of the last national campaign
make public all their receipts and expend
lures of the campaign. Mr.. Troup quote
from q newspaper dispatch stating TN
President Roosevelt wanted the campais
books opened In the next campaign canvas
Chandler Defends Roosevelt.
Il think the public wants the books
the last campaign opened" exclaimed NJ
Troup, who added that IN 1904 the presidel