New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-06
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.
an argument for Their Payment by
The People and Not by Candidates.
To the Editor of The Tribuna

20 me Editor of The Tribune
Sir; The announcement from Washington last
week, made in The Tribune on April IS, that the
President is seriously considering the advsa biity
OF asking Congress TO provide for the payment of
an campaign expenses in national elections by the
government is most encouraging to everybody who
Is seeking to lessen the power of money in
political life and to divorce politics from business
IL seems inevitable that like the President
should arrive at this opinion as the logical conclu
SION nom their personal experience in political
campaigns. In my campaign for Mayor of East
orange last fan and in every talk since 1 have
urged the payment of election and campaign
penses by the state.
No one who followed Governor Hughess tnvesti-
cation Of the insurance companies can doubt that
democratic institutions menaccd by the corpo-
rate control of political life We are told that
the government of the United States is a govern
ment by party The insurance inquiry lifted the
veil and revealed the masters Of both political
parties. Party government had become the gov
efnlnent of high finance
AS the corporations and the high fnancers be-
hind them obtain their strongest hold upon public
officials through paying their election expenses,
urge GOOD citizens eryWherc to demand from each
candidate = statement OF his campaign expenses
the names of the contributors and the amounts
contributed by each. and to insist that this state
ment shall be issued prior to Election Day.
Public opinion can enforce this, but agree with
pTopioIa ne5 IN the payment OF al elecuoh eX-
penses by the government In democracy lack
ming for office Each candidate should be per-
mitted to issue a statement Of what he stands
ranged for in halls owned by the city, where with
out cost to the candidates. they could publicly
state their views and answer the questions or
voters one method might be to print the plat
form and policies OF each candidate in the official
newspapers of the community. Just as new ordi-
nances advertised. so many inches OF
space to be allowed to each candidate. For the
public meetings city halls. public schools and pup
lie libraries could be utilized AT small cost TO the
taxpayers. -,
Under present system n public ofhclaI SeItlnS
n salary Of $1,000 year Is expected TO contribute
from S. O00 TO So 80 of that sum yearly to the cam
paign fund Of the political party which nominated
him The contribution. therefore, is taken direct!y
from the public funds. Under the plan whch l
suggest all legitimate campaign ana electon eN-
penSes would ~ paid out of the same pubic tunos
but under the system We will know what me
money IS used for and the people VIII De do1e "
regulate the expenditure OF II. " - .
man for office unless he Is aoe 20 p.' ~
a considerable of money 10 cover az east nc s
legitimate expenses which Will insure publicity LOT
his candidacy II he cannot pay THESE eNpetSe9
himself some man group Of men must pay tHchL
fnr him and when elected the official, however
well intentioned he may he. is placed at se'i 49,
DISADVANTAGE in determining the claims upon nun
az the citizens large when those claims cotio
I'm conflict with the demands OF the man OF b'O"P
81 men who paid his election expenses. -, m
If we are to have really Independent puG9Ilc o''
riaIs except spasmodCally and as eXCePlIo4s, ~
legislators who will he able to represent te peop.t
as a whole all legitimate election expenses HIase
e., ,1oid l,, the p-ople "A whole out or thelr owl
fIIrt4s IN some such manner as proposeH W eio
J5rasr3ent alt hough the suggestion that the
an1,ror.iaied shall be divided among me ca1 ad
5stes to be expended by them lndiyidually 10 oPeh
10 serious objection. ALDr-N Ni
East Orange. y. J., April g. 1871