The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-18
cofRUrr rB4 crIo1s LEGISLATION

When the original corrupt practices
law was enforced, principally through
the efforts Of the men who drew II and
argued 1t through the General Assem-
bly,, a note of warning was sounded to
the effect that a too sudden and rig
orcus enforcement would create a hos
tile feeling and lead to its repeal at
the earliest possible moment. Former
Senator George N. Clark of Haddam,
who confesses to have gone after votes
with the stuff and still proposes to do
SO, was among the fearful prophets OF
disaster The outcome Of this mild hys-
terra is the enactment by this General
Assembly of an improved law which
may well be accepted by other States
in the Union as a model.
The history of this law gives an i'm
pressive Illustration of the value and
Importance Of sticking to good prin-
ciple when its philosophy Is once made
clear. AS far back as the early 90's a
movement was started to get such
law on the statute books. 1t was drawn
by William s. Pardee Of this city and
introduced by H. Holton Wood Of Der
by. It was presented to the committee
In due form but defeated in the two
houses of legislation. The General As-
sembly was not then ready to thus
theoretically reform the good old State
Of Connecticut, nor had the use Of mon
ey at elections reached such Disgrace
full recognition by campaign managers.
The campaign Of 1895 was vet to en-
tighten the people upon the subject Of
the corrupt use of the almighty dollar
ito get out the vote" which everyone
knows means the purchase OF votes.
Since then the cause of preventing cor
rupt practices has grown steadily UNI
til 1t eliminated in the enactment of
the law which the new law will now
supersede. There have been many
claimants for the honor Of having
drawn the law which was passed by
the legislature of 1905 but the credit
belongs to George L, Fox and Mr.. Par
dee of this city, who were supported
by citizens from the various parts Of
the State. The credit for the more ex-
cellent law which has been enacted this
winter belongs to a commission APP
pointed by former Governor Roberts
and in particular to the chairman Of
this commission, Judge John H. Per-
ny Of Southport, who made study Of
all corrupt practices law in existence.
This new law Is the law recommend
ed by the commission with but two no.
table exceptions, one OF which Is sus-
ceptible of explanation while the other
is not susceptible of an explanation
which convinces. In moving to strike
from the bill the section which covered
the transportation of the sick and in
firm to the polls Leader Banks of Fair
field lent himself to the worst phases
of a corrupt party leadership. The
bill as reported by the commission
provided adequately for the transport
alton of the sick and inf1rm to the polls,
but saw to it that the sick and infirm
were actually sick and infirm and not
imposters. 1t is a well-known fact that
the object of carrying men to the polls
without restriction is to aid in the pur-
chase of their vote. The commission
took the ground that it was proper for
political organization to convey to
the voting place men who We're anx-
ious to vote but who too infrm to do