Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-14
The Publicity Bill Once More.

In my last letter | told of the bril-
liant part that young Mr.. Robinson OF
Arkansas played in the debate on the
bill to prevent corporations from con
tributing to political campaign funds
and now / propose to tell somewhat OF
the brilliant part played by another
congressional youngster, William i
Hardwick of Georgia. In fact, it was
a great day for the youngsters. Hard
wick. who is slender, youthful look
ing, mild hammered young man, fear
lessly engaged the veteran General
Keifer of Ohio, once speaker Of the
house, a man built on a very generous
physical pattern. 1t was a sort OF
David and Goliath affair, Hardwick
doing great credit to the role of David
and getting decidedly the better of the
ex-speaker. If Hardwick's manners
are mild, bis tongue cuts like a two
edged sword. He is only thirty-fou
years old, though he is closing his sec
ond term i'll congress. having beer
elected for another I wish had
room for Hardwich's entire speech
but must confine myself to samples
Among other things, he said:
The provision is, sit shall also be I'M
lawful for any corporation whatever u
make a money contribution in connection
with any election at which presidential
and vice presidential electors or a repre-
sentative in congress is to be voted for.
Well. now. l will say that we clearly have
the right to make laws applicable to thu
government of all corporations, so far al
contributions to elections for electors fol
president and vice president and mem
bers of congress are concerned, and thai
is all that this bill provides as to thai
character of corporations.
But. Mr. Speaker, arose not particu-
larly to defend this bill, because it needi
no defense from this side of the chamber
nor from that Every honest man in thii
country is for it, and doubt very much
whether any Republican or Democrat can
safely afford to face his constituency II
opposition to it. but I do say this: That
an effort ought to be made to get from
the committee the bill to regulate the
question of individual, as well as cor
porate contributions and to provide fol
publicity Of all contributions, and ! am
very much surprised that we have mol
given that subject proper consideration
The president himself at the last session
of congress recommended measure Of
tHaI k1E0, put ne mas Virtually cAD1ltOO1iC0
that position in this message. However
he has recommended the passage of this
bill. and assume that all my Republican
friends will vote for it for that reason,
and, as 1t is based on good Democratic
principles the Democrats will support it.
The president has progressed great
deal since the last election. He was
charged in express terms, by ths Demo
cratic candidate with having received
contributions from corporations, and with
that charge was coupled the intimatior
that there were improper purposes in
making these contributions, and there
was perhaps an implied promise as td
what these corporations should receive In
return for these contributions. He de-
MED it in one of the bitterest statements
ever issued to the American public. He
admitted in that statement that there
were such contributions being made by
corporations, but he denied absolutely
that there was any improper motive OF
agreement, and he challenged Mr.. Parker
to prove it. 1t is pretty easy thing tc
challenge proof about motives because
when you have to prove motive the only
way you can do 1t is by the facts and
circumstances, just as fraud Is shown
and that is always difficult to show, ever
when It exists, as I believe it did In this
case.
In 1904 the president was not opposed to
contributions by the corporations; a.
least he did not object to them. Naw w