Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-31
NOT AcTUATED BY PIoUE
Attitude of Association to Prevent
Corrupt Practices at Elections.
FACTS ABOUT LAST ELECTION
Organization Denies Alleged Partisan
ship in Five Proceedings to Get
Facts on Last Election.

ALBANY, January 31.-Denying that 1t
has been actuated by pique, personal
grudges or partisanship, the Association to
Prevent Corrupt Practices at Elections
has issued here defense of its five dif-
ferent proceedings to get additional facts
about expenses in connection with Tie last
election. 1t is, in part, a reply to the criti-
csms made by Attorney General Jackson.
Reference Is made to the notorious ad
vertising'' INDUCED in by William r. Hearst
1.-THE proceeding in reference to the re-
port of William Hearst is based on the fact
that this report makes no mention of any
item Of $500 which. according to the re-
port of the Albany county democratic COM
mittee, was received from Mr.. Hearst, "
states the association, land further upon
the discrepancies between newspaper ex-
penditures accounted for by Mr.. Hearst and
the Independent League and the open and
notorious items of expenditure for advertis-
ing incurred either by Mr.. Hearst or by
the league. 1t is already evident that con-
siderable increases over the amounts stated
30 have been expended must be shown by
the report of Mr.. Hearst or the league out
10 matters have come to the attention of
1he association indicating an intent on the
part of Mr.. Hearst to conceal expenditures
Df which he was aware at the time his re-
port was fled"
money Tor votes.
In the case against the Clinton county re-
publican committee, the association states
that evidence was obtained that several
voters had received money for their votes,
and affidavits were obtained to the effect
that money had been given them by repub-
lican party election workers for this pur-
pose. @
THE money, in the shape of bills" says
the statement in behalf of the association,
was obtained from some of these per-
sons, and after being marked by the Judge
Of the city court of Plattsburg came into
the possession of the association. The Pc
tition in this proceeding also alleges whole
sale bribery and corruption throughout
Clinton county.
THE proceeding against the republican
county committee of Putnam county was
based on failure to file report within the
period prescribed by law. The committee
filed it's report shortly therea fter, showing
committeeman in amounts of 500 each, and
In addition payment OF 500 to a news
paper a few days before election. There
are several legal questions involved in this
proceeding on which the association pur-
poses to ask ruling from the courts.
Law on the Subject.
The law does not require reports from
committees expanding 500 or less. and a
large number of party committees took ad-
funds into sums of 500, thus clearly de-
flying the public desire to know how the
election money was spent. 1t will be in
terestng to see how long this impudent
subterfuge will be allowed to block the
legitimate public demand for full Informal
ton on this important subject.
"Orf investigation the association ascer
tained that fourteen democratic commit
tees had failed to file report as required
by law, and that in twenty-eight counties
of the state no report from Independence
League county committees had been filed
The association forwarded the informa-
ton In regard to these county committees
to Attorney General Jackson, with the re-
quest that these committees be compelled
70 file their reports.
1T is too early to estimate the value of
the new law, but the experience already
had shows the absolute value of the pro-
visions granting the right of inquiry to any
five citizens. 1t is safe to say that few
politicians who have had any experience
with this system will hereafter proceed
with light heart to buy votes in the old
way.
The essentials of the law are sound,
whatever details may need amendment