The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-04-25
LET GOVERNMENT PAY.
Startling Scheme the President Is
Thinking About.

| AhuihAiS huouts
Raymond Patterson, correspondent
of the Chicago Tribune, telegraphing
to his paper from Washington, says
President Roosevelt is studying over
new departure in politics which,
whether it is carried out to any prac-
teal result or not, is certain to excite
widespread discussion among public
men the country over.
His idea is not formulated, he has
| no detailed scheme in view, he is full,
ly aware of the completely of the
subject, and he sees il advance the
manifold objections that will be made
to it.-.Nevertheless, he believes the
idea is worth consideration, and it is
receiving his earnest attention at the
present time.
The scheme is characteristically
Rooseveltian, because it breaks all
precedents, dehes all argument, and
yet has in it the germ of something
intril,sically good.
The agitation for publicity of cam
paign expenses and various laws in
the different states of official pri-
mary elections has caused President
Roosevelt to question in his own
mind whether it may no. be possible
to devise a scheme by which the Gov
eminent may assume the responsible
ity not only for the actual expense
of the election, as at present, but for
the legitimate campaign expenses of
the regular nominees.
The difficulty which constantly pre-
sents itself to practical men, and
President Roosevelt is as practical as
anybody else, is to prevent the un-
due use of money, to prevent the use
of money in improper ways, and to
money, so that the voters may regis
ter their will without regard to tbs
influence of bosses, or of corpora
tons, or of persons who are willing
to buy legislation or executive action.
1t is easy enough to see that if the
Covernment-and by this | mean, OF
course, always either the county, city,
State or nation-undertakes to pay
the campaign expenses of candidates
for Office, the evil of contributions by
corporations and individuals who
hope to benefit by the success of
that party will be Immediately wiped
out. That is the starting poinr for
the Pres:dent's new idea. Beyond
that it is difficult 20 formulate any
details. The whole scheme seems inn
practical, and yet there undoubtedly
is back of it splendid motive for,
serious consideration by serious and
experienced men.
1t is easy to see that it would be
extremely difficult to apportion prop
er campaign expenses to the different
parties and their candidates. Old
parties disappear and new ones take
their place, independent candidates
frequently represent the best element
in the country, and there will un-
doubtedly be opportunities for fraud
and extravaganza if the Government
should attempt to pay what are
known as campaign expenses.
1t might be possible, however, to
apportion the purely legitimate ex-
penses of the candidates and parties
on some reasonable basis of previous
performances. This would work a
hardship to new parties, and yet there
must be hardships in politics always.
and they are today recognized by all
modern election laws, which give req
ular candidates decided preference il
various ways over those nominated
by irregular petitions.
1t might be possible, as has been
suggested to the President, to desig-
nate certain sum for campaign lit
erature, and possibly to have that lit.
erature printed or distributed direct
be absolutely impossible to pay the
railroad and living expenses of cam
paign orators if the amount could be
apportioned to either party on a
reasonable basis. The percentage of
apportionment seems to be the first
great stumbling block, although. of
course, back of it all is the serious
restriction upon secrecy, the right of
initiative, and campaign methods of
great party organizations.
Today primary elections in many of
the Northern States are held under
the Supervision of regular election
commissioner at designated places
and times, and the expenditures are
paid for the same as those for a reg
ular election, by the local govern
ment The states have gone further
and have required parties in their
convention to follow out the will OF
the people as expressed in the pri-
maries. The tendency today is to
break down the convention as an or
iginal political force and to make it
what the electoral college is, merely
convenient means of recording the
result as expressed by the people at
the polls.
From this it is not revolutionary
step to the payment of campaign ex-
penses by the Government. The pay
ment of the cost of maintaining speak
ers and sending out literature by a
partisan campaign committee is no
more foreign to the proper function
of government than is the assump-
ton of the expenditure for a party
primary and the mandate to the party