The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-10
MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
Representative Hearst Tells
Of His Pending Bill.
CRITICISES HUGHES PROPOSAL
Says Il Would Merely Place CaRdi-
dates Under Obligations to Corrupt
Financial Observation-Disclosures That
Neither of Old Parties Desires tn
Change Existing Conditions.

Representative w. r. Hearst, of New
York, has issued a signed statement in
support of his bill relating to the corrupt
use of money in elections. He says, in
part:
'''Fhe use of something over million
dollars in the last New York State cam
paign is admitted by the various commit
tees of the Republican party. In addition
10 that, there was a great deal of money
spent by individuals and by semi-political
organizations which did not come under
the restrictions OF the election laws. This
amount of money cannot be spent properly
in merely informing the voters on the is
sues Of the campaign. ana in guarding the
ballot on election day, and, therefore the
greater part Of it must be spent improp-
erIy in directly or Indirectly influencing
the vote Of the citizens.
Mr.. Hughes makes an extraordinary
recommendation for a corrupt practices
act. in which he advises that the amount
Of money contributed by any individual
candidate De limited TO a small sum. II
there is no provision limiting the total
amount Of money spent. this suggestion
Of Mr. Hughes would merely compel all
candidates TO be under obligations tor
their campaign funds TO the financial in
terests who deal in politics.
Outlines His Method.
The public knows sufficiently well
what kind Of services those large tinan-
cial interests require from elected Off
cials In return for the campaign con-
tributions that have helped 20 elect them.
Therefore, / maintain that the proper
method is 10 limit strictly the amount Of
money which may be spent on an cleo
ton. and not to limit merely the amount
which a candidate may himself contribute
in an effort % be free and independent
of corporation control
My bin is framed 20 limit strictly the
amount of money that can be spent and
the uses TO which it can be put, and my
bill defines any other expenditure Of
money as bribery. 1t Furthermore con-
tains a clause which I think viii be alb
s0lutely eff ctive in the detection of this
bribery AID improper use Of money. The
person guilty Of this improper use cf
money IS. under my bill punishable by
fine Of not more than $4,000 nor less than
S2,}e5, half of which amount shall go 10
=
Thus, cnere will be- a constant reward Of
fered of from S5.elJ 10 Sl.oo0 I'm every case
OF the improper use Of money tn eiec-
tions. And. moreover, the man who
gives the bride automatically offers the
reward for his own detection.
There is a further clause I'm my bill
which offers a somewhat similar punish
mcnt for false registration and Illegal
voting There are also Jail penalties for
these crimes
Power of Great Wealth.
81 say that the use of money by cor
porations is not the only evil that threat
/ ems us; the use of money by any indi-
viduaL or any collection Of individuals,
may be as great. as improper. and as
/ harmful % our Institutions and to our
political independence.
{ I've all have read that Mr. Rockefel-
/ Ter has given 81, 100000 for public educa-
ton. ! cannot commend him too highly
| for such an act, and yet we cannot help
feeling the possibilities Of the misuse OF
such great wealth TO control the govern
ment under our present lax election laws.
/ If Mr. Rockefeller can give S32O00,0o0 for
/ n certain purpose-no matter how bcned-
cial-hc might give oHe-hfth or one-tcnth
Of that sum 10 preserve political condi-
/ lions that make the accumulation Of such
great wealth as this possible,
we should not, and do not, as Ameri-
/ can citizens, seek to interfere with the
/ proper reward in business for industry
/ enterprise, and financial ssgacity, no mat
/ ter how great that reward may be, but. as
/ American citizens, we do wish 20 prevent
/ the control of our government by power
I ful financial interests who use 10 for their
! selfish ends and personal advantages We
do wish to prevent the corrupt use of
money in elections. TO limit the power OF
money in elections. and 10 do this we
should adopt most definite and drastic
measures. j am confident that my bill
would stop the corrupt use of money in
elections. but 1 do not think il viii be
( passed. for I do not believe that there IS
any sincere desire on the part Of either Of
the old parties To interfere with the use Of
money I'm politics"