The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-08-20

vention, he should succeed In securing
the enactment of TIE very law which
he favors. il wond mivc but partial re-
lief. He has read the Democratic plat
form not only -, language, hut his
evident alarm, Indicates that he has
read 1t carefully. He even had before
him the action of the Democratic ma
tional committee In Interpreting and
applying that platform; and yet, he
fails to say that he favors the publca
tion of the contributions before the
election. OF course 1t satisfies nat
ural curiosity to find out how an cleo
tion has been purchased. even when
the knowledge comes too late to he of
service, but why should the people be
kept in darkness until the election is
past? Why should the locking of the
door be delayed until the horse is gone?
An Election a Public Affair
An election Is Il pabliG affair. The
people, exercising the right to select
their officials and to decide upon the
policies to he pursued, proceed to their
several polling places Oh election day
and register their will. What excuse
can be given for secrecy us to the in
huerces at work? If man, pecun-
iarily interested in Concentrating the
control of the railroads in one manage
ment," subscribes a large sum to aid in
carrying the election, why should his
part in the campaign be concealed un-
til he has put the officials under Obli-
CATION to him? If trust magnate
contributes 100000 to elect political
friends to Office, with a view to pre-
venting hostile LEGISLATION, why should
that fact be concealed until his friends
are securely seated in their official po-
sitions?
This is not new question; 1T is
question which las been agitated--a
question which the Republican leaders
fully underestimate question which the
Republican candidate has studied, and
yet he refuses to declare himself In fa-
vor of the legislation absolutely neces
sary, namely, legislation requiring pub
lication before the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule, If
they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory inter-
ests are doing? The Democratic party
meets the issue honestly and coura-
geously. 1t says:
1--WE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing to a
campaign fund, and any Individual
from contributing an amount above a
reasonable maximum, and providing
for the publication, before election, of
all such contributions above reason
able minimum"
The Democratic national committee
Immediately proceeded to interpret and
apply this plank, announcing that no
contributions would be received from
corporations, that no individual would
be allowed to contribute more than
$4,000, and that all contributions
above 500 would be made public be-
fore the election--those received before
October IL to be made public on or
before that day, those received after
ward to be made public OH the day
when received, and no such contribu-
tlons to be accepted within three days
of the election. The expenditures are
to he published after election. Here
is a plan which is complete and effec-
tive.
Popular Election of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money,
the present method of electing United
States senators is most responsible for
the obstruction of reforms, For one
hundred years after the adoption of
the constitution, the demand for the
popular election of senator's, while find
ing increased expression, did not be-
come dominant sentiment. A con
stitutional amendment had from time
to time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed In
few of the states, but the movement
had not reached point where II mani
Tested itself through congressional ac-
tion. In the Fifty-second congress,
however, resolution was reported
from house committee proposing the
necessary constitutional amendment,
and this resolution passed the house
of representatives by n vote which
was practically unanimous. In the
Fifty-third congress similar resolu-