The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-02-05
feels Let's take less time to be good, and get
busy doing good.


President Roosevelt, clearly sensing the,
fact that money plays too prominent part in
the election Of public officials has urged upon
congress the necessity Of passing laws calcu-,
lated 10 make the almighty dollar less potent
at elections. His plan is to compel the publ.
cation Of contributions to the campaign fund
and then the pohlication Of . detailed state.
rnent showing how the money was spent. The
president anticipates that this will prevent
many contributions, because OF fear OF publicity,
and he believes the funds 80 contributed are
more likely to be spent for legitimate purposes,
because OF the publicity to be given.
Whether or not the presidents plan il SUI.
fclently comprehensive to meet the needs OF
the situation, his suggestion 10 clearly 10 the
interest Of an honest, clean, pure and free bal
lot, and the demand for the passage Of some
stringent law bearing on this matter should 20
from every voter to his congressman and
senator.
Come to think about IL, why should there
be o campaign fund" at all? Why should
there be fund collected from candidates, Of.
fceholders prominent men and corporations?
Are not the expenses Of the election paid by
the city and state? ''Sure," says one, "but
what about speakers, the hauling Of voters to
the polls, the bands, torchlight professions,
the floating vote to be controlled, hall rents,
workers. etc., etc., II all costs money!"
But why should such expenses - these Be
continued? Are they legitimate In the sense
Of promoting fairer election, An election IN.
influenced By aught save thu greatest good to
the commonwealth? The vote Of an able.
bodied man who must be hauled TO the polls
IL not good vote. AZ rule II Is not an In.
'telligent vote, and 1t could well be dispensed
with rather than hauled to the polls. Bands
and torchlight processions have no more legiti-
mate place In campaigns than merry.makiug
around the bier, A vote should be cast only
after such thought and judgment ~ circum.
stances will allow and is never q good vote
when 1t IL Influenced BY the blare Of trumpets
and the show that may be made by opposing
parties. The Floating vote" should be per.
mitted to float itself to hell rather than bought
with whisky or cash. The purchase and sale Of
a franchise any place and at any time repre-.
sents all that is lowest In degradation. Many
reputable but theughtless, careless men have
lent themselves to this phase Of campaign
work, p" but 1t Is crime against the public.
When 1t Is all summed up, the campaign
iuuo "a 'osSO'y - ScAsuPWVh Auuu' AuOoC wiz
contribute TO 1t and those who dispense 1t do
not regard 1t exactly 10 that light, but these,
as we'll as the general public, have doubts
about the matter at times. Certain 1t Is that
II the campaign fund doesn't serve the worst
purpose, 1t does not serve very good one and
should be dispensed with.
The writer would have the government
provide q fund adequate to pay the actual ex-
pense Of orators, the money to be At the com.
mand Of the parties 10 proportion to their vote
at the preceding election. After this provision
should come one making 1t felony for any
man to contribute to, accept from or dispense
. campaign fund. The law should then pro-
vide that each elected and each defeated can
didate must, Immediately following the cleo.
ton. publish At the governments expense q
detailed list Of his expenses incident to the
campaign, false report carrying with Il q
proper penalty. There might be some compl.
Gated details under such On arrangement, but
II congress desires further expansion the writer
isat their, disposal any day In February after
the 10Th.