Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-10-02

the control of those who make the
contributions
Here he makes the same charge
that the president docs. the astound
ing chargc-that the voters are SO lia-
bio 10 hc misled that the hnoWlrdEe
must be kept from them. INSIST
that IL Is an insult to the Intelligence
OF the voters and il does little credit
Ia MIR Tafts Judgment ot the mon q"
whom ne Is making his appeal Mr.
Roosevelt may have madc his state
ment t]houghtlcaaly ana ON the Inn
pulse OF the momcnt but MI. Taft
brings the sumc Indictment 4ealnsi
the voters with dolihoratiou aud after
he has had read "a criticism of INC
president views. 1t rs fair 10 charge
therefore. that Mr.. Taft r. either eN-
pecting 10 receive contributions which
would arouse just suspicion among th'
intelligent people, OF contributions
which II known. would arouse au ~.
Just suspicion among q people ta" fs
norant "a form . correct Judgment wiz
on tho facts. This is an evasion which
ne can neither rvtract or excuse u
can only be- explained Boy ID conscious
ness that republican campaign meth
ODDS win not bear the light uud thar
il would be dangerous 10 his partS it
the public knew before the election
what he promises 10 make public after
the election.
Ills subsequent argument that the
publication before election et the
names and amounts contributed
would discourage those Who desire o.
contribute to the legitimate purpose
Of the campaign by exposing thrm 10
tho bitter diatribcs OF unfair attacks
of eIandurouy condemnation Of par
tlsans in an electoral night ought 10
have Ilttlc weight when it Is cpusid-
cred that such publication viii be- cf-
hcious in discouIaging those who no"
desire to contribute 10 lllcgitimnte rN-
pcnscs and for the purpose ~ putting
officials undor obligations to thom
while publications. after the election
may enable us to Judge whether sub
segment official action has been tm-
properly affected In favor OF the CON
trihutors by the successful candidate
this Is of very small value compared
with the benefit TO be derived from
the publication OF contributions be
fore election. The people have q
right TO form their own opinion ns to
the influence boinf used Thcy don't
need a guardian AIR. Tart knows that
q great many matters come before
executives and legislature whore it is
difficult, II not impossible for the
average voter to Investigate Tho facts.
The people nave a riirht 70 know In
advance Of election whether Those
with special Interests to look after arc
contributing sums larger than public
spirit, patriotic motives ana genera
interest would warrant. u, for m
Atnnce, a candidate for governor il
likely t. have 10 pass upon railroad
legislation the people have the right
to know whether men largely tutri-
cstod In prevented Liquidation have
contributed literally 10 his campaign
fund. II a mnu nspircs to an office,
il elected h viii have 10 pass upon
antitrust legislation or enforce anti
trust laws. IL is only right that the
public should know 10 what extent the
trust magnatos arc financing his cam
paign. ANA 80 II Il man Is candidate
for Office which brings him into ora
Ella connection with tarin legislation
It is proper for the public Ia know
whether he will be- So obligated 10 the
benchcorlcs Of Il high tariff as To- be
embarrassed when Ne attempts 60 pro
tect the consumer.
Mr. TAFT miarcpreaenta what ]
have said in regard 10 Mr. Hughes !
called attention 10 soino ot the cor.
tributions that wore made to Hughes
fund and In view or the fact that Mr.
. Hughes attacks the remedies present