Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-12
the PEOPLE
SHALL RULE
(C.nNnued Trum Page Five.)

Consumed rr;m Page Five.)
return for money contributed to de-
bauch elections. What can be ex-
pc cted when official authority is
turned over to the representatives
of those who first furnish the sinews
of war and then reimburse them
selves out of the pockets Of the tax
payers?
Fasting in Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the republican party
remains in power, it is powerless to
regenerate itself. 1t can not attack
wrong-doing in high places without
disgracing many of it's prominent
members. and 1t. therefore. uses OPT
ates instead of the surgeons knife.
It's malefactors construe each repub-
lican victory as an endorsement of
their conduct and threaten the party
with defeat II they are interfered
with. Not until that party passes
through period Of fasting In the
wilderness. will the republican lead
ers learn to study public questions
from the STANDPOINT of the masses.
Just - with individuals, "the cares
of this world and the deceitfulness
OF riches choke the truth" SO in
politics, when party leaders serve
far away from home and are not in
constant contact with the voters.
continued party success blinds their
eyes to the needs OF the people and
makes them deaf to the cry of dis
tress.
Publicity as to Campaign Contribu
tions.
An effort has been made to Sc
cure legislation requiring publicity
as to campaign contributions and
expenditures: but the republican
leaders, even in the face of an indig-
rant public. refused to consent to a
law which would compel honesty in
elections. When the matte was
brought up in the recent republican
national convention. the plank was
repudiated by a vote of $50 to "a
Here. too, Mr.. Taft has been driver
to apologize for his convention and
to declare himself in favor Of pub.
licity law: and yet. IL you will read
| what he SAYS upon this subject. you
will find that his promise falls ia,
short of the requirements of the sit
uation. He says:
"If am elected president, I shall
urge upon congress. with every hope
Of success, that law be passed re-
curing the filing, in federal Of
fee, of a statement of the contribu
tions received by committees an(
candidates in elections for members
Of congress. and in such other cleo
tons as are constitutionally within
the control of congress"
shall not embarrass him by ask
him upon what he bases his hope o
success: It is certainly not on an!
encouragement he has received from
republican leaders. 1t Is sufficien
to say that if his hopes were rea
lized-if, in spite Of the adverse &C
ton of his convention. he shoul'
succeed in securing the enactment o
the very law which he favors, 1
would give but partial relief. HI
has read the democratic platform
not only his language, but his evi
dent alarm. indicates that he ha
read 1t carefully. He even had be
fore him the action of the demo
cratic national committee in inter
preting and applying that Platform
and vet. he fails to say that he fav
ors the publication OF tie contribu
ltions before the election. OF course
il satisfies a natural curiosity Z
find out how an election has bee
purchased. even when the knowl
edge comes to late to be of service
hut WHY should the PEOPLE. be ken
in darkrass until the election
past? Why should the locking G
the door he delayed until after tn
horse is gone?