New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-01
Mr.. TAFT WELCOMED
In BRYAN'S HOME
TAKES UP CHALLENGE ON
PUBLICITY.
Stands 5Cith President on That Issue
Nebraska BelieUsd Safely
Republican.
Repubican.
lnx Telegraph 70 Ths Tribune ]

Lincoln. Neb Sept. 3O-The invasion OF "ths
enc:ny's country as Mr.. Taft has hunnorously
described his trip in Nebraska. has proved a
notable success. and no city mas given him a
finer reception in point Of numbers and enthusi-
ssm. than the home Of William J. Bryan From
the time the Taft train made It's first stop az
Emerson. at O'Clock this morning. until the
capital was reached. at 3 O'Clock this afternoon.
there were large crowds at every station. and
the short speeches of the candidate were cor
daily received Mr.. Taft described Mr. Bryan
in terms which he deemed kindly. but truthful
and his audiences obviously shared his senti-
ments.
Mr.. Bryan. whose plan was to reach the city
this forenoon, changed his schedule 50 as I'd
bring him in at 1 O'Clock tomorrow morning
This precIuded any possible meeting between tbs
two candidates.
The reception Of Mr.. Taft by the city oc
Lincoln exceeded even that at Des MOines
Thousands Of people lined the entire route
of the somewhat circuitous course through
the city. ran alongside tic Candidates car
r:age seeking to shake hands. swarmed over
the Capitol grounds for the open air speech. and
twice packed the Auditorium. which viii accom-
rnodate about five thousand persons, to suf1oca-
ton The first audience was composed Of women
members of the Federation of Women's Clubs or
Nebraska. and presided over by Mrs George
Sheldon. wife of the Governor The evening au-
dfence was composed chiefly of men who before
arriving had taken part in the parade OF the
day.
FOR PUBLICITY AFTER ELECTION
Mr.. Taft had intended in the big meeting to-
night at the Auditorium reply TO the ehal-
lenge from Mr Bryan concerning campaign
contributions. He became so engrossed. now
ever. in other topics that he made only incl
sNa Of
and answered the challenge in the following
formal statement:
Mr. BRYAN challenges me TO take the same
position that President Roosevelt takes WIN
reference to the time when publicity should De
made OF campaign contributions, ana accept
the challenge / take exactly the same position
that the President takes. 1 have always oeen
in foy-or ~ a law which will require publicity
81 both contributions and expenses Immediately
after election Mr. Bryan seems 70 IaEor the
puDiCa. ion Of contributions before the erection
but p0stpones the publication OF expenditures
urtI after that time 1 confess see no reason
why, Il contributions are 70 be pu0Hsned DeIore
elections. expenditures should not also pc pup
Iished- I think that the character OF expenol-
lures is quite important as The character
and source Of the contributions
I do not know Of any election I1W' eiliisI IN
this cOrip+t. abroad, which requires the pub
iCatiCn ibutfOns or expenditures oelCtc
the aIecti,- law Of Nebraska This SUD
iect only r.. -ts- the publication OF COntribu-
ti5ns and expenditures after the election IhiS
was the law which the Democratic mana fers n
Nebraska
ing to return the receipt Of SE50Oe from Mr~
Thomas f Ryan. The most drastic law IN IhiS
country on the subject IS that Of New 1OrA-
which also makes the time Of publication aItef
election.
The proper object Of a publicity law IS y
prevent the use of money for bribery and otne-
Improper purposes in elections and TO enable the
Law officers OF the government and the PUBIC
TO determine whether the contributions mace
were properly expended for legitimate purposes
The requirement. that the names and amounts
of the persons contributing should be 2Lso
shown is for the purpose OF enabling the pubic
and the prosecuting officers of the government
TO Judge whether subsequent official action mas
been improperly affected in favor OF the contri-
buttons by the successful candidate This can
all be accomplished by publication after the
election
The chief objection TO the publication OF con-
trfburiOns before the election IS that II makes
certain that in the neat Of the controversy the
motives of those who contribute to pay the
legitimate expenses of the campaign viii be mis-
construed perverted and misrepresented The
candidates in whose behalf the contributions
are made will Ee charged in most Unfair way
as being completely under the control Of those
who MAKE the contributions IL is entirely nat
rrr1I and proper that who able % con-
tribute and who are deeply Interested from
patriotic motives and from motives # desire
to continue the general prosperity should con-
tribute 10 the party whose administration CT
governmental affairs is EEcl- 70 be in accord
9nCe with their views Of proper government. Il
Is not good policy to discourage these who de-
sire to contribute to the esitinate purposes oc
the campaign from 50 contributing by exposing
them 10 the bitter di2triHes - unfair attacks
or sIa1dcr~uS condemnation of pcrtiSans in an
electoral fight