The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-01

president and vice president by the
people. They are so elected now, the :
electoral college only ratifying the Sc
In Kansas will occupy a similar posi-
senator.
Until this new method has been
tried I think IT wise to defer any ac-
ton on amending the constitution. II
the proposition to amend the consti-
tuition is submitted, think 1t should
include provision giving the national
government control over the election
OF United States senators.
Fifteenth-Mr. Bristow has stated
that my campaign is costing me .
thousand dollars q day. He has also
stated that he IL bearing the expense
OF his own campaign personally. He
formation that his campaign manager.
| Mr.. White, has solicited campaign
contributions In ono instance request
ing the donation Of thousand dollars
from prominent citizen of this state.
| Just how much MT. White has collect
ed for Mr.. Bristow's campaign, Of
! course I do not know, but 1 know he
has been endeavoring to secure q cam
paign fund in tho usual manner. MY
campaign fund has been contributed
by myself and individual friends in
Kansas. and has been spent In the way
and manner already made public by
| the chairman Of my campaign COM
mittee.
| I voted for the act of January 20.
| 1907, which makes It unlawful for any
| national bank. or any corporation or
gained under the laws of congress. to
make q money contribution in connec-
| ton with any election to any political
office. 1t also makes 1t unlawful for
ahw corporation whatever to contrib
ute to any election at which presiden-
tial and vice presidential electors or
Representatives in congress are to be
| voted for, or in any election by any
state legislature of a United States
senator
| Campaign Publicity. .
| As a member Of the subcommittee
OF the committee on privileges and
elections OF the United States senate,
20112. which provided for the public
ity of contributions to any national
congressional committee and national
committees OF all parties.
| This bill provided Tor the publicity
of contributions both before and after
the election. 1t also punished fraud
and intimidation in any election for
representative In congress, or at any
primary election for the nomination Of
a candidate for representative in con-
Of frauds committed by election officers
in congressional elections and In pri-
mary elections. 1t also provided for
the collection Of data and information
representative in congress in accord
ance with the plan provided in the
. fourteenth amendment, and compel q
! state that denies any OF its male citi-
zens of requisite age the right to vote
on account Of color to accept the re-
gress and III the electoral college.
was ready to vote for this bill
which had already been passed by the
. house of representatives but 1t reach
J ed the senate so late in the session that
1t could only be reported or passed by
unanimous consent, and the Democrats
in the senate objected to it on account
; Of the control the bill gave the nation
? al government over elections and pri-
. mary elections. and because of the
!. provision for the reduction of southern
I representation in congress.
The Democrats agreed to this bill II
we should strike out all provisions relat-
ing to federal control OF elections and the
, reduction OF southern representation
: declined to emasculate the bill in this
manner and 1 would like to know wheth-
2 the elimination of this feature Of the bill
: in order to obtain publicity alone in ma
: tional elections. I thought It was just as
limitation now being INDUCED in in the
, south as it was to provide for publicity
8 ing in congress for many years. but this
Y is the first time a bill has been passed by
the house OF e,nad @
t the bill and pass 1t providing for publicity
v alone. and let the fraud and intimidation
sou IL nne have Sons
Notwithstanding this failure to pass .
der the circumstances?
= bill on publicity Of campaign contributions
because of the attitude OF the Democrats
heartily indorse the action of Mr.. Tar
and the Republican national committee t.
: give publicity to the contributions to thu
committee in this campaign.
The subject OF publicity of campaign
: We had a law requiring publicity from
1893 to 1908 This law was very strict IL
: its provisions. and Mr.: Bristow had SOM
: urer Of all campaign committees to file al
il itemized report showing both the contri
: ments made BY the committee Il required
further that every member Of commit
= tee who should collect or dtsburse fund
v treasurer, and that the Same should b.
appended to the treasurer's report ant
: made a part thereof.
= Bristow Campaign Contributions.
e In 1895 Mr.. Bristow was secretary of thu
hand a certified copy OF the report filet
e by the treasurer with the county clerk o
e Shawnee county. This statement show
. publican state committee that year. ag
. grekating $25,s22.0. was contributed by J
3 L. Bristow.
I would like to know from Mr.. Bristov
e whether this was his personal contrfbu
: ton. and. If not. why he failed to compl.
with the law which required him to Ill
n a statement of all monies received by him
q Will Mr.. Bristow claim that he was tn
= only contributor to the Republican cam
= paiEn fund of that year, or was he onl.
n a figurehead used to evade the plain pro
e vision Of the law?
+, What corporations or interests were GOV
i ering UP their contributions through you
n But this is not the most remarkabl
= part Of the statement. 1t is fair to as
= sums that no part of this was a persona
contribution from Mr.. Bristow.
But the treasurer's report which / stil
e hold In NV hand shows that of the dis