Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-01
IS IN LINCOLN



Of $4,000 from Mr.. Thomas OF f.. Ryan.
The most drastic law in this country on
the subject is that Of New York. which
also makes the time for publication after
the election. The proper object Of a pub
licity law Is to prevent the use of money
for bribery and other improper purposes
In elections and 20 nable tn law officers
of the government and the public to de-
termine whether the contributions made
we're properly expended for legitimate pur-
poses. The requirement that the names
and amounts of prisons contributing should
also be shown Is for the purpose of en-
aiding the public and the prosecuting
officers of the government to judge
whether subsequent official actions have
been improperly affected in favor of the
contributors by the successful candidate.
This can all be accomplished by publica-
ton after the election. The chief ob1ec-
ton to the publication OF contributions be-
fore the election Is that II makes certain
that in the heat of the controversy the
motives OF those who contribute to pay the
legitimate expenses Of the campaign viii
be misconstrued. perverted and misrepre-
scented.
Basis of Campaign Charges.
THE candidates in whose behalf the
contributions are made will be charged in
a most unfair way as being completely
under the control of those, who make the
contributions. It is entirely natural and
proper that men who are able to contribute
and who are deeply interested from
patriotic motives and from motives Of a
desire to continue the general prosperity,
should contribute to the part, whose ad-
ministration of governmental affairs is
likely TO be in accordance with their views
of proper government, IL is not good
policy to discourage those who desire to
contribute to the legitimate purposes of
the campaign from so contributing by ex-
posing them to the bitter diatribes or I'M
fair attacks or slanderous condemnation of
partlsans in an electoral fight. After the
election is over and the expenditures and
contributions are published the temptation
to misrepresent the motives Of the donors
will largely be mlnimized and the public
may then arrive at a just conclusion with
respect to the matter.
Governor HuEhes' Case Cited.
Nothing could more forcibly support
this view than the Illustration furnished by
the attacks now made on Mr.. Hughes In
which he les charged with being an agent
and creature of the trusts and financial
institutions of Wall street, because among
the contribution for governor were some
men prominent in wall street. There is
no man in the country who has lemon
strated more completely his entire free
dom from corporate control than Governor
Hughes by his administration of state af-
fairs, and yet for partisan purpose and
without the slightest evidence except the
contribution Mr.. Bryan refers to him as
being completely under trust influence.
A -f-ga -. tt - A. -
detail of contributions and expenditures
within ten days after the election, so that
the pubic may know where the money came
from, how much was expended, and for
what 1t was expended, is all that public
policy requires. -
Reasons for Publication.
The publication of such contribution
will make the successful candidate most
careful in deciding questions in which con-
tributors may subsequently have a personal
interest. in order to avoid any Inference of
improper Influence thereby. The known
publicity to be give into contribution after
the election VIM Greatly reduce the prob
ability that alcgntributiohs will be made
for the purpose OF seeking privileges or
favors at the hands of the candidate, and
tends to secure practical purity of motive
in the making OF such contributions.
MIR. Bryan looks rather to the publica-
ton of such contributions for platform
purposes and reference, than TO the main
purpose of a publicity law, which is to Sc
cure the public against bribery in elections
and the improper influencing of official
n action
WAKEFIELD, Neb., Sept. ~3O.-(special
Telegram.)-Emerson the first station in
Nebraska from the Iowa line. gave Mr.,
N To % a rannhlfcan Nahra aGa uya1raroa HIM
e dreds Of people lined the station platform
e for the entire length OF the train, and the
party was, ushered into the town to. the
: music of a band.
I From the rear end of the train, Mr.. Taft
. talked briefly, his voice being in much
better condition than had been anticipated
He was given a tremendous welcome as HI
e appeared on the platform, and a rouslnt
cheer as the train pulled out.
]. r. Boyd of the Third district, boarded
the train at Emerson. Senator Norris
Brown, Governor Sheldon, National Com
mitteeman Victor Rosewater, c.. o. Vince
! don, c. B. Edgar and w. b. Rose, the las
three OF Lincoln, had joined the Taft part!
g at Sioux City.
r AZ WakeheId and Wayne.
5 NORFOLK Neb., Sept, 3O.-(Special Tele
: gram .)-At Wakefield and Wayne. JudE
Taft was greeted by enthusiastic crowds
His brief talks made a decided nit. Tn
presidential candidate is being introduce,
by Governor Sheldon. who Is being royal,
received.
At Wayne, the crowd numbered probabl,
re more than 1900, and the enthusiasm re
e futed the statement that the people o
Nebraska are not interested. in politics
Automobiles and carriages at the station
were decorated with flags and bunting
and from the station could be seen dec
Grated store buildings. Previous to the ar
rival {. the Taft train, Senator Burket
and State Senator Randall addressed tn,
crowds. These two Joined the Taft part.
y at Wayne as did Judge j. B. Barnes. Bur
Mapes, Judge Norris, Attorney Tyler an,
Judge Welsh.
Bryan Text Of Speeches.
In the series OF SHORE speeches belnI
made before Lincoln is reached. Mr.. Tai
never failed 10 make Bryan the text. II
J doing this, however, he made careful Il
! mention the greatness of the Nebraskan