The Democratic advocate., 1908-10-09

the Republican party will not end that
bargain. 1t will leave it just where
it is. They have profited by it. They
cannot carry on their organization
without money. 1t is larger and
stronger than the party itself.
You say to me, What evidence do
you present? The first evidence is
that they have not done it. But it will
be said by some Republican newspa-
per that the Republican party did
pass statute prohibiting combina-
tions between corporations for the
election of President, Vice-President
or members of Congress, and provid-
ing that if they did they would be
fined $4,000. That was another shah
by Republican trick They might just
as we'll have labeled their bill AN act
to insure perfect safety to corporation
officers for corrupt contributions
This is what they will say: We
will stand by you. You will run no
risk. If they do catch you, go down
into your treasury and pay the fine.
This matter was pretty well thrash
ed out in 1905, and it had some little
temporary effect upon the managers
Of the Republican party. In the year
1906, for the first time in it's expert
ence, the Congressional committee
went out and collected 81 cOntribu-
tions. The President gave 81 and Gov
ernor Hughes gave another, and with
these So the present nominee for Vice
President, Mr.. Sherman, went down
into Wall street to get the hat full.
What is the other evidence? First,
have given you evidence that they
won't pass the sort of law that will do
it. only Imprisonment will do it. Fines
you stop it.
Now, Mr. Bryan and the Democratic
members of Congress have been trying
| to get through a Republican Congress
publicity measure, a statute which
requires publication OF the contribu
tons and the names of the givers. Do
you suppose our Republican friends
would have it? No; and we have nev-
er forgotten the disgraceful spectacle
of the Republican party tacking an
ungermane clause on the bill to kill
its effect.
Let me give you one more. The
Democratic National Committee an
nounced that it would publish the
names of it's contributors before cleo
ton. The Republican party has re-
fused. More than that, the President
says he is opposed to publication, and
the reason l want to read to you, and
if it does not settle forever that the
Republican party will never put an
end to this relation I am mistaken. He
says: I emphaticaIly approve of
publication of campaign expenses
after election, whether provided for
by law or not What about contri-
button? This is written to Mr.. Bryan:
You have shown by this letter of yours
that if Mr.. Harrimans contribution
to the fund of 1904 had been known
before the election you and your sup
porters would have endeavored to use
the fact as an insincere and untruth-
full argument that ne could not be
trusted to deal out exact justice to
Mr.. Hartman. 1t is evident from your
letter that you might have Influenced
the American people by urging that
it was not proper for me to have rails
ed the money in this way
Now, my felloW-citiZens, I ask YOU
to answer this question, and answer
| it so we can hear, Is it not time that
business relations between predatory
| interests and parties should stop?
! (Shouts of 'Yes!)
I'm view of the evidence which l
have presented, ask you whether the
Republican party can be relied on to
stop it. (Cries of 'No.O
"Is there any higher duty imposed
on the American citizen than that of
contributing to the election of a Dem
ocratic Congress and of Mr.. Bryan to
| the Presidency?" (AppIause)