Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-13

in return for money contributed to
debauch elections. What can be ex-
pected when official authority is turned
over to the representatives OF those
who first furnish the sinews of war
and then reimburse themselves out of
the pockets of the taxpayers.
Fasting in Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the republican party re-
mains in power, it is powerless to re-
generate itself. 1t can not attack
wrong-doing in high places without
disgracing many of it's prominent
members, and it, therefore, uses Cpl
ates instead Of the surgeons knife.
Its malefactors constrne each repub-
lfcan victory as an endorsement Of
( their conduct and threaten the party
with defeat if they are interfered
with Not until that party passes
through period of fasting in the will
derness, will the republican leaders
learn to study public questions from
the standpoint of the masses. just as
with individuals, "the cares of this
world and the deceitfulness Of riches
/ choke the TRUTH SO in politices, when
party leaders swerye far away from
home and are not in constant contact
with the voters, continued party sue
cess blinds their eyes to the needs
of the people and makes them deaf to
the cry of distress.
Publicity as to Campaign Contribu-
| tons.
An effort has been made to secure
legislation requiring publicity as 20
campaign contributions and expendi-
lures; but the republican leaders, even
in the face of an indignant public, re-
fused to consent to law which
would compel honesty in elections.
When the matter was brought up in
the recent republican convention, the
plank was repudated by vote of $50
to "a. Here, too, Mr.. Taft has been
driven to apologize for his convention
and to declare himself in favor of a
publicity law; and yet, if you will
read what he says upon this subject
you will find that his promise falls far
short of the requirements of the situa-
ton. He says:
eff l am elected president. / shall
urge upon congress, with every hope
of success, that law be passed re
curing the filing, in federal Office
of a statement of the contributions
received by committees and candi
dates in elections for members OF
congress, and in such other elections
as are constitutionallly within the
control of congress.
, shall not embarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope OF
success; it is certainly not on any en-
, couragement he has received from the
republican leaders. 1t is sufficient tc
say that If his hopes are realized-if
in spite of the adverse action of his
convention, he should succeed in Sc
curing the enactment of the very law
which he fayors, it would give but
partial relief He has read the dem
ocratic platform; not only his Ian
guage, but his evident alarm, indicates
that he has read it carefully, He even
had before the action of the democrat
, ic national committee in interpreting
and applying that platform; and YET
, he fails to say that he fayors the pub
lication of the contributions before
{ natural curiosity to find out how ar
{ election has been purchased, ever
when the knowledge comes too late
to be of service, but why should the
people be kept in darkness until the
election is past? Why should the
locking of the door be delayed unit
the horse is gone?
An Election Public Affair.
An election is public affair. Tho
people, exercising the right to selec
their officials and to decide upon tho
policies to be pursued, proceed tt
their several polling places on electio.
day and register their will. What ex
cuse can be given for secrecy as te
the Influences at work? If man
, pecuniarily interested in "concentrat
: ing the control Of the railroads in one
| management subscribes large sur
to aid in carrying the election, why
should his part in the campaign be
concealed until he has put the officials
( under obligation to him? If trus
/ magnate contributes 100000 to cleo
political friends to Office, with view
| to preventing hostile legislation, why
, should that fact be concealed unit
! his friends are securely seated II
their official positions?
| This is not a new question; it is {
question which has been agitated-s
j question which the republican leaders
) fully understands question which
!, the republican candidate has studied
and yet he refuses to declare himsel
) in favor of the legislation absolutel.
> necessary, namely, legislation requir
! ing publication before the election.
: Democratic Party Promises Publicity
, How can the people hope to rule, j
: they are not able to learn until afte
. the election what the predatory inter
: ests are doing? The democratic part,
I meets the issue honestly and courage
Q ously. 1t says:
: 1--WE pledge the democratic party t
t the enactment of a law prohibiting
l. any corporation from contributing t
g a campaign fund, and any individual
j. from contributing an amount above
l. reasonable maximum, and providin
n for the publication, before election, G
S all such contributions above a reason
f able minimum"
a The democratic national committe
l. Immediately proceeded to interpre
and apply this plank, announcing tina
no contributions would be receive
from corporations, that no individus