Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-02
I'm GOING TO Be
ELECTED" TAFT.
Republican Candidate Receives Most Sat-
isfactory Assurances bryan Has
More to Say to His Rival.
BRYAN TO TAFT.


that every disintercsted voter knows
that large contributions have been
used to secure mortgages upon Off
Gals, William j. Bryan tonight issued
a Fairview statement criticizing the
adoption by William Fl. Taft his Re-
publican opponent for President of
President Roosovelt'S announced view
on the subject of the publicity of cam
paign contributions
MIR. Taft" says Mr.. Bryan, Makes
the same charge the President does
the astounding charge that the voters
arc so liable to be misled that the
knowledge CAS- to the amounts and
sources of campaign contradictory
must be kept from them"
The Democratic nominee then adds:
Il insist that this is an insult to
the intelligence OF the voters and it
/ does little credit to Mr. Taft's iudg
| ment of the men to whom he is max
ing his appeal
Following is MI Bryan's state
ment:
Il am surprised to find that Mr.. Taft
| il (lorses tic Presidents views on the
subject of publicity as to campaign
contributions but since he holds these
views. | am glad that he makes them
known row. We now have publicity
| before the election as to his opinion
even if he does not believe in publicity
Of contributions until after the election.
| He fails to see the difference between
the publication of contributions before
| election and the publication of cXpen-
| ditures after election.
THE publication of expenditures is
| required to show whether corrupt
| methods have been employed in the
| election and as the expenditures cor
| tinue up to the close of the polls it
would be impossible to complete publl-
cation until after the election. The pub
| LEGATION Of contributions ought TO be be
| fore election, the main reason for the
I publication of contributions before cleo
| ton being to show the public the
| sources from which the contributions
come, in order that the public may
know which party predatory interests
| ire supporting. Everyone who knows
| human nature knows that the element
Of gratitude must always be considered
| in human affairs. Ingratitudc has been
| dc scribel as worse sin than revenge,
| FOR ingrattude repays good with evil
while revenge only pays evil with evil
| Every disinterested voter knows
| that large contributions have been
used to secure mortgages upon ofli-
| cistls. The publication of contributions
| throws a great deal more light upon
| the influence at work in politics than
| the publication of expenditures for the
| publication of contributions shows to
| whom the party is indebted. ard to
| whom repayment is likely to be made,
| while the publication of expenditures
| shows what has been paid out, and
| disbursements do not create obligations
! that affect the course of the admins
| tration.
| "Mr. Taft says that the proper OBJ
| Jet of a publicity law is to prevent the
| Use of money for bribery and other inn
| proper purposes in elections and to en-
| able the law officers of the government
| ma the public to determine whether
he contributions made We're properly
| expended for legitimate purposes. and
| he adds: The requirement that the
| names and amounts of the persons con-
| tributing should also be shown is for
| the purpose of enabling the public and
| he prosecuting officers of the govern
| lnent to judge whether subsequent Of
| fetal action has been improperly af-
| fected in favor of the contributors by
| the successful candidate
| This he says, can all be accomplish
ID by publication after the election He
| then proceeds to ndorsc the position
| taken By the President declaring that
| .,bn 81, t;,
| of contributions before election is that
| it makes certain that in the heat of the
controversy. the motive of those who
| contribute to pay the legitimate ex-
penses of the campaign will be miscon-
strued. perverted and mis-represented
Continued on Page Twelve)