The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-13
AIDED PURITY
IN ELECTION
CAMPAIGN FUNDS PUBLICITY
PEOPLE CLAIM LARGE GAINS
PLAN FURTHER WORK
ALONG LINES ADOPTED.

dress cOneerning the publication OF
the campaign contributions and ex-
penditures by the treasurer of the
two national political parties.
THE movement inagurated by the
National Law Organization al the
close OF the presidential election of
1904. while not yet successful in Sc
curing legislation by congress, has
been instrumental in establishing the
initial test of publicity OF campaign
contributions and expenditures in
national elections. The Democratic
National Committee has followed the
provisions of the proposed legislation
in congress for publication before and
after election. The Republican Ma
tional Committee has voluntarily
placed itself under the New York
statute, which provides that:
IF any person or committee fails
TO file a statement or account as
above required or files statement
which does not conform 10 the fore
going requirements the supreme
court or any justice thereof. may
compel by order in proceedings for
contempt. such person or committee
to file sufficient statement or ac-
count. Application for an order, as
prescribed herein may be made by the
attorney general. district attorney,
candidate voted for at the election In
respect to which the allegations in
such petition may relate, or by any
five qualified voters who voted at
such meeting.
All election laws and regulations
are subject TO evasion or violations,
intention and unintentional. but sell
dom has a first experience under
new statute or regulation resulted in
such public benefit or been SO indie
alive OF ultimate success. A check
has been put upon the large secret
contributions of corporations aud in
dividuals with the understanding that
political debts are thus incurred by
party organizations. Shareholders
and policy holders no longer helpless
~ witness the expenditure of corpor-
ate funds for political purposes. Cor
porations and candidates are protect
ed against exactions that we're con
stantly increasing. The enormous
and unnecessary campaign eXpehdi-
lures IN recent years, affording OPP
portunity and encouragement 10 cor
ruption, have been materially III
minished. II is now the accepted
opinion that q contributor 10 politi-
cal committee has no right to secrecy.
The false conception that In respect
10 political contributions the in
dividual has the right 10 use his
money as he sees 1T no longer exists
in disregard of long established
restrictions upon the use of money In
elections. II is now admitted that
campaign fund publicity is not an
unnecessary interference with alleg-
ed individual rights. and that publi-
city Is essential I'm determining the
pfopriety of motives prompting po-
litical contributions. The difference
in principle is now fully recognized.
distinguishing subscriptions TO chart
table and other organizations having
limited relations ~ the public vel
fare from those made 10 political
organizations entrusted with impor-
tant public functions, and the power
of political campaign committees
thus comes within the puryiew OF
governmental supervision. The publ
city of campaign contributions and
expenditures the purpose and enect
OF which is to influence the elector in
exercise OF a public function Is there
fore regarded as an effective remedy
and an indlsputable public right.
Campaign money is now acknowledg-
ed TO be public money.
Secrecy of the ballot Is based
upon the necessity OF protecting the
voter from the coercion or induce
ment of improper influence. Cam
pafgn funds publicity is required as
equally essential and strikes directly
at the existence of such influences
This IS the fundamental principle for
which che National Publicly Law
Organization and its New York state
branch have contended in promoting
the enactment of state law and IN
compelling the attention OF congress
to the necessity of Federal leglsla-
ton. At no stage of this movement
has there been any open opposition IN
Washington. Even the controlling
powers of the house of represen-
tatiyes. not desiring legislation be-
fore the presidential campaign,
brought about the passage OF a bili
containing all the provisions adVo-
Gated by our organization for publ
city before and after election, but by
arbitrarily attaching a force bill 10
that measure during the closing days
OF the last session of congress, rem
dered It impossible of enactment az
that time. All the presidential can
didates in the last election, Repubh-
can and Democratic governors Just
elected, some OF whom have been IN
cluded IN the membership OF our
organization since its formation
Governor Hughes of New York, GOV
ernor Johnson OF Minnesota, Cover
nor-elert Harmon of Ohio, and Gov
ernor-elec' Marshall OF Indiana, nave
declared themselves in favor OF Ma
tionnl and State Publicity laws. Inc
organization has reason TO believe
that II will continue to have the
active cooperation of such men ana
it will steadfastly promote, 30 far az
It can through Its state branches, the
enactment OF publicity laws In states