The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-08-14

vi ihe masses. Just as with individ-
uals, ''the cares of this world and the
deceifulness of riches choke the truth
SO In politics. when party leaders serve
far away from home and are not In
constant contact with the voters. con-
tinued party success 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 TO
campaign contributions and expendi-
lures; but the Republican leaders. even
in the face of an indignant public, re-
fused TO consent TO a law which would
compel honesty in elections. When the
matter was brought up in the recent
Republican national convention. the
plank was repudiated 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 viii read
what he says upon this subject. you
will find that his promise falls far short
of the requirements of the situation.
He says:
If am elected president. | shall
urge upon congress, with every hope of
success, that law be passed requiring
the filing. in a federal Office. of a state
ment of the contributions received by
committees and candidates in elections
for members of congress. and in such
other elections as are constitutfonally
within tho 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-
enlargement he has received from Re
publican leaders. 1t is sufficient to say
that If his hopes were realized-if. in
spite OF the adverse action of his con-
ventiOn, he should succeed In securing
the enactment of the very law which
he f2vOrS, it would give but partial re-
lief. He has read she Democratic plat
form; not only his language. but his
evident alarm, indicates that be has
read it carefully He even had before
him the action of the Democratic ma
tiOnal committee in interpreting and
applying that platform; and yet, he
fails to say that he favors the publica-
ton of the contributions before the
election OF course, it satisfies a nat
ural curiosity TO find out how an cleo
ton has been purchased, even 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 until the horse is gone?
An Election a Public Affair.
An election is n public affair The
people, exercising the right to select
their officials and to decide upon the
policies to be pursued, proceed to their
several polling places on election day
and register their will. What excuse
can be given for secrecy as TO the in
fluences at work? If a man, pecun-
iarily interested in concentrating the
control of the railroads in one manage
ment," subscribes large sum to aid in
carrying the election, why should his
part in the campaign be concealed I'M
til he has put the officials under obi
CATION to him? If Il trust magnate
contributes 100000 to elect political
friends to office. with view to pre-
venting hostile legislation, why should
that fact be concealed until his friends
are securely seated In their official po
sitiOnS?
This is not new question; it IS
question which has been agitated-a
question which the Republican leaders
fully understand question which the
Republican candidate has studied. and
yet he refuses to declare himself In ia
vor of the legislation absolutely neces
sary, namely. legislation requiring pub
LEGATION before the election
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule, if
they are not able to learn until after
the election what the predatory inter
ests are doing? The Democratic part
meets the issue honestly and coura-
geouSly. 1t says:
continued on next page.)