Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-03
BRYAN REPLIES TO TAFT
Nebraskan Reiterates His S Z men
About Campaign Publioil
TOUCHES LIGHTLY ON RYAN DEAL
Says Money Was from National Com.
m~ittee, but Omits Any Reference
as to What Was Done
with 1t.

LINCOLN, Neb., oct. declaring tina:
every disinterested voter knows that large
contributions have been used to secure
mortgages upon Officials" William j.
Bryan tonight issued a statement crit
icislng the adoptioU by William II.
Taft, his republican opponent for president,
of President Roosevelt's announced view on
the subject of the publicity Of campaign
contributions.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
I am surprised to find that Mr.. Taft in
dCrses the presidents views on the subject
OF publicity as to caInpaign funds, but
since he holds these views. / am glad that
he makes them known now. We now have
publicity before the election as to his opin-
ion, even II 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 expenditures before
election, Tho publication OF expenditures
is required to show whether corrupt. meth
DDS have been employed In the election and
as the expenditures continue up to the
close of polls, it would be impossible to
make a complete publication until after
the election. The publication Of contribu-
lions ought to be before the election. The
main reason of the publication before cleo
tton is to show the public the sources from
which the contributors come in order that
the public may know which party predatory
wealth is supporting. Every one who
knows human nature knows that the ele-
ment of gratitude must always be consid-
cred in human affairs. lngratitude has
been described as a worse sin than re-
venge, for ingratitude repays good with
evil, while revenge only repays evil with
evil. Every disinterested voter knows that
large contributions have been used to Sc
cure mortgages upon officials. The publi-
cation OF contributions throws a great deal
more light upon the Influence at work In
politics than the publication of expendi-
lures, for the publication of contributions
shows TO whom the party is indebted, and
while the publication Of expenditures shows
what has been paid out, and disbursement
do not create obligations that affect the
course of the administration.
Alleged Insult to Voters.
Mr.. Taft makes the same charge that
the president does-the astounding charge
that the voters are so liable 90 be mis-
them. / insist that IL is an insult TO the
Intelligence of the voters, and IL does lit
tie credit to Mr.. Tafts judgment of the
men TO whom he is making his appeal,
Mr.. Roosevelt may have made his state
ment thoughtlessly and on the impulse
of the moment, but Mr.. Taft brings the
same Indictment against the voters with
deliberation and after he has read a
criticism OF the presidents views. 1t is
is either expecting to receive contributions
which would arouse just suspicion among
an lhteiilgent people or contributions
suspicion among a people too ignorant to
FORM a correct judgment upon the facts.
This is an evasion which he can neither
retract nor excuse. 1t can only be eX-
planned by a consciousness that republic
can campaign methods will not bear the
light and that IL would be dangerous TO
his party IL the public knew before tbs
election he promises to make public
after the election.
His subsequent argument that the publ
cation before election OF the names and
amounts contributed would discourage
those who desire to contribute 10 the legi-
Innate purposes of the campaign by Eek
posing them to the bitter diatribes of un-
fair attacks, Of slanderous condemnation OF
partlsans In an electoral fight" ought "a
have little weight when It is considered
that such publication will be efficacious
In discouraging those who now desire "a
contribute to n~legitimate expenses and fol-
the. purpose OF putting officials under obii-
cations TO them. While publications after
the election may enable us ito judge
whether subsequent official action has beer
improperly affected in favor Of the con
tributOrs by the successful candidate
This Is OF very small value compared with
the benefit to be derived from the publ,
| cation OF contributions before election, The
people ave a right to form their OWL
opinion as 10 the influences which are al
work. They do not need a guardian q
protect them from the misuse OF the