The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-11-27
Executive Committee is Wei
Pleased With It's Operation
So Far 81 Campaigns.

49,
hISEP YORK. Nor. s7The Eseecu-
tlye Cnmmittee % the Nattdaal = tal2-
liciEy Law CTj5lnfEa ton has met and
adopted the totidSvfIIE address con-
cerninR the publ clttq OF cantpafgzl
contributions ana essleh1 itures by the
streas1rers of the two ratfo==al Tollt-
teal parties:
the NatfonaE Elibilcity Law Organtsa-
ton at the close o. the presidential
eIectGo now ! 904 while not set a1c=
cessftI IN securing leEislatlpn by
congress. has been Instrumental IN
estab fishing the initial test OF ptblfct-
ty Of cafnpaisn contFi pl4ttons ana s2Sz
pend ituresi IN NATIONAL elections. the
Democratic NATIONAL Committee has
followed the, provistons ~ the pro-
posed lefislati0n In congress for pub
iicdtfo4 before ard after election.
The Republican National Committee
has voluntarily placed itself under
the New York statute. which provides
that
III any person or committee fails
to file a statement or account as
above REQUIRED or flies q stnte-
ment which does not conform to the
foregoing Requirements the SUI
preme court or any Justice thereof.
may compel by order In proceedings
for contempt. such person or commit
count = Application for I'M ortsS,r
as prescribed herein may be made 4'S
the attorney general. district attorney,
a candidate voted for Mt the election
in respect to which the allegations n
such petition may relate, or by any
1--WE qualified voters who voted ut
such meeting.
"AlI election laws ana reguatIOas
are subject to eyasionss or violations
Intentional and unintentionnl. but sell
dom has a first experience under a
new statute or regulation resulted In
such public benefit or been so indica-
tive Of ultimate success. A check has
been put upon the large secret con
tributions of corporations and indt-
viduaIs with tho understanding thnt
political debts are thus incurred by
party organizations. Stockholders and
policy holders no longer helplessty
witness the expenditure of corporate
funds for political purposes. Corpo-
rations and candidates are protected
against exactfoHs that We're constantly
increasing. Tho enormous and un-
necessary campaign expenditures IN
recent years, afrordIng opportunity
and announcement to corruption,
have been materially diminished. II
is now the accepted opinion that q
contribution to a political committee
has no right to secrecy. The false
contributions the Individual has the
right to use his money as he sees Mt
no longer exists in disregard of long
established restrictions upon the use of
money in elections 1t IS COW admit
ted that campaign fund publicity IS
not an unnecessary Interference with
alleged individual rights. and that
publicity Is essential in determining
the propriety of motives prompting
political contributions. The differ
encc In principle is now fully recog-
nized distinguishing subscriptions
to charitable and other organizations
having limited relations to the public
welfare from those made to political
arga nizations entrusted with Import
ant public functions, ana the powers
of political campaign committees thus
come within the purview of govern
mental supervision. The publicity of
campaign contributions, and e%pendi-
lures the purpose and effect of which
is to influence the clector in the ox-
erclsc of public function Is there
fore regarded as an effective remedy
and an IndispumbIc public right.
Campaign money is now acknowledge