The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-02
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
 Mir. Taft is to be heartily corsratu- lated upon meeting squarely and ef- fectivcly the absurd challenge made by Mr Bryan that he defend the posi- tion previously taken by President Roosevelt, that all of the essentials of publicity can be protected f campaign constitutions are accounted for after the election has bean held instead of ! in advance. That such controversy should have arisen shows of itself the absurdity involved tt goes hand in hand with the ridiculous charge that MT. Taft, when temporary resident of Virginia, rode in the private car of some trust msgnate. as if he could not do that with propriotv and present himself as an honest candidate for of- \fice.
 Ii is well to keep in mind the purpose of publicity law with reference to
 campaign contributions That Mir.
 Taft states admirably in these words.
 "Thc proper object of publicity law is to prevent the use of money for
 bribery and other improper purposes in
 <etions and to enable the law off,
 .1 .L. sa-orro,oo, ,-d ,ba ,,,h < lie to determine whether the contrihu- tions made were properly expended for legitimate purposes, The requirement that the names and amounts of tho persons contributing also should be \ shown Is for the purpose of enabling 7no P6plic and the prosecuting officers Of the government 70 judge whether subsequent official action has been ir- ' properly affected in favor of the con- tributions by the successful candidate. This can all be accomplished by pub- 1ication after the election.'
 "A clearer statement of tho purpose of the law could not he made, nor one carrying with 1t gfeater conviction. In the past money has been given 10 both 2olitical parties in too many instances foS the purpose of influencing leRisla- ton later on. This accounts more than any other thing for the stubborn ! mess with which tariff reform has been resisted It also accounts for the sub eervience of state legislatures to cor porstion demands. Because these E things were so it became necessary to ensct legislation removing tho tempta. tion to thoushtess action in the halls of legislation IL has never heen prov. ed to be necessary to make public con- tributions before the election was hold The mere fact that given contribu- sor1 made puhlio.In advance of an | Election might subject it's donor and lthe pcrty receiving 1t to assault Is req. son enough to follow the other course 4 No matter who gives money 10 a cam. paign It can secure no special consid- eration until the wheels of govern, ment begin 10 turn If il is known who gave tha money and in p'ha
 amounts before the wheels of govern
 ment begin to turn every one interest. { cd enjoys the opportunity of noting tt
 effect upon government action
 After practical steps have been talk,
 en to protect tho electorate and th'
 government against every kind of cor.
 ruptlon known to human nature, tht
 outcome must be left to the honor O
 the nation or the state, The con
 stant vilihcation of money because
 money has frequently been used as i
 should not have been is as tndefonsi
 ble as the condemnation of sll men be cause some men have sinned It i part of the duty of rich men. who art 
 becoming more and more to be under stood to be trustees of their wealth [, give to the support of the poltica party, and the church to which the, lalong, and to the maintenance of thu 1haritable organizations in their com !, n1unity. It is impossible for the grea majority of men to give in usefu quantities for these purposes. and since :, the state shows no disposition to ado to It's burdens In handling elections
 ouly that additional burden should b.
 put upon men able and willing to elv
 which Is likely to minimize tempiatIo,
 both 10 them and to the political or
 2auizatton protting by their generosity
 The weakness of The position taken b.
 MT Bryan lies in he fact that h
 talking about political contribution
 and the publicity which should sir
 round them he is thaort7tng for poIu
 cal purposes and not practically study