The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-02
TAFT SPEECHES
AROUSE BRYAN
Nebraskan Says Rivals Con-
clusions Are Insult to
Voters.
HE SPEAKS ON PUBLICITY.
e. AtMS HE HAS BEEN MiSREPRE-
SCENTED BY REPUBLICAN CAN
DiDATE-MAKES DENIAL OF
RYAN CHARGE.

ery disinterested voter knows what
large contributions have been used to
secure mortgages upon officials, w.
]. Bryan last night issued a statement
criticising the adoption by w. IL. TAFT,
his republican opponent for president,
of President Roosevelt's announced
view on the subject of the publicity of
campaign contributions.
"Mr. Taft" said Mr.. Bryan, makes
i the same charge the president does
! the astounding charge that the voters
are so liable to be misled that the
| knowledge Gas to the amounts and
sources of campaign contributions
must be kept from them
! The democratic nominee then adds:
"I insist this is an insult to the in
steIligence of the voter and it does lit
tie credit to Mr.. Tafts judgment OF
1.-THE men to whom he is making his
Fappeal."
Following is Mr. Bryan's statement:
IT am surprised to find Mr.. Taft in
kAorses the presidents views on the
subject of publicity as to campaign
4 contributions, but since he holds these
|14ews I am glad he makes them
[known. We now have publicity be
tSDre the election as to his opinion
Feven If he does not believe in publ
city of contributions until after the
lelection He fails to see the differ
I0nce between the publication of con
k4ributions before election and the pub
IAcation of expenditures before the
election.
"The publication Of expenditures is
ISoQuired to show whether corrupt
methods have been employed in the
election, and as the expenditure con
tinue up to the close of the polls ii
would be impossible to make a com
lplete publication until after the cleo
ton.
"The publication of contributions
ought to be before election. The main
treason for the publication of contri
buttons before election is to show the
public the sources from which the con
ktrtbtuions cone, that the public may
know which party predatory interests
4re supporting. Every disinterested
voters knows that large contributions
Nave been used to secure mortgages
Iunu officials.
Mr.. Taft says the proper object
lee q publicity law is to prevent the
uBe money for bribery and other i'm
proper purposes and to enable the law
officers of the government and the
public to determine where the contri
buttons made were properly expended
mr. legitimate purposes
Endorses Presidents Position.
He then proceeds to indorse the
position taken by the president, de
Glhring the chief objection to the pub
lf9catton of contributions before the
66ctfon is that it makes certain tina
IA the heat of the controversy the mo
tive OF those who contribute to pay
me legitimate expenditures of the
campaign will be misconstrued, per
,verted and misrepresented.
It Is fair to charge, therefore, tina
Mr.. Taft is either expecting to receive
contributions which would arouse jus
iauypicion among an intelligent people
- contributions which, If known
would arouse an unjust suspicion
among people too ignorant to form
correct judgment upon the facts.
mr.. Taft misrepre sents what l hav
said In regard to Mr. Hughes. l Gale,
attention to some of the contribu
lions that were made to Mr.. Hughes
fund and in view of the fact that MI
Hughes attacks the remedies present
ed in the democratic platform as
cure for the trust without advancin
any remedies of his own, and in viev
OF the further fact that this testimon,
was quoted by the president agains
me, / asked the president whether h.
thought these contributions by trus
magnates would lessen or increase tn
weight of Mr.. Hughes testimony o.
the subject of trusts.
Mr.. Bryan referred to Mr.. Taft
statement that Thomas F. Ryan cor
tributed $4,000 to the Nebraska can
paign fund in 1904 and said:
Mr.. Ryan did not contribute an
money to the Nebraska campaig,
fund. The national committee cor
tributed $4,000 in 1904 and the men
bers Of the national committee VIII
had charge of the fund have state
that the contribution was made fror
the general fund of the committee an
was not contributed to the committe
by any one for the purpose of bein
sent to Nebraska