The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-10-07
TAFT SAYS NE TOO.
OPPOSES PRE.ELECTION RE.
PORTS ON CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
UphoIds Roosevclt's Stand-BelIeves
Ihas People should be Told Of
Constitutions After Election Is
Over.

the challenge Of william ]. Bryan
right In the home city of the Nebras-
kan. William H. Taft tonight not only
endorsed President Rooseveit's posi-
ton on the question Of the publicity
OF campaign contributions, but de-
tended II with arguments to estab-
iish that position as sound from the
standpoint OF the public good and to
show that the position was one sim
ply for prediction effect.
Mr.. Taft made IL speeches in Ne
oraska today before reaching Lincoln,
and five speeches In Lincoln to-
night. Excursion trains came to Lin
coin from many places and the city
was alive with bands and marching
clubs.
The main meeting tonight was held
at the Auditorium. It was here that
the candidate paid his respects to Mr..
Bryan regarding campaign contribu-
tions.
When the Taft special reached Lin
coin at O'clock. the candidate was
switched out to Havelock to the re-
pair shops NJ the Burlington system,
and there he delivered his address on
labor.
He was brought back to Lincoln
and escorted to the State university.
where he gave short talk.
a concert and general jubilation on
the capitol grounds were the next
features. and then the candidate was
taken to the Auditorium. where Mr..
Taft made one Of his characteristic
talks to the women.
Mr.. TAFT had Intended in the big
meeting tonight at the Auditorium to
reply to the challenge from Mr.. Bryan
concerning campaign contributions.
He became 90 ensrossed. however. on
other topics. that he made only Incl.
dental references to this phase OF the
campaign and made answer to the
challenge In formal statement, which
he tonight gave to the press.
Mr.. Taft's statement on campaign
contributions follows: o.
"Mr. Bryan challenges me to take
the same position that President
Roosevelt takes with reference to the
time when publicity should be made
OF campaign contributions, and I &C.
cept the challenge. I take exactly the
same position that the president takes.
I have always been in favor OF a law
which will require publicity Of both
contributions and expenditures imme-
diately after election. Mr.. Bryan
seems to favor the publication of con-
tributions before election, but post
pones the publication Of expeditures
until after that time. I confess I see
no reason why. IL contributions are
to be published before election, ex-
penditures should not also be publish!
ed. think that the character of ex-
penditures is quite as important as
the character and source OF the con-
tributions.
II don't know OF any election law,
either In this country or abroad,
which requires the publication Of con-
tributions or expenditures before the
election. The law Of Nebraska on
this subject only requires the publi-
cation Of contributions and expendi-
lures after the election. This was
the law which the Democratic man.
ayers In 1904 In Nebraska so fragrant
ly violated by falling to return the
receipt OF $4,000 from Mr.. Thomas
F. Ryan. The most drastic law in
this country on the subject Is that Of
New York. which also makes the time
Of the publication after the election.
THE proper object Of a publicity law
70 To prevent the use OF money for
bribery and other improper purposes
elections and to enable the law Of
"csrs OF the government and the pub
w =" determine whether the c0ntri-
buttons made were properly expended
ior 'esitimate purposes. The require
meht tnat the names Of and amounts
OF the persons contributing should
also be shown Is for the purpose of
ehaoi'ng the public and the prosecut-
ing omcers OF the government TO
Judge whether subsequent official ac-
ton has been improperly affected in
favor Of the contributors by the sue
cessful candidate. This can all be ac-
compiished by publication after the
election.
THE chief objection to the publ.
cation of contributions before the
election Is that 1t makes certain tha,