The Washington herald., 1908-08-13

ing poor he ADMITS l1e eon0lQOu anu i
he can not avoid the logical conclusion !
that must be drawn from the admission /
There is no doubt whatever that a large |
majority OF the voters Of the Republican
party recognize the deplOrable situation
which Mr- Taft describes: they recog-
nize that the masses have had but little
influence upon legislation or upon the
administration Of the government. and
they are beginning to understand the
cause For generation, the Repubn-
can party has drawn its campaign funds
from the benedcisries Of special legisla.
ton. Privileges have been pledged and
granted in return for money contributed
TO debauch elections. What can be ex-
pected when Official authority Is turned
over to the representatives Of those who
first furnish the sineWs Of war and then
reimburse themselves out Of the pockets
Of the taxpayers2
Fasting in Wilderness Necessary.
So long as the Republican party remains
in power. It is powerless to regenerate
itself It cannot attack wrongdoing in
high places without disgracing many OF
its prominent members. and it. therefore,
uses opiates instead Of the surgeon's
knife Its malefactors construe each Re
publican victory as an Endorsement Of
their conduct and threaten the party with
defeat If they are interfered with Not
uutil that party passes through a period
Of fasting IN the wilderness viii the Re
publican leaders learn 20 study public
questions from the standpoint OF the
masses Just as with individuals. the
caves Of this world and the deceitfulness
Of riches choke the truth" so in politics.
when party leaders serve far away from
( home a1d are not In constant contact
with the voters. continued party success
blinds their eyes TO the needs Of the peo-
PIE and makes them deaf 10 the cry Of
distress.
Publicity as 10 Contributions.
An effort has been made 10 secure iegis-
le1ion requiring publicity as TO campaign
contributions and expenditures; but the
Republican leaders. even in the face Of
an indignant public. refused 10 consent
TO law which would compel honesty in
elections When the matter was brought
up in tie recent Republican national con-
ventiou. the plank was repudiated by
vote OF $50 to 81 Here. too. Mr.. Taft has
/ been driven 10 apologize for his conven-
[ Iion and 10 declare himself in favor OF a
I publicity law; and yet. if you viii read
/ what he says upon this subject. you viii
I ind that his promise falls far short OF
Z the requirements Of the situation He
/ says
IF an elected President I shall urge
Z upon Congress. with every hope Of sue
7 cess. that law be passed requiring the
fling. in a Federal Office. Of q statement
I of the contributions received by commit
{ tees and candidates in elections for mem
1 bers Of Congress. and In such other cleo
I tons as are consttutionally within the
: control OF Congress
I shall not embarrass him by asking
I him nh Ha 90
J cess. II is certainly not any encourage
I meut he has received from Republican
+ leaders II is sufficient TO say that II hts
Z hopes were reaIzed-if In spite Of the
I adverse action Of his convention. ne
/ should succeed IN securing the enactment
. Of the very law which he favurs, il
. would give but partial relief He has
[ read the Democratic Platform. not only
/ his language but his evident alarm. in
dicates that he has read It carefully He
even had before him the action of the
F Democratic National Committee IN inter
rreting and applying that platform. and
YET he fails 10 say that he favOrs the pub
Hcatio1 cf the contributions before the
election OF course. il satisfies a natural
curiosity 20 find out how an election has
been purchased. even when the knowI-
edge comes TOO late TO be Of service but
why should the people be kept in dark
ness until the election IS past2 Why
should the locking OF the door be delayed
until the horse is gomez
An Election a Public Affair.
An election is a public affair The peo-
PIE. exercising the right 10 select their
officials and decide upon the policies 10 De
pursued. proceed 20 their several polling
/ places on election day and register theil
viii. What excuse can be given for Sc
-
man. pecUnIarily interested IN "concen.
trating the control OF the railroads IN one
Management subscrIbes a large sum q
aid in carrying the election. why should
his part IN the campaign be concealed IN.
I'll he has put the officials under oblIga-
ton 10 him2 II g trust msgnate contrib
utes $4,000 10 elect political friends q
Z Office. with a view 10 preventing hostile
legislation. why should that fact be con
cealed until his friends are securely seat
ed in their officials pOsiuons2
This IS not new question; 1t IS a QUes
ton which has been aEirated-a question
which the Republican leaders fully under
stand-a question which the Republican
candidate has studied. and Vet he refuses
10 declare himself in favor Of the legisla
ton absolutely necessary. namely. Iegis
lation requiring publication before tn
election.
70 Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule Il the1
are not able to learn until after the elec
= tion what the predatory interests are do
{ ing2 The Democratic party meets tn
issue honestly and courageously. II says
We pledge the Democratic party TO tn
! enactment OF a law prohibiting any cor
: pOration from contributing 70 q campaign
fund. and any individual from contribu
ting an amount above a reasonable maxi
. mum, and providing for the publication
{ before election Of all such contribution
. above . reasonable minimum"
The Democratic National Committee i'm
uediately proceeded 10 interpret and ap
ply this plank. announcing that no con
. tributio1s would be received from corpo
rati0ns. that no Individual would be al
lowed TO contribute more than COO. an,
Z that all contributions above 800 would b
made public before the election-those re
ceived before October IS TO be made pub
b lie on or before that day, those receive,
Z afteTward 10 be made public on the da,
4, when received, and no such contribution
: to be accepted within three days Of tn
- election The expenditures are to be pub
Iished after the election Here IS a pla1
= which is complete and effective
= Popular Election of Senator'S
. Next to the corrupt use Of money. I'll
present method Of electing United State
Senator's is most responsible for the oh
struction Of reforms. For one hundre
years after the adoption Of the Constitu
ton the demand for the popular electio
! OF Senators. while finding increased lex