The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-10-02
Bryan Shows the FaIIacy Of
Republican Campaign
Fund Views
INTELLIGENT VOTER IS
INSULTtD BY TAFT VIEW
Bryan Compares Statements of Roose-
vet and Taft on Campaign Pub
and Shows They Have
Very Weak Case.

Lincoln Neb., October 1.-Declaring
that every disinterested voter knows
that large contributions have been used
to secure mortgages upon officials, W
J. Bryan tonight issued at Fairview a
statement criticising the adoption by
w. H. Taft, his republican opponent
for President, of President Roosevelts
announced view on the subject of the
publicity of campaign contributions
MIR. Taft" says Mr.. Bryan. makes
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 that this is an insult to the
Intelligence of the voter, and it does
little credit to Mr.. Taft's Judgment of
the men to whom he is making his
appeal"
Statement by Bryan.
Following is the complete text of Mr..
Bryans statement:
81 am surprised to find that Mr.. Taft
Endorses the Presidents views on the
subject of publicity as to campaign
contributions, but since he holds these
views. 1 am glad that he makes them
known now. We now have publicity
before the election, as to expenditures,
even if he does not believe in publicity
of contributions until after the election
He fails to see the difference between
the publication of contributions before
election and the publication of expen-
ditures before election. The publica
tion of expenditures is required to show
whether corrupt methods have been en-
ployed n the election and as the ex-
penditures continue up to the close of
the polls, it would be impossible to
make a complete publication until after
the election. The publication of con-
tributions ought to be before election;
the main reason for the publication of
contributions before election is to show
the public the sources from which the
contributions come, in order that the
public may know which party predatory
interests are supporting. Every one
who knows human nature knows that
the element of gratitude must always
be considered in human affairs. Every
disinterested voter knows that large
contributions have been used to secure
mortgages upon officials. The publica-
tion of contributions throws a great
deal more light upon the influence at
work in politics than the publication
of expenditures for the publication of
contributions shows to whom the party
l1lN4 NH
likely to be made.
Proper Object of Publicity.
"Mr. Taft says that the proper object
of publicity law is to prevent the use
of money for bribery and other improper
purposes in elections, and to enable the
law officers of the government and the
public to determine whether the contribu-
tons made We're properly expended for
legitimate purposes And he adds the
requirement that the names and amounts
of the persons contributing should also be
shown is for the purpose of enabling the
public and the prosecuting officers of the
government to judge whether subsequent
official action has been improperly affect
ed in favor of the contributors by the sue
cessful candidate.
This, he says. can all be accomplished
Dy puD1cdtlOn aILeT tne eleCtlOH. lie then
proceeds to indorse the position taken by
the President. declaring that the chief
objection to the publication of contribu-
tions before the election is that it makes
1t certain that in the heat of the contro-
versy the motive of those who contribute
to pay the legitimate expenditures of the
campaign will be misconstrued, perverted
and misrepresented.'
1.-The candidate, too, he insists, in whose
behalf the contributions are made, will
be charged in the most unfair way as
being completely under the control Of
those who make the contributions
."Here he makes the same charge that
the President does, the astounding charge
that the voters are so liable to be misled
that the knowledge must be kept from
them. | insist that it is an insult to the
intelligence of the voters, and it does little
credit to Mr.. Tafts opinion of the men
to whom he is making his appeal.
Taft's Indictment.
president Roosevelt may have made
his statement thoughtlessly and on the
impulse of the moment, but Mr.. Taft
brings the same indictment against the
voters with deliberation, and after he had
read a criticism of the Presidents views.
"It is fair to charge, therefore, that Mr..
Taft is either expecting to receive contri-
buttons which would arouse suspicion
among an intelligent people or contribu-
tions which, if known would arouse an
unjust suspicion among people too ig-
norant to form correct judgment upon
the facts. This Is an evasion which he
can neither retract nor excuse 1t can
only be explained by consciousness that
republican campaign methods will not
bear the light and that it would be dam
gerous to his party If the public knew
before the election what he promises to
make public after the election.
His subsequent argument that the pub