Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-02
PUBLICITY Of
contributions.
Wyan Says Every Disinterested
Voter Knows Big Ones Used to
Secure Mortgages on Officials.
CRITICISM Ct; il. Isl or JUDGE ID TAFT
Is Much Surprised to Find That He
Endorses Presidents Views
On the Subject.

Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 1.--Declarins
1 that every disinterested voter
knows that large contributions have
peen used SCI to secure mortgages upon
: Officials o. w. ]. Bryan tonight issued
s at fa1rVleW O. statement crticizing the
adoption by William II. Taft, his RE-
+ publican opponent for president of
president Roosevelts announced view
on the subject OF the publicity of cam
fpalsn contributions ont Mr.. Taft, says
& at a., Bryan, makes the same charge
the president does, the asto,InGing
charge that the voters are so liahla Is
be misled that the knowledge las TO
Inc amounts and sources of camnairn
ct,ontributions) must be kept from
Them = ~
Mr.. Bryan then adds:
insist that this is an insult 10 the
Intelligence of the voter and If does
l li credit to MIR. Tafts Judgment OF
peal" W
Following is the complete text OF
3 ME Bryan's statement:
BRYAN's STATEMENT.
am surprised to find that Mr..
Iaft endorses the presidents views m
inc subject of publicity as to cam
palsn contributions but since he holds
} ,l views, | am glad he makes them
Known KIlo"n now We now have publicity
before the election as to his opinion.
etem ~, II ne does not believe in publicity
Or contributions until after the election
he i 1al!s to see the difference between
me publication OF contributions before
erection and the publication OF expendi-
lures after election. The qualifications
OF expenditures is required to show
Wnelher corrupt methods have been
S en- Ployed III the election. and, as the
expenditures % continue up to the close
or the polls, 1T would be Impossible "a
make complete publication unttl fter
eiection. The publication Of contribu-
4 lions ought to be before election: the
Z man man cause is to show the main sources
from which the contributions come in
order that the public may know which
party predatory interests are supports
! ins. Every one who knows human ma
( lure knows that the element OF graft
tude must always be considered in IN
man man aitairs. 1ngratitude has been de-
ss sd as a worse sin than revenge,
4 LOT lnSratltude repays good with evil,
Wniie revenge only repays evil win
evil. ~ WV
Every disinterested voter knows
that large contributions have been used
Z % secure mortgages upon officials. The
/ GoIltflputions throw a great deal more
:lsht upon the influences at work in
politics than the publication OF ex-
penditures, for the publication OF con-
5tr1Dutlons shows to whom the party Is
indebted. and to whom repayment is
likely TO be made, while the publica-
ton of expenditures shows what has
been paid out, and disbursements do
&c Il
course Of the administration.
TAFT's VIEW OF OBJECT.
Mr.. Taft says that the proper OBJ.
jcct of a. publicity law is 10 prevent
the use of money for bribery and other
improper purposes In elections and to
ena bic the law officers of the govern
m me and the public to determine
whether the contributions made were
properly expended for legitimate pur-
poses And he adds: The require
nent that the names and amounts of
4 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 i'm
properly affected in favor of the con
tributors by the successful candidates,
RMS, he says. can all be accomplished
by publication after the election.
he then proceeds to endorse the po-
sltfon taken by the president, declaring
that the chief objection to the publi-
cation of contributions before the elcc-
TOMS that II makes certain that In the
heat of the controversy the motives of
those who contribute to pay the Iegiti-
mate expenses of the campaign will be
lnisconstrued, perverted and misreprc-
sented.'
"yTho candidates. he also insists
LfNnlt
made will be charged in the most un-
fair way as being completely under the
control of those who make the contn-
buttons
AN ASTOUNDING CHARGE.
Here he makes the same charge that
the president does, the astounding
charse-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 does little credit to Mr..
/. Iafrs Judgment of the men
appeal. Mr.. Roosevelt may have made
\ this statement thoughtlessly and on the
impulse of the moment, but Mr. Taft
brings the same indictment against the
4 voters With deliberate and after he
+ has read a criticism Of the presidents
! Views. 1t Is fair to charge. therefore,
receive contributions which would
arouse suspicion among the intelligent
people or contributions which, II
known, would arouse an unjust sus-
piciou among u people too Ignorant to
form q correct judgment upon the
facts.
This is an evasion which he can
not retract or excuse. 1t can only be
explained by a consciousness that Re-
publican campaign methods will not
bear the light and that 1t would be
dangerous to his party If the public
knew before the election what he prom
ises to make public after the election.
Ellis subsequent agreement that the
publication before, election OF the
names and amounts contributed would
+ discourage those who desire 70 con :,
Z tribute to the Legitimate purposes q
the canpaign.' by exposing them 10
the bitter diatribes of unfair attacks or
slanderous condemnation of partisans
In am electoral fight ought 70 nave ~ ~.
tie weight when 1t is CONSIDERED liis =.
such publication will be efticacious IN
discoura ging those who ;:a" desire "
contribute to ilegitimate EXPENSES ana
for the purpose of putting oil,clais uii-
der obligations to them
posi- ELECTION PUBLICATIONS
.eWnne publications after the, cleo
ton NAV enable us to Judge whether
subsequent official action has been mn
properly affected In favor oil the con !,
tributor by the successful CANDIDA te,