Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-10-02
RYAN WANTS
PUBLICITY
ct People Know Who Pays Cam
paign Bills.

LlNNOLN, NeD., OCT. z.-DeclarIng
that every disinterested voter knows
that the large contributions have
been used to secure mortgages upon
officials" w. ]. Bryan tonight is
sued at Fairyiew a statement criticiz-
ing the adoption by William H. Taft
Of the views on the subject Of the
publicity Of compaign contributions
Mr.. Taft" says Mr.. Bryan, now
makes the same charge that the
president does, the astounding
charge that the voters are so liable to
be misled that the knowledge (as to
the amounts and sources of contribu-
tions) must be kept from them.
Mr.. Brayn then adds: II insist
that this is an insult to the intelli-
gence of the voter and 1t does lit
tie credit to Mr.. Taft's judgment Of
the men to whom he is making his
appeal.
II am not SURPRISED to find that
Mr.. Taft indorses the presidents
view on the subject of publicity as
to campaign contributions, but since
he holds such views / am glad he
makes them known now. We now
have publicity before the election as
to his opinion even If he does not
believe in publicity of contributions
until after election. He fails to see
the difference between the publica-
ton of contributions before election
and the publication of expenditures
after election.
Contends There Is Difference.
THE publication of expenditures Is
required to show whether corrupt
methods have been employed in the
election and as the expenditures con-
tinue up to the close of the polls
it would be impossible to make a
complete publication until after cleo
ton.
"The publication of contributions
ought to be before election; the main
object is to show the sources from
which the public may know which
party predatory interests are sup
porting. Every one who knows hui
man nature knows that the element
of gratitude must always be consid-
cred in human affairs. Ingratitude
has been described as a worse sin
than revenge, for ingratitude repays
good with evil, while revenge only re-
pays evil with evil. All disinterested
voters know that large contributions
have been used to secure mortgages
upon officials. The publication OF
contributions throws a great deal
more light upon the influence at work
in politics than the publication OF
expenditures, for the publications OF
contributions shows to whom the
party is Indebted. and to whom repay
ment is likely to be made, while the
publication of expenditures shows
what has been paid out and disburse-
ments do not create obligations thai
AFFECT the course of the administra
ton.
'Mr. Taft says the proper OBJ
ject of a publicity law is to prevent
the use of money for bribery ant
other improper purposes in elections
and to enable the law officers of th'
government and the public to deter
mine whether the contributions mad,
were properly expended for legiti
mate purposes And he adds: 9TH
requirement that the names an'
amounts of the persons contributing
should also be shown Is for the pur
pose Of enabling the public and tn,
prosecuting officers Of the govern
ment to judge whether subsequen
Official action has been imprOperl
affected in favor Of the eontribu
tors by the successful candidates
This, ne says, can all be accomplishe,
by publication after the election. H
then proceeds to indorse the posi-
ton taken by the president declaI
ing the chief objection to publication
of contributions before the electio
is that it makes certain that in tn
heat Of the controversy the motive
of those who contribute to pay tn
Legitimate expenses Of the campaig
win be miseonstrued. prevented an
mIsrepresented.
Says Il Il Insulting.
The candidates. he insists. 4
whose behalf the contributions Al
!, made will be charged in the moi
unfair way as being completely undo