The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-30

ocratic platform candidly declared
the party's purpose. II the carry
ing out OF that policy would have
been of advantage TO any one. the
the publication of the contributions
would not have affected the result.
Publicity as TO campaign FUNDS 10
not needed to make known that
which Is disclosed by the platform,
agreements. expressed or implied.
which would otherwise be con-
cealed from the public. You GER
tainly pay more attention to the
md fault with our national cam
paign fund in 1896 and ignore the
Significance Of a fund almost as
large which at your request was
collected from a few persons Ia
1904. and was used In one state
and was only small Item In the
fund collected that year.
But your letter presents de-
tense of your party's position and
an accusation against the voters
prominent. You are the first con-
spicuous member OF your party TO
attempt an explanation Of the
party's opposition to publicity be-
which you make. will embarrass
your party associates. Your po-
sition il that the publication be-
fore election of the contributions
made to your campaign fund would
an opportunity Ito give "a false i'm
preston" as to the fitness OF the
candidates. You cite az illustra-
lions the contributions made TO
Gov. Hughes's campaign fund. the
riman and the contributions which
are now being collected for Mr.
Tafts campaign fund.
You charge -ehect,that-
people are SO lacking In intelli-
gence that they might condemn as
Improper contributions which you
declare to be proper. II the voters
uiffer from you on this question
are they necessarily ignorant and
wrong3 Must the members Of the
party organization act as self-ap-
pointed guardians OF the people and
-eaHeea-fFem- theFH-what-fs- going
OF the action OF the Republican
leaders In the national convention
In voting down a publicity plank?
II you will pardon the sugges-
ton. I believe that better expla-
nation can be found in Holy Writ.
for do We not read OF men loving
darkness rather than light. be-
cause their deeds are evil? You at
tempt to make n personal question
OF II and ask whether any one will
accuse such men as you. Gov.
fluenced by contributions. This Is
not the question.
Like Jury-Briblng.
II IL Is found that a party to
suit has given a sum of money TO
one OF the Jurors, tho court does
not stop TO inquire whether or not
the juror is an incorruptible man
he explicitly stated that IT was &C
cepted. with the understanding that
he was under no obligation 20 con-
slider II In making up hts verdict.
Tho court would hold that the
giving -ef-meney- ah-fhterested-
party or the receiving Of money
was a contempt of court and an
interference with the administra-
ton OF justice. Public officials oc-
cupy much the same position as
jurors. They are constantly called
upon to decide questions between
the favor-seeking corporations on
one hand and the people on the
other and there IL very general
impression that officials Of those
favor seeking corporations do not
put up large sums OF money from
purely patriotic motives.
Mr.. Havemeyer testified before
senate committee some years ago
that the sugar trust made IL BUS
mess to contribute to campaign
funds and that II was Its custom
to give to the party In power IN
the state. i do not mean 10 say
that Mr.. Hughes was Influenced py
the contributions made 10 him by
the trust maRnatcs whose names
were given In the after-election re-
port. ! do not mean TO say thst
you were Influenced by the contrl=-
buttons collected by Mr.. Hartman,
neither do l mean TO say that Mr..
Taft will be Influenced ny the con-
tributions that are being made, to
his fund by the trust magnatesi
but I do mean TO say THAT the
American people have right to
know what contributions are being
made, that they may Judge for
themselves the motive or the CIV
ers and the obligation imposed up
-oon those who receive.
Reflection On the People.
The reflection upon the people
involved in your charge that they
would misuse the knowledge which
publicly would give. Is unworthy
OF one who has been elevated to so
high an office by the votes OF the
that you cannot procure from Mr..
Taft an Endorsement OF your de-
Tense. He IL now before the peo-
pie: he Is Offering himself as a can
didate for the presidency; no dare
peals that thsy have not sense
enough to form a just and correct
opinion as to the purpose which
IeddS parties Interested In speCtai
legislation to make big contribu-
lions.
You fear that we misrepresent
the motives of those who are con-
tributing To the Republican cam
paign fund. and cast an unjust sus-
picion upon Republican candidates
N the names and amounts were \
made known before the election.
aFaufnentIf- aeuHd,-weald-
prevent publication after the cleo
ton, for why should an unjust sus-
picion be cast upon officials after
the election any more than be-
fore7
Does not the secrecy before the
election increase this suspicion
We are going TO give you an OPP
portunity to misrepresent the mo-
lives OF those who give TO our
campaign fund. and 10 arouse all
the suspicion you can we are go
ing TO prove to the people that we
are making a night for the whole
people and. not for those who have
been enjoying privileges and fav-
ors At the hands OF the govern
nd No