Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-10-07

| - 10 usN-ei ioIlS AT iel-SuTe.
Though cats, they say. are fond of milk,
| her own pe-cu-liar blindness
Has filled her full of hatred for ~
| The milk of human klnd-Tiess.
the figure, because l have not seen
an authentic statement of the con-
tributions, but l was informed that
the largest of the two sums which
you mention was not all contributed
by the man to whom it was credited,
but included contributions from other
as we'll as that which he gave him
self.
"But if you want to be fair. why
dc you not give the amount of the
republican campaign fund that yea
and the sources of it. l am willing
to have both funds published. Are
you? If some of those who contrib
uted to our fund of less than $500, 900
had pecuniary interest in the re
suit of the election, how will you ex-
plain the enormous contributions
made to the republican fund?
Says His Purpose is Known.
IF you will remember that the
democratic platform candidly declar-
ed the party's purpose. If the car
rying out of that policy would have
been of advantage to any one, the
whole public had knowledge and the
publication of the contributions would
not have affected the result. Pub
licity as to campaign funds is not
needed to make known that which is
disclosed by the platform, but to di-
rect attention to secret agreements,
expressed or implied, which would
otherwise be concealed from the pub
lie.
| you certainly pay more attention
| to the mote than to the beam, when
you find fault with our national CAM
paign fund in 1896 and ignore the sig
nificance of fund almost as large,
which, at your request, was collect
ed from few persons in 1904 and
was used in one state and was only
a small item in the fund collected
that year.
But your letter presents defense
OF your party's position and an ac-
cusation against the voters which en-
phasize an issue already prominent.
Says Public 10 Mistrusted.
You are the first conspicuous
member of your party to attempt an
explanation of the party's opposi-
] ton to the publicity before the cleo
/ tion, and the admission which you
make will embarass your party as.
Esociates. Your: position is that the
publication before election of the con-
tributions made to your campaign
fund would furnish your political op-
ponents an opportunity to give a
false Impression as to the fitness of
the candidates.
You cite as illustrations the con-
tributions made to Gov Hughes cam
paign fund, the contribution collect
ed by Mr.. Harrison and the contri-
buttons which are now being collected
for Mr.. Taft's campaign fund. You
charge, in effect, that the people are
SO lacking in intelligence that they
might condemn as improper contri-
buttons which you declare to be prop
er.
"If the voters differ from you on
this question are they necessarily ig-
norant and wrong? Must the men,
bers of the party organization act
as self appointed guardians of the
people and conceal from them what
is going on, lest the people be mis-
led as to the purpose and effect of
large contributions? Is this your ex-
planation of the action of the repub-
lican leaders in the national conven-
ton in voting down publicity plank
Quotes Bible as Argument.
/ "If you will pardon the suggestion,
believe a better explanation can be
found in Holy Writ, for do we not
read of men loving darkness rather
than light, because their deeds are
evil?
"You attempt to make a personal
question of it and ask If any one
will accuse such men as you, Gov
Hughes, and Mr.. Taft of being in
| fluenced by contributions. That is
not the question. If it is found that
a party to a suit has given sum Of
money to one Of the jurors, the court
does not stop to inquire whether OF
not the juror is an incorruptible maj
or whether in accepting the money he
explicitly stated that it was accepted
with the understanding that he was
under no obligation to consider it il
: making up his verdict. The cour
would hold that the giving of none.
by an interested party or the receiv
: ing of money was a contempt o
y court and an interference with tn,
administration of Justice.
Public officials occupy much tn,
same position as jurors. They ar
: constantly called upon to decide ques
tions between the favor seeking cor
u porations on the one hand and tn,
people on the other, and there is
. general impression that officials o
u these favor seeking corporations d
not put up large sums of money from
purely patriotic motives.
Does Not Charge Influence.
"Mr. Hovemeyer testified before
0 senate committe some years ago tina
the sugar trust made it a bushes
I to contribute to campaign funds an
II that it was it's custom to give to tn
party in power in the state.
e Il do not mean to say that MI
nj Huphps wac influanood hy tho oor