The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-10-26
DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE

The Democratic national committee
has made good the pledge of the Dem,
cratic party 10 publish the list of its
campaign contributions before the
election. This action marks a new
departure in the history OF American
politics, and is in marked contrast 10
the attitude of the Republican party
In concealing the source Of its fund
until after the ballots have been cast
and counted. The attitude OF the
Democratic party upon this matter Is
one OF simple honesty, frankness and
sincerity, while the most charitable
thing which can be said of the position
assumed by its opponents IS that Il
lacks candor and raises grave doubt.
What redress Will the American peo
pie have after election whom they learn
that the Rockefellers, the Rogerses.
the Stillmans, the Coreys, the
Harrirnans, the Cromwells, the Nor.
gans, the Carnegies, and hundreds OF
other corporation and trust officials
have contributed their tens of tho,.
sands wrung from the people to assist
Mr.. Taft In purchasing his way to the
White House? Why have not the vot.
ers of the country a right to know
now who is putting up the money to
finance the Republican party? Il Is
true they do know that the trusts, the
protected interests, and the Wall
street gamblers are the men who hold
the mortgage upon the Republican
party, but they are entitled to know
the individuals in whose names the
bonds of the Republican party are is.
sued.
More than $4,000 persons have con-
tributed to the Democratic fund of a
quarter OF n million dollars. and not
penny OF II bears the corporation,
trust or tariff taint. 1t is honest mon
ey, honestly given for an honest pur.
pose. II is less by several thousand
dollars than Hartman. the railroad
magnste, raised from source of Re.
publican fayorites to aid TIE Roose.
welt campaign four years ago, and
which Mr.. Hartman himself said
made change of 100000 votes In the
city OF New York alone. II is nearly
100000 less than Treasurer Sheldon
of the Republican national committee
raised two years ago from handful
Of Wal street gamblers to finance the
Hughes campaign for governor. It il
less than the big insurance companies
took from the widows and orphans
fund and turned over to the Republi
can party.
The publication OF the Democratic
fund is challenge to the Republicans
10 do likewise. If they do not, they
lay themselves liable not only to the
criticism but the condemnation OF the
voting public. But the Republican
party win not take the public into its
confidence before election. II dare not.
II dare not confess the source OF its
corruption fund, II dare not ten the
American people who are demanding
tariff reform that It obtains money
from men who do not want the tariff
revised and who by making camnaign
contributions mace the Republican
party under obligations to them
Would the Republican party have
dared to tell the reonle four years
ago that II took hundreds OF thousands
Of dollars from the life insurance com
panies, or that Hartman raised n
quarter OF million from friends" to
purchase an ambassadorship for
Chauncey NJ. ncpew and TO turn 100.
600 votes In New York alone? II did
not dare tell then and II dare not tell
now. When the charge was made by
hloH ~ "lhVl luuI 9Shih dHo ~ WAS
Indignantly denied by Mr.. Roosevelt,
who knew then that what Mr. Parker
said was true. Within three years
the facts we're brought to light. and
the public has had an opportunity to
know who told the truth, Mr.. Parker
or Mr. Roosevelt.
The Democratic party has issued q
challenge TO the Republican party
which the Republican party dares not
accept