The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-10-16
PUBLICITY OF FUNDS.

The democrats are still making
the publicity of campaign funds an
issue In the campaign. There is a
remarkable difference between the
parties on the way in which THEY are
going about giving publicity of the
money that is received. The demo-
Gratis promise to publish a statement,
but there Is nothing to require them
to make a full and complete state
ment, and 1t is purely voluntary
on their part to do as they please.
They can give it all or only part. The
democrats have been criticising
Judge Taft on this matter to a con-
siderable extent, and even Mr.. Bryan
made it a part Of his speech when
he was in Mitchell during the week
of corn palace. The democrats al
lege that they will publish their en-
tire receipts the middle of October,
but this gives them a couple of weeks
before the closing of the campaign
when they can receive money from
questionable sources the publication
of which would not necessarily have
to be made public in time to cause
inquiry.
There is a difference between the
republicans and democrats in this
matter of publicity. The republicans
are required by the laws to have the
treasurer, who lives in New York
make a sworn statement of the re-
ceipts and disbursements. Here is
what Judge Taft makes plain in the
way of publicity of republican cam
!paign funds:
Another plank or the democra-
tic platform refers to the failure of
the republican platform to express
an opinion in favor of the publicity
of contributions received and expen-
djtures made in elections. Here
again we contrast our opponents
promises with our own acts. Great
improvements has taken place under
republican auspices in respect to the
collection and expenditure of money
for this purpose. The old and per-
nicious system of levying a tax on
the salaries of government employees
in order to pay the expenses of the
party in control of the administra-
ton has been abolished by statute.
BY a law passed by the republican
congress in 1907 contributions from
corporations to influence or pay the
of presidential electors or of mem
bers of congress is forbidden under
penalty.
"a resident of New York has been
selected as treasurer of the republic
can national committee, who was
treasurer of the republican state
committee when Governor Hughes
was elected in New York and who
made a complete statement within
20 days after the election as requir-
ed by the New York law of the con-
tributions received by him and the
expenditures made by him or under
his authority in connection with that
election. His residence and the dis
charge of his duties in the state of
New York subject him to the law of
that state as to all the receipts of
the treasury of the national COM
mittee from whatever source, and
as to all its disbursements. His re-
t11rnC Uf11 no p1n6nr tho nI1ioafinrc
and penalties of the law, and a mis-
statement by him or the filing of a
false account will subject him to
prosecution for perjury and violation
of the statute. OF course. under the
federal law he is not permitted to
receive any contributions from cor
porations.
"If I am elected president 1 shall
urge upon congress, with every hope
of success that a law be passed re-
quiring a filing in a federal Office of
a statement of contributions filed by
committees and candidates in elect
ions for members of congress, and
In such other elections as are con-
stitutionally within the control of
congress. Meantime the republican
party by the selection Of a New York
treasurer. has subjected all its re-
ceipts and expenditures to the COM
pulsory obligation of such law"
DISCARDED FROM PRACTICE