Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-11-27
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WILL
CONTINUE FIGHT TO HAVE
CONGRESS PASS NECESSARY
LEGISLATION.


ton at the close Of the presidential
election Of 1904. while not yet sue
cessful in securing legislation BY
congress, has been instrumental I'm
establishing the initial test of pub
Lefty of campaign. contributions
and expenditures in National ell
ections. The Democratic national
committee has followed the provis-
ions of the proposed legislation in
congress for publication before and
after election. The Republican ma
tional committee has voluntarily
placed itself under the New York
statute which provides that
If any person or committee
fails to file statement or account
as above required or files a
statement which does not conform to
the foregoing requirements the
supreme court or any justice thereof.
may compel by order In proceedings
for contempt. such person. or COM
mittee to file sufficient statement
or account -" I. Application for an
order. as prescribed herein may be
made by the attorney general. dis
trict attorney, candidate voted for
at the election in respect to which
the allegations in such petition may
relate, or by and Ave qualified voters
/ who voted at such meeting
IAN election laws and regulations
are subject to evasions or violations,
intention and unintentional, but
seldom has a first experience under
a new statute or regulation resulted
in such public benefit or been so
indicative of ultimate success. A
check has been put on the large Sc
cret contributions of corporations
and individuals with the understand
ing that political debts are thus in
Cured by party organizations.
Stockholders and policy holders no
longer witness helplessly the expen-
di;ure of corporate funds for politi.
cal purposes. Corporations and can
didates are protected against exact
ions that were constantly increasing.
The enormous and unnecessary cam
paign expenditures in recent years,
affording opportunity and encour-
agement to corruption. have been
materially diminished. 1t is now
the accepted opinion tHat con-
tributor to political committee has
no right to secrecy. The false con-
ception that in respect to campaign
contributions the individual has the
right to use his money as he sees
fit no longer exists in disregard OF
long es eablished restrictions upon
the use of money in elections. 1t
Is now admitted that campaign fund
| publicity is not an unnecessary in
reference with alleged individual
rights and that publicity is essenti-
at to determining the propriety OF
motives prompting political contri-
buttons. The difference OF princi-
ple is. now fully recognized. distin-
gushing subscriptions to charitable
and other organizations having lin
| tied relations to the public welfare
| from those made to political organ nj
cations entrusted with importan
public functions and the powers OF
political campaign committees thus
come within the purview OF govern
| mental supervision. The publici y
Of campaign contributions and ex-
penditures the purpose and effect oS
| which is to influence the electors in
the exercise of public function is
! therefore regarded as an effec I've
remedy and an indisputable publ"
right. Campaign money is now &C
knowledged to be public money.
Secrecy of the ballot is based up-
| on the necessity of protecting the
voter from the coercion or induce
ment of improper influences. Cam
paign fund publicity o. required as
equally essential and strikes direct
" at the existence OF such influences.
This is the fundamental principle
for which the National Publicity
Law Organization and its New York
state branch have contended In
promoting the enactment OF state
law and in compelling the attention
of congress to the necessity OF fed
eral legisla ion. At no stage OF this
movement has there been any open
opposition in Washington. Even th1
controlling powers Of the house O
representatives, not desiring legisIa
ton before the presidential cam
paign. brought about the passage OF
bill containing all the provisions
advocated by our organization TO
publication before and after election
but by arbitrarily attaching torc'
bill' to that measure during the clos
ing days Of the last session OF con
gress. rendered 1t Impossible OF On
actment 1T that time. All the pres
idential candidates In the last 81
ection, Republican and DEMOCRACY
governors just elected. some OF wnon
have been included In the member