The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-10-03

guardian To protect them from the
misuse Of the knowledge which they
may acquire. ami they ought not 10 be
required To employ detectives to find
out what tie officials are doing after
the election Mr.. Taft knows that a
great many matters come before eX-
ecutors and legislators. which it is diff
ficult. If not impossible. for the average
voter TO investigate the facts.
People Have Right to Know
The people have right To know in
advance of election whether those with
sre'i al rights to look after are con-
tr;bUtIng sums larger than public
spirit. patriotic motives and general
interest would explain If for in
stance, a candidate for Governor is
likely to have 10 pass upon railroad
legislation, the people have right to
know whether men largely interested in
preventing railroad legislation have
contributed largely TO his campaign
fund. If a man aspres to an office in
which. if elected he will have to pass
upon antitrust legislation. or enforce
antitrust laws. it is only right that
the public should know by what rights
the trust magnates are financing his
campaign. And 50 if a man is a can
didate for an office which brings him
in official connection with tariff legiS-
latiOn, it is proper for the public to
know whether he will be so obligated
t. the beneficiaries of a high tariff as
to be embarrassed when he attempts
to protect the consumers.
AS to the Hughes Fund
Nj Taft represents what | have
said in regard to Mr.. Hughes. | call
ed attention to some Of the cOntribu-
tiCnS that were made to Mr.. Hughes
fund and in view of the fact that Mr..
hughes attacks the remedies present
Cd i'm the Democratic platform as a
cure for the trusts. without advancing
any remedies OF his own, and in view
IF the further fact that this testimony
was quoted By The President against
me. ] asked the President whether he
thought that these contributions by
trust magnatcS would lessen or in
crease the weight Of Mr. Hughes tes-
timOny on the subject of trusts.
1T will not do for Mr.. Taft to put
Mr. Hughes upon a pedestal and claim
for him immunity from criticism. 1t
is not necessary for me to pass iudg-
ment upon Mr.. Hughes or upon what
he has done in order to pass judgment
upon the question under discussion.
He is only human and was one Of
the allies before the Chicago conven-
ton. We assume that public officials
will be honest. and yet we requir"
bonds of those who handle money no
matter how much character they may
have. The law will not permit a
judge a juror or an official to accept
gift. if the gift is from one who
has an interest in the official action
of the official, and fOrbidding this,
the law does not ask as TO tho char
aCter Of the official The law is based
upon human nature and human eXpe-
rience and it is not necessary to fur
ish specific proof of special weakness
| in the man who receives the money or
to prove that his decision was in any
manner affected by the gift. No
scales have yet been invented for the
accurate weighing Of the reasons
which enter into an officials decision.
Wouldn't Object to Trust Money
1t is only fair. however, to assume
that in using Mr. Hughes case as an
argument. Mr.. Taft meant to say that
he viii not object To contributions
from trust magnateS. railroad mag
mates and tariff beneficiaries, no mat
tel how much those contributions may
! be- even though he may, if elected,
be compelled to pass upon questions
where their demands may be on the
one side and the interests OF the peO-
pie on the other. He must not COM
plain if he finds that many Republi-
cans of the rank and file Will differ
from him on this subject. for the av
erage man will judge aspirants for
office by the rules applied to average
man. Common sense and the univer-
sal judgment are against Mr.. Taft's
position and against the arguments
which he advances in its support"
After giving out the above state
ment, Mr. Bryan referred To Mr.. Taft's
! statement that Thomas F. Ryan con-
! tributcd $1,000 10 the Nebraska cam