Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-06
PUBLICITY LETTER.
Incident That Brought It Out and
 Bryan's Telegram.

| Washington, D. c. June 6.-Little lby little, the story is leaking out or the trap set to catch Secretary Taft | in the matter of publicity for cam Epaign contributions. The story is a good one. Presidential politics play ed an important part in it, the net result being that both William Jen- nings Bryan and William Howard Taft made their positions in the mat ter perfectly plain to the American people.
 Several weeks ago, when vigorous effort was making to induce the con gress to enact legislation, providing for the publication of all contribu- tions to national campaign funds, Perry Belmont of New York, who has been pressing the measure insistently, met Secretary Taft at a dinner. In the course of their conversation, MT Belmont inquired, quite. casually, as . to MT Taft's views on the proposed Legislation.
 II am heartily in favor of 1t, re- piled the secretary.
 "Why could you not write letter, say to Senator Burrows of Michigan, Echairman of the committee on privi- leges and elections, setting out your views and perhaps urging the enact ment of the legislation?" suggested MT Belmont.
 "Tll write such letter to-mor- row" responded the secretary. And he did. The letter was marked per sonal," because, as a candidate, the secretary did not want to be, put in 1.-the position of advocating legislation that might affect his campaign to the unfair detriment of that of anybody else. .,a.-A s..- s,
 William E. Chandler, former sena- l tor from New Hampshire, heard -about the letter to Senator Burrows and desired to see 1t. He sought out the Michigan Senator and asked him about the letter. Burrows declined to show. him the letter, on the ground that 1t was purely personal com munication. That statement led FChandler to believe that the letter was evasive and that, while the sec retary perhaps was in favor of pub lltlly, ue was III ldFol OA iA ohiS oA ter next falls elections. ... .. | Chandler whispered his opinion to somebody and somebody communicat- ed with Mir Bryan. The latters fa- nous telegram to Secretary Taft, suggesting that they join hands in favor of publicity. followed immedi- ately. Then it was that Secretary Taft made public his letter to Senator Burrows. The letter was strong statement in favor of the enactment of the publicity bill, straightforward and fiat-footed. , --.a It now develops that both Secre- tary Taft and Mir Bryan urged their friends in congress to enact the pub licity measure at the recent session; but, in the circumstances. it could not be gotten through. A majority in the congress undoubtedly is in favor of the proposition, but after considering the question thoroughly, the republican leaders in both branches of the congress decided that 1t would not be advisable to attempt to enact the bill at this time. right on the eve of campaign. A good many of the members of congress, both re- tpublicans and democrats. were not in favor of the proposed legislation just now. although If t had come to a vote the democrats practically solid ly have supported it.
 The question is not likely to be an issue in the approaching campaign. because the two leading candidates for the presidency have declared their positions and. on that question. they do not differ. That such law eventually will be enacted. there Is little doubt. as it is realized fully that the masses of the people are in favor of 1t.