The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-15
3 People Ought to Know.

Mr.. Bryan then commented as fol-
lows:
We have felt that this is the prop
s}r time to make tn is announcement. At
sthe Republican National Convention a
plank in favor Of publicity was turned
down by very large vote. The in
sdignation that has been expressed over
the action of the convention has already
been felt by the Republican leaders.
and they are now attempting to avoid
all the censure that has been falling
upon them by announcing that, through
I. their treasurer, a New York man, they
would publish the contributions after
the election.
II You will notice that the point made
an our plank is that the contributions
..shall be published before the election.
1t is not sufficient to learn after
s1he election Is over the influences that
have purchased the election. The pub
lie ought to know before the election
what influences are at work to secure
the success OF party, and our plat
form makes that distinction, and we
TASK that this committee at this time
declare itself In harmony with the
plank, and that this committee so In
terpret this plank that the public can
not fail to see the difference between
our position and their position.
be accepted from any corporation. A
corporation Is not created for political
.spurposes; it has no right to contribute
ITO campaign funds, and we want this
part of the plank distinct. We want
IA limit placed on Individual contribu-
.stions. that no contribution may be re-
esceiYed from any Individual SO large
sssas to indicat that individuals interest
ssof personal character in the result
al or uya I'LL
2-tributions above a reasonable mini
enum made public, in order that the
public may Judge what influences are
4. at work. and thus be better able to
decide on which side those interested
s4only in government should cast their
:svote; and we have suggested n mini
.smum Of 500 tS,cause people can con.
tribute that amount without suspicion,
and those contributing small amounts
may be so situated that the publication
Of their contributions would embarrass
:. them.
To Protect Employees.
For instance, an employe OF cor
y poratlon might earnestly desire to as
3 sist in ,this campaign, and II his con-
Z tribut!on was published It might sub
Il iect him to punishment at the hands OF
u the corporation, and the arguments that
have justified the secret ballot justify
f5 secrecy IN regard 10 the scOntrl buttons
SO small that they cannot be supposed
to represent an interest that is at
tempting to purchase favors. We have
simply suggested $4,000 as maxi
mum and 500 as minimum. We have
4 suggested the 18th OF October as the
IA date upon which all contributions to
that time must be published and that
we cannot be accused OF desiring to
conceal anything. we suggest that
& where contributions are made after the
is 18th Of October they be made known
on the date they are made, and that
4 they may not accuse MS OF attempting
to receive contributions on the last
Il day, too late for publication, we sug-
gest that no contribution above 500
shall be received within three days of
the election,
We have tried to cover every point.
We want to make an honest campaign,
Tx we want the public to understand tina t
IT is an honest campaign. and We want
TO appeal to the honest sentiment OF
the conntry.--that sentiment that be-
lieye demands the return OF the gov
eminent to the hands of the people,
Mr.. Bryan's suggestion was promptly