The San Francisco call., 1908-09-30

question, are they necessarily ignorant and
wrong?
USES BIBLE TO EXPLAIN
Must the members of the party organization
act as sef-appointed guardians of the people and
conceal from them what Is going on, lest the
people be misied as TO the purpose aud effect OF
! large contributions
Is this your explanation Of tho action OF the
republican leaders in the national convention in
voting down publicity plank: IL you will par
don the suggestion, | believe a better explana-
i-tlon can be found in holy writ. for do we not
read OF men loving darkness rather than light,
because their deeds are evil?
1ou attempt to make personal question or ii
ana ask whether any one will accuse such men as
You, Governor Hughes and Mr.. Taft of being in
huenced by contributions.
This is not the question. If it is found that a
party to suit has given a sum of money to one
OF the Jurors. the court does not stop TO inquire
whether or not the juror Is an incorruptibe man
or whether or not in accepting the money he ex-
piicitly stated that 1t was accepted with the un-
derstanding that he was under obligation to
consider II in making up his verdict. The court
would hold that the giving of money by an inter
tempt of court and interference with the adj
ministration of justice.
PUBLIC MEN LIKE JURORS
Public officials occupy much the same position
as jurors They are constantly called upon to
decide questions between the favor seeking corpD-
rHtons on the hand and the people on the
other. and there is very general impression tina
officials of these favor seeking corporations do
triotie motives. pD-s'' pa
Mr. Havemeyer testified before senate CON-
mittee some years ago that the sugar trust made
II business TO contribute 20 campaign funsis and
that 1T was its custom to give to the party in
power In the state
do not mean to saw that Mr. Hughes was in
fiuenced by the contributions made TO him by
trust magnates whose names were given in the
after election report
do not mean to say that vou were influenced
by the contributions collected by Mr.. Hartman
neither do ! mean TO say that Mr.. Taft will be
nsde 10 MS fund by the trust magnates. But
do mean TO say that the American people have n
right to know what contributions being made.
that they may Judge for themselves the motive OF
the givers and the obligation imposed upon those
who receive.
REFLECTION UPON PEOPLE
The reflection upon the people involved in
your charge that they would misuse the knowl-
edge which publicity would give is unworthy
of one who has been elevated to so high an
oInee orr by the votes of the people. and venture
Taft an Endorsement of your defense
He is now before the people; he is offering
himself as candidate for the presidency; he
dare not tell the party TO whom he appeals tina t
they have not sense enough TO form just and
correct opinion rs to the purpose which leads
nsrties interested IN special legislation to make
big contributions.
lou fear that he would misreprcsent The mo
tives OF those who contributing TO the re-
publican campaign fund and cast an unjust sus-
picion upon republican candidates If the names
and amounts were made known before the
election.
Your argument, If sound would prevent pub
lication after the election. for why should an
unjust suspicion be cast upon officials after the
election any than before? Does not the
secrecy before the election increase this sus-
picion?
We going to give you an opportunity to
mixrepresent the motives of those who give TO
our campaign fund and to arouse all the sns-
picon you can we are going to prove to the
people that we are making a Rght for the whole
people and not fer those who have been enjoying
nrivileees and favors at the hands of the gov
eminent and we expect that the honest senti-
nlent Of the country will rebuke the party whose
fconventioD refused to indorse any kind of pub
licity and whose candidates are not willing that
the people should know until after the polls are
closed what predatory interests have been active
in sunnort Of the republican party. With great
respect. etc. yours truly
WILLIAM J BRYAN