The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-30

and compare your position on the
trust question with mine.
You refer to your campaign fund
in 1896 and accuse us OF allowing
two :nen to contribute largely to
the small fund with which the
committee conducted it's campaign.
j am not sure about the figures be-
cause / have not seen an authentic
statement of the contributions, but
i was informed that the largest OF
the two sums which you mention
was not all contributed by the man
to whom IL was credited. but In
cluded contributions from others as
well as that which he gave him
self.
A Crack mt Hanna.
But II you want to be fair, why
do you not give the amount OF the
Republican campaign fund that year
and the sources of It? l am will
ing to have both funds published;
are you? II some of those who con-
tributed to our fund OF less than
5000, 600 had a pecuniary interest
in the result OF the election, how
will you explain the enormous con-
tributions made to the Republican
fund?
II you will remember, the Dem
ocratic platform candidly declared
the party's purpose. IL the carry
ing out OF that policy would have
been of advantage to any one, the
WnOlG puDllc ndd KNOWLEDGE ana
the publication OF the contributions
would not have affected the result.
Publicity as to campaign funds is
not needed to make known that
which is disclosed by the platform.
but to direct attention to secret
agreements, expressed or implied,
which would otherwise be con-
cealed from the public. You GER
tainly pay more attention to the
mote than to the beam when you
find fault with our national cam
paign fund In 1896 and ignore the
significance OF n fund almost as
large whicsh at your request was
collected from a few persons in
1904. and was used in one state
and was only small Item In the
fund collected that year.
But your letter presents n de-
Tense OF your party's position and
an accusation against the voters
which emphasize an isue already
prominent. You are the first con-
spicuous member of your party to
party's opposition to publicity be-
fore the election, and the admission
which you make will embarrass
your party associates. Your po-
sition is that the publication be-
fore election OF the contributions
made to your campaign fund would
furnish your political opponents
an opportunity Ito give false Inn
preston" as TO the fitness of, the
candidates. Yon cite as i1lustra-
tons the contributions made TO
Gov. Hughes's campaign fund. the
contribution collected by Mr.. Har-
riman and the contributions which
are now being collected for Mr..
Tafts campaign fund.
You charge. In effect. that the
people are so lacking in inteiil-
gence that they might condemn as
improper contributions which you
declare TO be proper. N the voters
diner from you on this question
are they necessarily ignorant and
wrong7 Must the members OF the
party organization act as self-ap-
pointed guardians of the people and
conceal from them wharf IL going
OF the action OF the Republican
leaders In the national convention
inyoting down a publicity plank?
n YOU will pardon tho sugges-
ton. ! believe that better expla-
nation can DO found In Holy Writ.
for we do not read OF men loving
darkness rather than light he
cause their deds are evil? You at
tempt TO make n personal question