Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
Fasting in Wilderness

So long as the Republican party re-
mains in power It is powerless to re-
generate itself 1t cannot attack wrong
doing in high places without disgracing
many of its prominent members, and
1t. therefore, uses opiates instead of
the surgeons knife. It's indicators
construe each Republican victory as
an Endorsement of their conduct and
threaten the party with defeat IL they
are interfered with. Not until that
party passes through period of fast
ing in the wilderness, will the Republic
can leaders learn to study public ques-
tions from the standpoint of the
masses. Just as with individuals, "the
cares of this world and the deceitful-
ness of riches choke the truth" so in
politics, when party leaders serve for
away from home and are not in con-
slant contact with the voters, continued
party success blinds their eyes to the
needs of the people and makes them
deaf to the cry of distress.
Campaign Contributions
An effort has been made to secure
legislation requiring publicity as to
campaign contributions and expedi-
lures; but the Republican leaders,
even in the face of an indignant pub
lie. refused to consent to law which
would compel honesty in elections.
When the matter was brought up in
the recent Republican national con-
vention the plank was repudiated by
a vote of $50 to "a. Here, too, Mr..
Taft has been driven to apologize for
his convention and to declare himself
In favor of a publicity law; and yet,
If you will read what he says upon this
subject, you will find that his promise
falls far short of the requirements of
the situation. He says:
"If 1 am elected president 1 shall
urge upon congress, with every hope of
success that law be passed requir-
ing the filing in a federal office of a
statement of the contributions re-
in elections for members Of congress
and in other elections as are constituI
tionally within the control of con-
gress.''
/ shall not embarrass him by asking
him upon what he bases his hope of
success; it is certainly not on any
encouragement he has received from
Republican leaders. 1t Is sufficient to
say that If his hopes were realized
IT, in spite of the adverse action of his
convention, he should succeed in Sc
curing the enactment of the very law
which he favors, it would give but par
tial relief. He has read the Democratic
platform; not only his language, but
his evident alarm, indicates that he
has read it carefully. He even had be-
fore him the action of the Democratic
national committee in interpreting and
applying that platform; and yet he
fails to say that he favors the publi-
cation of the contributions before the
election. OF course, 1t satisfies a nat
ural curiosity to find out how an cleo
ton has been purchased, even when
the knowledge comes too late to be of
service, but why should the people be
kept in darkness until the election is
past? Why should the locking OF the
door be delayed until the horse is
gone?
Election Public Affair
An election is a public affair. The
people, exercising the right to select
their officials and to decide upon the
policies to be pursued, proceed to their
several polling places on election day
and register their will. What excuse
can be given for secrecy as to the in
f1uences at work? If a man, pecu-
niarily Interested in concentrating the
control of the railroads in one man
agement," subscribes a large sum to
aid in carrying the election. why
should his part in the campaign be con-
cealed until he has put the officials
under obligation to him? If a trust