Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-30
SHOWS HIS EvAslveNEss.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

.h,,ti,ns made to Governor Hughes
campaign fund, the contributions col
slrcted for MIR. Taft's campaign fund
You charge, in effect, that the people
are so. lacking in intelligence that they
might condemn as improper contripu-
ffnus which you declare to be proper.
Tr the voters differ with you on this
n,,estion are they necessarily ignorant
and wrongo Must the members of the
+ marty organization act as self-appoint
ed guardians of the people and conceal
from them what Is going on lest the
neor,le be misled as to the purpose and
efsect of large contributions? Is this
svnur exclamation of the action OF the
Republican leaders in 1.-THE hatloi.a'
convention in voting down publicity
plank? If you will pardon the sugsts-
ton | believe that better Suggestion
can be found in Holy Writ for do fot
VIC we read of men loving DARKNESS
rather than light, because their deeos
are evil?
you attempt to make d pe'soha
question of it and ask whether any one
will ACCUSE such men as you, HcVti'l'
Hughes and Mr.. Taft OF Deihs III
f,uenced by contributions. Ihae Is ;'oi
the question. If it is found t1at pd' -
to suit tas given Il sum OF money u
one of the jurors, the court ices no.
stop to inquire whether or not the Ju
ror is an incompatible man or Niiti me-
IN occcpting the money, he explicitly
stated that it was accepted with ti''
understanding that he was uhoer III
ALLEGATION to consider it in making ui
his verdict. The court would 'io!'' l'l't
The giving of money by an INTERESTED
party or the receiving OF money was
,ontemny of court and an interference
With the administration OF justice
I.ubl,c officials occupy much tn" SANE
rosition as jurors. They are CONSTANT!
called upon to decide questions "c-
tween the favor seeking corporations
ON the one hand and the people on tii'
other. and there is very genera III
1,ression that officials of those laFor
seeking corporations do not put ui
largo suras of money from purely pa
triotic motives.
Mr.. Havemeyer testified before Seh-
ate committee some years ago tnat tli'
sugar Trust made it business 10
contribute to campaign funds ana tha'
in mower in the state. | do not mean
-, cav that Mr.. Hughes was influenced
nv the contributions to him by the
trust maenates whose names WEI
given in The after-clcction report. l dc
not mean to say that you were III
fuenced Us contributions coliectc" pA
Mr.. Hartman, neither do l mean 10 Sd
tha, Mr.. Taft will be influenced by th'
contributions that are being liidur /.
his fund by the trust magnatcS' pul
do mean to say that the American pee
rIe have a right to know what co!lti l.
h,nions are being made that they may
nudge for themselves the motive oil the
rivers and the obligation imposed upon
those who receive.
The reflection upon the people ihN''N''
in your charge that they woulu h''S"''
the knowledge which publicity would give
is unworthy Of one who has been eieNi''.'
to 50 high an office by the votes OIL Inc
neo,.Je and I venture for assertion tha'
you cannot procure from Mr.. Taft an en-
dorscment of your defence.
He is now before the people; he is o'ier-
ing himself as a candidate for the pres
idenv. he dare not tell the people t.
whom he appeals that they have not Sehs'
enough to fern iust and correct opl"l"i
as to the purpose which leads parties IN
terestcd in special legislation to make bis
contributions You fear that We would
misrepresent the motives of these VINO
are contributing to the Republican cam
paign fund and cast an unjust 'uspicioi
upon Republican candidates il the names
and amounts were made known before th'
election Your argument. if sound. w"ul'
pre(ent publication after the election; 10
wby should an unjust suspicion he cast oi
officials after the election any more thal
before: Does not the secrecy before tn
election increase this suspicion?
We are going to give you an opportuhi
~ to misrepresent the m"tives OF thoS
who give to our campaign fund and t.
arouse all the suspicion you can; we ar
going to prove to the people that we AZ
making a fight for the Whole people an
not for those who have been enjoying
privileges and favors at the hands of tn
government ard we expect that the non
est sentiment of the country will rebuii
the party whose convention refuse" |
endorse the kind OF publicity and who's
candidates are not willing that the pee
pie should know until after the polls AZ
closed what predatory interests have zee
active in support Of the Republican party
With great respect. etc,
Yours truly.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.