Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-30
Bryan S Defiance
To Roosevelt


contributions collected by Mr.. Har-
riman and the contributions which
are now being collected for Mr..
Tafts campaign. You charge in
effect. that the PEOPLE ARE so
LACKING IN INTELLIGENCE that
they might condemn as improper
contributions which you declare to
be proper.
III the voters differ from you on
this question are they necessarily
ignorant and wrong? Must .he
members of the party organization
act as self-appointed guardians OF
the people and conceal from them
what is going on. les. the people be
misled as to the purpose and effect
Of large contributions. Is this your
explanation Of the action OF -he Re-
publican leaders In the national con-
vention in voting down a publicity
plank? If you will pardon the sug-
gestion. 1 believe that a better ex-'
PLANTATION can be found in holy writ
for do we not read of men loving.
darkness rather than light, because.
their deeds are evil?
You attempt to make n personal
question OF 1t and ask whether any
one will accuse such men as you
Gov. Hughes. and Mr.. Taft of be-
ing influenced by contribu tions.
NOT THE QUESTION AT ISSUE.
That is not the question. %~ffe ~
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 in accepting the
mney he explicitly staten = that Il.
was accepted with the understand,
Ing that he was under no obligas
ton to consider it in making up his
verdict The court would hold that
the giving of money by an interes+. :
ed party or the receiving OF money
was a contempt or court and an
interference with the administra-
ton OF justice. PUBLIC OFF,
GALS occupy much the same Do
sition as JURORS. They are con-
stantly called upon to decide he
tween the favor seeking corporas
lions on the one hand and thespep-
pie on the other and there-iis IA very
general impression that officials of
these favor-seeking.- Interpretations do
not put up large sums OF money
from purely patriotic motives.
: Mr.. Havemeyer testified before n
senate committee some years ago
that the sugar trust made 1t a bus
mess to contribute. to campaign
funds and that It was custom 70
give to the party in power in The
state. do not mean to say that
Mr.. Hughes was Influenced by the
contributions made to him by the
trust .magnates whose names were
given in the after-election report.
do not mean to say that you were
influenced by the contributions col
fected by Mr.. Hartman, neither do
mean 20 say that Mr, Taft will be
influenced by the contributions that
are being made TO his fund by the
trust magnates; bur do mean To
say that the AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW what
contributions are being made, that
they may judge for themselves the
motive OF the givers and the obliga-
ton imposed upon .hose who re-
ceive. b
The reflection upon people in
VOWED in your charge that shey
would misuse the knowledge which
publicity would give, is unworthy
OF one who has been elevated TO 30
high an office by the votes of the
people, and I venture the assertion
that you cannot procure from Mr..
TAFT an endorsement of your de-
fense. He is now before. the peo-
pie; he ID Jffering himself as a can
didate for che Presidency, he dare
not tell -he people to whom he APP
peals that the HAVE NOT SENSE
ENOUGH to form AUST and correct
opinion as to the purpose which
leads parties Interested i'm special
legislation to make big contribu.
tons 8