New-York tribune., 1908-07-14
UBEPE THE CREDIT BELONGS.


Mr. Bryan, in a speech to the Nebraska dele
gation 10 Denver developed an idea which seems
TO have seized on a good many persons, Dut
which Is altogether without historical founda-
ton This Idea is that the campaign puDhciV
plank adopted by the Democratic National Con
vention opened "a new era in politics by ter
mnating the system under which corporations
contributed money out of their treasures for
political purposes. Said Mr. Bryan:
For a quarter of a century the country mas
been seeing more and more corporate domination
in politics: for a quarter of a century the coun-
try has witnessed campaign after Campaign IN IN
which great predatory interests would 'an Sec1eus
contribNte enormous sums to debauch eteclloiiS
and then control the government IN return ioi
the contributions.
But as he naTveIy explained, the declarations
of the Denver convention changed all that
To credit the Denver convention with such
a reform as the stopping of corporation GUILT
buttons for political purposes is TO reverse 'he
processes of time and TO confuse all dlstlhcuoh'
between post and ante. Corporation cohlripu-
tions in connection with any election at when
Presidential and Eice-Presdental electors sen
ators or Representatives in Congress are 10 De
voted for were outlawed by a Republican Con-
GROSS nearly n wear before the call for the Den
var convention was issued 1t seems to nave
escaped the attention of many eminent beiho-
Gratis that so far as the Presidential electloh VI
1908 is concerned corporations OF all SORTS are
barred from making money suDscrlptiohs loi
tho use of anv candidate or party, the penalty
prescribed for any officer or director cohsehuhS
to such a subscription being hne OF sl'ooo Oh
imnrisonment for wear, or both. Officers and
directors of corporations who give the mont!
of stockholders for political purposes are Liable
70 civil prosecution for an improper diversion
of finds and to criminal prosecution not Only
,,nder state law in many states, but under the
federal law in every state. 1t is the lederai
statute of January % 1907, and not the deciara-
+ion of +be Democratic National Convention OF
1905. which has put the system of corporation
contributions 10 politics out of effect
II is amazing that this law should be ignored
by so many high Democratic authorities here
is "Tbe Charleston News and Courier saying:
The corporations ought not TO be allowed TO
contribute to political campaigns. Corpor oralioiis
are what the law calls artificial persons 1ney
are not clothed with the privilege OF Young
thew are without natural political compleAoll,
and tba immense power which the laws give
them should be confined to the legitimate opJects
of enhancing business and industrial e1nclehcy'
Corporations are excellent and necessary ue
vices: by no other means may business eiie.sS ~
he concentrated to meet the demands u uio
present age; but their activities shouiu nE -
olIslv watched and they should be co1lpeileu "
adhere with the utmost strictness to their spe-
officially chartered rights and duties. Inc Zen
,-er demand that laws be enacted for the pun
ishment OF officers or corporations VINO CON
tribute the corporation funds to political objects
should be indorsed by every citizen who beileves
the selection of public officials 10 De lhe ollioo
of the private citizen and voter.
The Denver demand on that score may De ali
right. but it is certainly belated. Republican
legislation has already made it a criminal act
for the managers of a corporation to authorize
nolitical contributions and there is little danger
that the officers and directors of corporations
will part with funds belonging to the stoch-
holders with the risk Of contemplating the lo'Is
of that indiscreton later behind the bars OF "a
iai