The Washington herald., 1908-05-22

1t is unfortunate, in the opinion Of a
great many persons. not all of whom are
in Washington. that Secretary Taft, when
he sat down to write to Senator Burrows.
chairman OF the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections, regarding his
views on the proposed compulsory publi-
cation OF campaign fund contributions,
saw st TO write on the envelope in which
he inclosed the communication per
sonal"
Mr.. Burrows committee has before It a
number Of bills and resolutions. ths bills
proposing TO place a law on the statute
books requiring the publication Of such
contributions. the resolutions, or at least
one Of them, directing the committee to
investigate former campaign eonribu-
tions
Owing TO that word personal" Mr..
Taft's letter must remain in the seclusiOn
OF Mr.. Burrows private papers, unless
Mr.. Taft should ask the Senator TO make
it public. When the Secretary Of War, on
Monday evening last. told a representa-
tive OF The Washington HeraS that he
had written such a letter to Senator Bur-
rows, and that he does favor a publicity
BILL he emphasized the fact that his letter
was purely personal and private one.
and intimated that il could not be made
public
Letter Was Marked personal"
Mr.. Burrows last night added the in
formation that the letter was not only
personal in intention. but was marked
so. Under those circumstances, he added.
he could not and would not make it pub
lie, save upon request Of the Secretary
OF War even If it only contained the
Ten Commandments, without embellish-
lment.
1T is widely reported. Senator he was
told. that the Secretary's expression OF
adherence Il, the principle Of a publicity
bill, in that letter. was expressly limited
TO a bill 10 be passed after the coming
campaign has passed into history What
about that?'
Mr.. Burrows smiled-he really has a
very attractive smile-and replied that
that little word personal must lock his
lips, not only as to the letter as a whole.
but as TO its details as well Senator
LOng. Of Kansas. who happened 10 drop
in about that time, smiled sympa-
thetically.
And meanwhile ex-senator Chandler OF
New Hampshire. and the National Pub
licity Association are busy writing letters
about that letter 10 Mr. Burrows Mr..
Chandler, like some other people. cannot
just understand why. when he wished
TO express some thoughts upon the pub
licity question, Secretary Taft expressed
them, per the United States mails. 10 the
very man who has much TO do with decid-
ing whether there shall be a publicity
bill enacted before the present Congress
dies-by its own hand-snd then wrote on
the outside of that letter Personal
| Mr. Chandler has written several letters
| TO Chairman Burrows in reference 10 pub
licity legislation, as well as the letter.
/ quoted in The Washington Herald on
Tuesday. which brought from Mr Taft
the announcement that he does favor
such egislation-when, he did not say.
Trying 10 Snare Democratsf
Senator Johnston. Of Alabama, who is
| a minority member of the subcommittee
10 which Mr.. Burrows has committed the
/ publicity bills. gives out the following let
ter from Mr. Chandler:
Washington, May q. 1905
| Aiy Dear Nr Burrows: ! fear that there Is q plan
on foot to put the Democrats IN a hole in connec-
uOn with the publicity of contributions 20 national
| ard Congressional committees b. compeliinz them
70 vote on two ether subjects Oh the sane bill ll a
re-enactment Of some of the old Fe6eral election
laws designed 70 punish crimes az State elections
ard t- preliminary sfeIs toward reducing TETTesn-
tation under the fourteenth amendment, when col
| cred people are excluded from voting on account
Of race or colog.
/
1t seems to me that this is nnEise action for the
real friends Of publicity 10 take The Mccall bill
| provides for the publicity Of contributions made 70
/ national and Congressional committees, ard does
/ not interfere with State committees blt leaves
/ that subject TO the State legislatures. expecting
| Northern and Southern CongressmeD 20 unite n
voting fer the needed reform IS 20 national con-
mittees without now raising in any form the yexed
question 70 FeieTal election laws To take occa-
sion az this time 10 insist upon uniting the two sub
jeots viii be unfair. trust not insinceEe-
H.
/ II viii be specially unfortunate 90 ever make q
| declaration in favor Of enforcing the fourteenth
amendment an Abandonment Of the fifteenth
/ This was done IN the last national convention. and
lately the platform of a candidate for a Presi-
| dental nomination To Try 10 indorse these rlis-
takes hy formal Congressional declaration in q er
| favor will be bhndeT Of large proportions lie
eclored people Of the coutry-ia o 90 stronE-hf y
/ ing 2G00d votes. are now earnestly aroused oy
pending questions as TO the treatment which is 10
b1 accorded them b. The government and by
/ 10 aggTaVste them By thFIsting 10 the front the
fourteenth amendment in which they have 10 inter
est, and thrusting to the rear and destroying the
fifteenth amendment. in which they have a vital
interest. There are also some oldfashionsd anti
| slavery Republicans who take interest in the
! fifteenth amendment. which guaranteed suffrage as
the biTthrght Of eveTy American without regard 20
/ color, who viii not take kindly to the abandon
ment Of that amendment, even IN connection with a
publicity bill VeTy Truly.
WN Z. CHANDLER.
Hon J. c. BURROWS,
United States Senator and Chairman
Quotes Taft's Reply.
Ex-senator Chandler also gives out on
the same subject the following:
1871 street, May .. iss
| NY Dear Senator Burrows: ! am glad you are 70
| have this morning meeting Of your committee on
the bills for publicity Of election contributions msde
to national and Congressional committees.
NJ Bryan has long been IN favor Of Elch legisa.
ton as the public has known. and yesterday Mr..
Taft is reported In The Washington Herald as hav-
ing said 'YOl can tell Senator Chandler thar I
am for a publicity bill q"
regret that he had not said this earlier. doubt
| not that MessTs. Fairbanks. Cannon, Knox, Hughes
Foraker. Ia Follette, johnson. Gray, ct al would
make similar declarations if needed
! What your committee and Congress ought to do
Is 10 remove the temptation from national and Con
] gressionsl committees to receive money in large