The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-29
Wednesday, April 2o, 1908.
ELECTION EXPENSES.

It would appear that the recent Hart ford mayoralty election Is of signal service in calling public attention to the defects of the corrupt practices act. While that measure has thus far been productive of much good It has not been all that It's friends desired it to be. A few more campaign expenditures like that of Mayor Hooker of Hartford will have such an educational influence on the public mind as to awaken a purpose to amend the corrupt ptac tices act SO as to limit the amount to be contributed by a candidate.
 When an aspirant for office spends more than his salary will amount to in two years he must regard the honor of office as greater compensation than salary. In the larger view of public of flee 1t is quite true that the opportunity to be of particular service to ones com munIty and the consciousness that one has discharged well his civic responsi bilities have in themselves a compen- satory value greater than salary. But 1t Is not every public official who takes everyone who will expend large amount for what may seem vague and uncertain. though some will spend con siderable for a chance to make an ef- fort in official service. There Is some thing about public office that attracts certain temperaments and provides just the right sort of political excite ment to keep things interesting. This may be regarded by some worth paying for, even in excess of salary.
 There are doubtless those who make good public officers and do not in any way abuse the privileges of office, all though with liberal hand they made their election sure. But to permit un- limited expenditure by any candidate is to establish a precedent far from de all to aid in sanctioning an unwhoe- some practice. The corrupt practices act as 1t now stands Is lacking in one vital essential--the regulation of cleo ton expenditures There are of course
 
 certain legitimate expenses which a candidate for office will feel obliged to pay if he desires election. He may make these expenses large or small according to his means and Is within the law so long as he files a report of his expenditures and states for what purposes.
 A peculiar temptation in this whole matter Is that men of wealth who de- sire office may set very rapid pace for those who have not large means The latter may be as worthy ol worthier in the equipment of brains character, and a large experience of men and affairs, but may be defeated because unable to meet the demand made on them. Some may make grea' effort to keep up the pace and may bt defeated even then but have tie added embarrassment of financial difficulties that 1t may take some years to over come. A condition of things that per mits results of this sort is not in ac cord with the spirit of democracy ant gives no assurance that necessarily the right officials will be elected, | made to rest principally on large ex pendtures Expenses limited 1T some proportion to the salary a desir ed office pays, by an amended corrup practices act as soon as the legislature meets, is in the interest of good public policy and in fairness to all asprant to any office.
 The Hartford Courant in commenting on the election of Mayor Hooker, says If a candidate who makes an homes and complete statement of election ex penses is to be pilorled for 1t, what in ducement is there for obeying the law There are ways of getting around it Mir Hooker took the straghtforwart policy. Instead of crlticising him, thos who want clean politics should com mend his honesty Mir Hooker is cer tainly to be commended for hls "hon esty" and straightforward policy il his readiness to file his sworn state ment of expenses. "Clean politics call for more than this in the public inter est The only criticism that can b made is in regard to the danger in tn excessive use of money in gaining al election and this applies not to one per son The question is one that is to b