The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-14
BRY IAN NOTIFIED
OF NOMINATION.
CONTINUED from page one.)

too, Mr.. Taft has been driven to au-
oiogize for his, convention and to de-
clare himself in favor Of a publicity
law; and yet, if you will read what
he says upon this subject, you will
find that his promise falls far short
of the requirements Of the situation.
He says:
.If am elected president, I shall
urge upon congress, with every hope
o. success, that aflaw be passed re-
quirng the filing, in federal Office,
Of statement of the contributions
received by committees and candida
tes III elections for members of con-
gress, and in such other elections as
are constitutionally within the con-
troll of congress"
/ shall not embarrass him by ask
ing him upon what he bases his
hope of success; it is certainly not
en- any encouragement he has receiv-
ed from Republican leaders. 1t is
sufficient to say that if his hopes
were realized-if, in spite OF the ad-
verse action of his convention, he
should succeed in securing the enact
lmentyof the very law which he favors,
it would give but partial relief. He
has read the Democratic platform;
not only his language. but his evident
alarm, indicates that he has read it
carefully He even had before him
the action of the democratic national
committee in interpreting and ap-
plying hat platform; and yet, he
fails to say that he favors the pub
licati9n Of the contributions before
the election. OF course, it satisfies
natural curiosity to find out how
an election has been purchased,
even when the knowledge comes too
late to be of service, but why should
the people be kept in darkness until
The election is past? why should
the locking of the door be delayed
until the horse is gone?
An Election Public Affair.
An election is public affair. The
people, exercising the right to select
their officials and to decide upon
the policies to be pursued proceed
to their several polling places on
election day and register their will
What excuse can be given for secre-
cy as to the influences at work? If
a man, pecuniarily interested in
concentrating the control Of the
railroads in one management" sub
scribes large sum to aid in carry
ing the election, why should his part
in the campaign be concealed until
he has put the officials under obliga-
ton to him? If a trust magnate
contributes 100000 to elect politi-
cal friends to office, with view to
preventing hostile legislation, why
should that fact be concealed until
his, friends are securely seated in
their official positions?
This is not a new question; it is
question which has been agitated--a
question which the Republican
leaders fully understand question
which the Republican candidate has
studied, and yet he refuses to de-
clare himself in favor of the legisla-
ton absolutely necessary, namely
legislation requiring publication be-
fore the election.
Democratic Party Promises Publicity.
How can the people hope to rule.
if they are not able to learn until
after the election what the predatory
interests are doing? The Democratic
party meets the issue honestly and
courageously. 1t says:
1--WE pledge the Democratic party
to the enactment of law prohibit
ing any corporation to a campaign
fund, and any individual from con-
tributing an amount above reason
ahle maximum, and providing for
the publication, before election OF
all such contributions above reason
able maximum.
The Democratic national commit
tee Immediately proceeded to inter-
pret and apply this plank, announc-
ing that no contributions would he
received from corporations, that no
individual would be allowed to con-
tribute more than $4,000, and that
?II contributors above S1NN would
10 ,l.I" :h't" pe:0rC &c c.ecLi@n--
those received before October 10 TO
be made public on or before that
day. those received afterward to be
made public on the day when re-
ceiyed. and no such contributions
to be accepted within three days of
the election. The expenditures are
to be published after the election.
Here is a plan which is complete and
effective.
Popular Elections of Senators.
Next to the corrupt use of money,
the present method Of electing
limited States senator's is most re-
sponsible for the obstruction or
reforms. For one hundred years
after he adoption of the constitution,
the demand for the popular election
of senator's, while finding Increased
expression, did not become domin-
ant sentiment. A constitutional
amendment had from time to lme
been suggested and the matter had
been more or less discussed in few
of the states, but the movement had
40. rooobod u noiDt where il man.