The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-07-01
BY Willis ]. Abbott.

Chicago, June 27. 190S.-In letter
from Europe the Hon. Perry Belmont,
who has made magnificent fight for
a Il w compelling the publication Of
contributions to political committees,
offers that as an emblem of the re-
publican party the elephant should Le
dethroned and the golden calf exalted.
MIR. Belmont's position seems to be
we'll taken The republican conven-
tion did nothing but worship the Col
den calf during the four days of its
continuance. It's nominations werel
made with an eye single to money anal
to d big campaign fund. No poor man.
had a look-in. 1t took Taft, partly BE-
cause the president wanted him, main-
ly because he stands close to Wall ST.,
to The Guggnheeim Smelter trust and
to the public service corporations
throughout the nation. 1t voted down
the propoSltlon 70 MAKE d Vdlua.ion
of The physical properties OF railroads,
not because that proposition was
wrong, not because it was menacing,
not because it stood for anything that
has not been done in other countries,
but simply because the railroads did
not want it adopted, and the railroads
are apt to contribute quite lavishly to
a campaign fund. The plank will ap-
pear in the democratic platform with
out doubt.
Pursuing it's worship of the gold
en- calf, the republican convention vot-
ed down the proposition for full pub
liciry before election of all campaign
contributions. This was a perfectly
natural action on the part OF body
of delegates representing party
which believes that the brute force or
money always carry elections. How
could the worshippers OF the goldeh
calf publish in advance of the NoVem-
ber elections the true and complete
list of the contributions to their cam
paIgn fund? When Mr. Roosevelt was
enjoying $246,0 100000 of campaign
fun i'd raised by E. Fl. Harrlman-that
most undesirable citiZen--he denounc
ed as most unqualifiedly false the
statement OF Judge Parker that taint-
ed money had been contributed to his
campaign fund. What would have
been the effect upon Mr.. Roosevelts IS
: denunciation of Parker had the demo
cracy been able to turn to official re-
cords and show where the Hartman
s2460OO came from? 1t is no wonder
. that the Roosevelt convention with
great enthusiasm voted down the
Measure which would make their cam
ralgn .orruptionists tell exactly where
they got it. Bit that plank will ap-
pear in the democratic platform.
Again, the plank providing for the
election Of senators by the direct
| vote Of the people. This too has a
: marked effect upon the campaign
: chest of a party. Remember that the
senator of today too often Is one who
} buys his seat. The republican party
for example in Colorado was never sc
: prosperous as when Guggenheim of tn
. Snlelter trust, was candidate fol
senator He couldn't talk, but hi:
: money did. In many states the re
i publican organization Is financed b,
. the millionaires who want to sit II
: the senate. None could be elected j
they had to appeal to the body of ths
people. And SO the machine polite
! iahs who seem to dominate the repuh
lidan party killed the proposition io1
the detection of senators by direc
: vote in the happy expectation Of ii
: nancial favors yet to come from mil
g lionarire aspirants to the senate. I'M
4 toD is an issue which democracy vii
meet in its platform.
= The defeat of these thrse propos
tions. not merley in the Chicago con
c vention, but their singular unpopular
itv among republican managers JUST
fies Mr.. Be1mont's suggestion ina
W. substitute the golden calf Tor tn