The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-14
FOR CLEAN
POLITICS
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orally to be regarded as a crime
against good government. People of
many states have legislated against
the evil but the laws are defective
and II Is difficult to frame either
state or federal statute which will
compel a truthful report Of all ex-
pendftures which a candidate has
made. But If throug! congressional
enactment law OF this character,
stringent in it's provisions and provid-
ing a penitentiary penalty, shall be
placed upon the statute books, the
moral effect upon the approaching
elections would be In the direction Of
preventing any other than legitimate
expenses and insuring a more salts
factory expression of the will of the
people.
President Starts Movement.
The matter has come before cong
ress in the form of a recommendation
made by President Taft In his annual
message. Mr.. Taft said: ST urgently
recommend to congress that a law be
passed requiring that candidates in
the election Of members of the house
of representatives and committees in
charge of their candidacy and cam
palm, file in a proper cfflce OF the
United States government a statement
| of contributions received and of ex-
penditures incurred In the campaign
for such elections and that similar
legislation be enacted in respect to all
other elections which are constitution
ally within control Of con gress."
| AT the present time there is a con-
gressional campaign committee which
, collects and distributes money In dis
tricts where it is required. 1t is within
the power OF the men comprising this
committee almost to make or break a
congressman. If the latter votes
right that is, in accordance with
the wishes of the organization, he will
be taken care Of financially should
conditions In his community require it,
This committee does not have to make
public reports. 1t is a close corpora
ton. At the present time, it has en-
barked upon a campaign of publicity
designed to present Speaker Cannon
in a more favorable light before the
country.
This action is not considered legiti-
mate by members of the national com
mittee, who are considering the advisa-
bility of making a protest
Poll Of Central States.
The Chicago Tribune and The Min
neapolis Journal correspondents have
made a poll OF representatives of four
teen central states OF the union This
poll shows delegates of the following
states to be unanimously in favor of
the immediate enactment of the rec
concentration OF President Taft:
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Delegations of the following states
are in favor Of legislation with the
exception OF the states named, who
declined TO express themselves one
way or another:
Illinois-Speaker Joseph G. Cannon,
Representative James r. Mann, Frank
o. Lowden, Howard NJ. Snapp and
William A. Rodenberg.
Michigan - Representatives Joseph
w. Fordney, Francis III. Dodds, H. DIN
Young, Washington Gardner, Senator
julius G. Burrows.
Representative Charles "A.
Grow.
Chic Representative James Joyce.
Thus out OF total of twenty six
senators, twenty-five are publicly In
favor Of the proposed legislation. OF
1886 congressman representing the
states polled, only eleven refuse to
commit themselves. These 125 con-
gressmen comprise little less than
one-third Of the house, and, with the
democrats. easily constitute majority
of that body.
The following replies were made by
North Dakota's representatives when
asked IL they favored such federal
law as Taft has outlined:
AISLE j. Gronna--I am very much in
favor Of the enactment of such law
and IL the bill should come before the
house during my membership / shall
certainly vote for It,
l. 3. Hanna-Yes. am in favor OF
this legislation.