New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-20
mORE LLGHT INETITARLE.


The inquiry into the legislative activi.
ties az the fire insurance interests rem
ders imperative that wider investigation
which Governor Hughes and Senator
Root advocate. At the same time. il sus-
gests a new explanation of the deter
mined opposition evinced By some poll
ticians 10 the throwing Of any further
light on the law making and lobbying
methods which prevailed in former legis-
latures.
The testimony so far given by Mr.
Kennedy and others before Mr. IIOtch-
kiss does not indeed show case of tech
meal bribery. The promoters of fire in
surance legislation may have sincerely
believed that they were not Offering even
moral brides and that they were merely
proceeding in businesSlike way 90
recognize the services Of persons out
side the Legislature who aided them
legitimately i'm securing legislation which
they considered proper and which, So far
as at present appears. WAS proper. There
is no evidence that Governor Odell knew
Of the 5000 campaign contribution prom
ised 10 Mr.. Fox when he signed the bill.
or that his convictions were changed rs
20 the merits of the measure by any
thing but the arguments and elOquence
Of Mr. Kennedy Neither Is there any
evidence that Mr.. Aldridse's assistance
was based on any promise or hope Of
personal reward. II Gift Ia him uneX
pectedly received after the work was
done went into the treasury Of the local
organization aS n campaign contribution.
There was no bribery here. The moral
fly If the transaction would have passed
unquesiioned 10y the great body Of poll
iicians and business men few years
ago. Nevertheless. the story told by Mr..
Kennedy is perfect epitome Of the evil
which lies at the foundation Of the old
system n practical politics. against
which Governor Hughes has beeu fight
ing ard with which tho great body Of
people are becoming more and more i'm
patient That evil Is the organization 81
political machinery for and by aid Of
the -; 10 Il law
This system. perfected by Mr.. Plat,
operated i'm a circle for the demOraliza-
tion of both business and politics. Bust
IT'S lf-lA OBI @fNA III NANAfI IL EtNMlt even
proper legislation and 10 project itself
from strike bills 10 conciliate the favor
Of political leaders 10y large campaign
contributions ON the other hand. legis-
lators who would have Scorned a bride.
as the agents ami heneficiarles of
bass who secured for them the sinews
Of war found themselves mere tools for
the delivery II law To those who bought
their masters favor.
- far as honest law making goes.
there is lit;le difference between buying
the vote of an Assemhlyman and placing
the boss who controls him or the organi-
zation which supports him under such
obligations n to command his vote.
What interest had the insurance men IN
Monroe County politics: What interest
had they in Investing 5000 Ia save the
state" in the spring "f an or year when
there was not a state officer Ia Ice chosen:
Can their contributions be considered
anything hut The price Of the political
machines delivery of its subordinates i'm
the legislature
This financial relation between huSi-
ness AMI politics is a dear abuse which
the politicians have striyen 10 preserve
in their opposition successfully 10 pri-
mary reform. Ia publicity Uf campaign
contributions and expenditures. Ia direct
nominations aud 90 that most vital
feature Of the Governors plan which in
tcrferes with the practical Self-peTpetu-
alton Of parry committees. II. probably
more than any technical bribery i'm
which leaders and legislators of the
haSer sort may have indulsed. i what the
Old guard does not want exposed: for its
exposure to VOTERS more than ever inn
patient Of special privilege and the sale
Of law under the cover If party loyalty.
will make impossible the continuance If
the methods on which the ascendancy of
the machine politicians depends. However
much some legislators may shrink from
the revelation. the light has already
begun 10 penetrate the dark corners, and
they cannot shut II out