Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-04-01
Publicity and Pure Politics.

While a candidate for the govern
orship of Vermont takes the remark
able position that he is not called upon
to Join with other aspirants in agreeing
to file sworn and detailed statement
of his campaign expenses with the
New York is moving i'm the other di-
rection by calling for the prompt adop-
ton of measures to drive corruption
from politics.
Governor Hughes before the merchants
exchange of New Rochelle, N. Y, Tues
day evening, came the following signifi-
cant passages:
1--WE should seek to the fullest extent
possible the benefit of the purifying in
fluence of publicity. This is not time
for concealment, for adroit finesse. for
pleasant schemes to hood-wink the peo-
pie. There must be straightforward
dealing. Some object that it costs
money to investigate. That is true;
but it will cost more not to investigate.
The political household needs disinfect-
ing. and we shall save money by max
ing the process a thorough one.
What if the statute of limitations
may have run with respect to the public
wrongs disclosed? 1t is well to send
rascals to Jail, but the primary purpose
of that is not the incarceration of indi-
viduals, but the prevention of similar
rascality on the part of others. Pub
licty is itself a wholesome punishment,
and in connection with political corrup-
ton most important preventive meas
ure. There is no statute of limitations
which bars public disgrace or the odium
which attaches to the betrayer of pub
lie confidence. There is no bar to the
destruction of political influence on the
part of those who have traded their
party's honor for their own profit.
Let there be the fullest inquiry by
every competent means.
at is needed to expose those who have
been faithess to their trust.
at is needed to put an end to corrupt
alliances between business and politics.
1t is needed to protect honest bust
ness.
at is just to the honorable men in the
Legislature, who should not be the vic
tins of an indiscrminate denunciation
by reason of practices in which they
have had no part.
1T is just to party organi cation, that
it may be saved from the corrupt uses
which have brought it into contempt.
ut is needed to show how and where
in the people have been deceived, that
they may protect themselves against
deception in the future.
at is necessary in order that remedial
measures, whether in legislative rules
or in statutes, should be adopted, so as
to reduce to a minimum the opportuni-
ties of stealth and of chicanery in ad-
vancing or retarding legislative propo-
sails.
Whatever may be the result of such
an inquiry it is clear now, as it has been
for long time, that we should make a
change in our methods of nominating
candidates for elective Offices. The
revelations of the past few weeks have
supplied fresh evidence of the defects
of the present system, under which
fraud and corruption have prospered. "
We do not believe the people of Yer
mont are going to sit still and allow a
candidate for office in effect to tell them
it is none of their business what his
campaign expenses are. AS Governor
Hughes says, what is needed is the
purifying influence of publicity. If any
man is afraid to give to the public the
list of his campaign expenditures, it is
pretty fair evidence that they will not
stand the light of day.
Publicity is just as strong a proven
tive in Vermont as it is in New York,
and in this connection a stitch in time
may save nine. If DR. Mead declines to
take the public into his confidence, it is
not at all improbable that somebody
may start an investigation in Vermont
later on, just as has been done in New
York in another connection. twas the
persistence of Woodruff and others in
forcing the election of Aids as leader
that brought on the present exposures,
and parallel may be presented in Yer
mont.
Is that what Vermont wants or can
afford? Burlington Free Press, Mar