Evening journal., 1910-12-31
SATURDAY. DEC. 81. 1910
PUBMCIN OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

R YHlS examination of those actively engaged
~ in the recent political campaign, Attorney
General Gray is really accomplishing what would
be done If We had a law requiring the publication
OF the receipts and expenditures OF the political
managers
Some States have laws requiring such publica-
ton, and they show that considerable money was
used BY both parties in many counties during the
campaign 1t is improbable that larger sum was
expended in Delaware for political purposes dur
ing the recent campaign than in many other COM
munities.
The managers of the campaign nave come for
ward without protest in compliance with the re-
quest OF the AttorneyGeneral, alrnough some of
them think that they could have refused to do so
had they wished II is entirely probable however
hat the Acknowledgement is acting within his
rights and he is certainly pursuing a course to
which no reasonable person can object.
AS the examinations have been conducted in pri-
vatc and both the Attorney General and the wit
nesses who have appeared before him have talked
but little OF what was said and done at the exam
nations. nothing definite accurate is known, but
Mr.. Gray intends to make all the testimony public
so that the people may know just what the man
ayers of the campaigns have said under oath
Judging by the reports that have been so freely
circulated since the close of the campaign, some
persons may imagine that the examination of Col
onei Benson treasurer of the Republican State
Committee, disclosed the distribution of huge
fund, but we imagine that it has shown a very
ordinary expenditure of money for various pur-
poses incident to a political campaign
IL might be we'll 20 pass a law providing for the
publication of all money received and disbursed,
although as we have said the course pursued by
the Acknowledgement accomplsheS the same rur-
pose. Future Attorney Generals may not, however,
wish 10 60 to the trouble of examining under oath
all the county and State committeeman regarding
expenditures. and law providing for publicity
would make such an examination unnecessary.
Certainly the Republicans have shown no dsposi-
iion or unwillingness 70 assist the Attorney
General in his probing into the affairs of the Re-
publican party.
Mr.. Gray has completed his examination of the
members Of the committees in Kent county ard Of
other prominent citizens who we're supposed 10
know something of the political situation He is
yet to examine the committeeman and citizens of
New Castle and Sussex counties. The testimony
of these persons will make interesting reading al
though we do not believe it will be sensational.
--------------------
The progressive city of Spokane Washington,
at an election the other day decided to adopt the
commission form of government by vote of 6,43S
TO Ali. Although there were many women reg
istered, few of them voted and from the figures
Of the total vote il seems that many citizens took
no part in the election. The majority was not so
large for q commission form as would be expected
considering the fact that the new charter plan mas
been sweeping most of the western cities Ii is
possible that the political leaders opposed the
change, and if so, that would account for the con-
siderable vote cast in the negative. Judging from
the Spokane vote, the commission plan is one on
which much can be said on either side