The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-07-25
REVOLUTION
viii Be Worked In Election
Methods
Under The KimbIe Corrupt
Practices Act
Which Goes Into Effect At
Coming Primaries
The Law Exceedingly Drastic
In Provisions
And Aims To Attain Purity
In The Election

OF much public interest Is the Kim |
BILE corrupt practices act passed by |
the last session of the legislature OF |
Ohio, and which becomes effective for |
the first time at the primaries to be |
held throughout the state on Septem.
ber s. The new law promises to work |
revolution in election methods.
The revolution in methods will be
drastic. 1t will bring practically ev-
cry movement of every political party |
and candidate into the daylight of
publicity. It will probably prevent a
party committee from lining up with
any particular candidate by publish
ing that fact after the primaries. 1t
will prevent unknown party workers
from operating in any precinct. If
any candidate has been the tool OF any
interest or corporation 1t will make
that fact known.
Furthermore the new law will place
a strict limit upon the amount of
money any candidate can spend for
| MS nomination.
The publicity feature is attained by
the provisions of the law which com
pei the filing within ten days after any
election of statements showing the
precise amount of money spent by ev-
cry candidate, party committee or as
sociation or organization of two or
more persons, interested in the cleo
tlon, and showing in addition, how ev-
cry dollar was spent. Primary cleo
tions are included.
The law makes the filing Of such
statements absolutely compulsory
The law goes still farther. 1t COM
pels such statements to include not
only the amount OF money spent but
the amount promised" or received"
The candidate must thus specify ev-
cry dollar he received, or promised
and naturally his statement can be
checked against the statement of 9th
ers who aided him. For instance, IL
candidate should state that he re-
ceiVed $50 from a certain organiza
ton and the organization had failed
to make a statement saying that such
an amount had been contributed to
him, the organization could be detect
ed in its omission and punished Sc
verely for corrupt practices"
The term Organization as inter
: preted by the new law, is so broad
that It includes practically every com
. blnation of persons Both the Anti
Saloon league, and the Liberal league
are, by general Interpretation, includ'
. ed Furthermore, there doesn't seem
y to be In the new law any provision
y allowing such organization longer to
employ paid workers on election day
In the section of the law which limits
the kinds OF services which that can
D. be paid for, provision is made only for
the employment OF workers by party
committees, and candidates, and the
l. number of these is limited to three
+" each for the party committees in any
one precinct and to one for each can
didate Two days before election the
\, names of all such workers must be
announced
No longer can any committee or or
ganiaation pay out money indiscrim
" inately throughout the wards and pre-
Us cincts for entertainment" or for tho
~ creation of good will. Every penny SC
- given would have to be accounted for
H. and in the list OF things for which
~ money can be spent, entertainment
VI ed Thus, IL such money were spent
II II would convict the contributor o
IL corrupt practices.
The law enumerates the sort o
IN things that money can he spent for
~ These things include expenses OF hall
10 and speakers, music and ilreworks
I'd advertising; also. In a general way
at the preparation Of posters, llthograph
II. and the like; furthermore, then eS
Or penses of offices and headquarters
nc pay of clerks to manage details, eS
n, penses OF the preparation of lists q
ne voters. expenses OF circulating nomiI
70 alton petitions, personal expenses @
IL. circulating nomination petitions, PEI
si- sonal expenses of candidates, traye
1l- ing expenses OF committeeman
agents, clerks and speakers, postag,