Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-28
OREGON'S CORRUPT PRACTICES
ACT MAKES CANDIDATES.
EXPENSES SMALL,
FOR SENATOR
At COST OF $4,000
Measure Aims at Higher Standards in
PoIitics-Senator Bourne to Mako No
Speeches and Spend No Money in His
Campaign For Reelection.
Special to Times-Republican.

Washington, June 2S.-The an
nouncement that Senator Jonathan
Bourne, Jr.. will stand for renomina
ton and reelection without making
any speeches. distributing any litera-
ture or spending money, has called at
gon Corrupt Practices Act which
makes it possible for a candidate in
that state to present his cause be-
fore the voters at nominal expense.
The Oregon law provides that the
secretary of state shall issue a public
ity pamphlet in which each candidate
is permitted to use not to exceed four
pages in setting forth the principles
for which he stands and the reasons
why he should be nominated. His OPP
ponents may occupy a like number of
pages in opposition to him, but must
sign their names to their arguments
and be responsible under the libel law
of the state. Candidates are required
to pay from $40 to 500 a page for
this space. the amount varying with
the importance of the office. a copy
of this pamphlet must be mailed to
every registered voter not less than
eight days prior to election In prac
tice. the secretary Of state mails the
pamphlet to the voter as soon as ne
registers
Cost Bars No One.
This law provides an ample oppor-
tunity for every candidate to present
his claims before the voters Of his
election district at a cost which will
not bar any aspirant. 1t practically
compels the candidate to go on record
expressly as to his principles and poll
cies, and prevents his basing his cam
paign on local prejudices. Since the
same pamphlet goes to every section Of
the state it is impossible for the can
didate to make one appeal to the voter
in the city and another appeal to the
voter in the country.
Under this law candidate for the
nomination for senator can state his
cause fully to all the voters Of the
state at a cost Of $500. In the general
election campaign. the secretary Of
state issues another pamphlet, distri-
buted In like manner in which each
party may occupy not to exceed TWEEN
tyfour pages. at $50 per page and
each candidate four pages at 500 per
page. Aside from the amount ex-
pended for space in the publicity
pamphlet, the Oregon law limits every
candidate to an expenditure OF IS per
cent OF one years salary in the pri
mary campaign. and 10 per cent of one
years salary in the general election
campaign. provided that no candidate
shall be limited to less than 800 Ev-
cry candidate must file a sworn item
lied statement OF campaign expendl
lures within fifteen days after election.
A similar sworn statement must be
filed within the same time by every
person who expended or contributed
$50 or more In support of or in opposi-
ton to any candidate.
High Standard in Politics.
Doubtless there will be viola tons of
the Oregon corrupt practices act just
as there always will be violations OF
every other criminal statute. but the
Oregon law has set a high standard in
political methods. and by providing
means Of publicity has removed the
necessity for large campaign expendi-
lures. The penalty for violation Of the
Oregon corrupt practice act Is fine
Of not more than $4,000. or imprison-
r1ent for not moro than one year, or
both. A candidate violating the law