New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-04
.H|LLES QUOTES THE LAW
Publicity on Campaign Funds
Necessity, Not Virtue, He Says.
M'ADOO ISSUES A REPLY
Better To Be Overvirtuous than
Undervirtuous, He
Asserts.

Charles u. Hilles chairman OF the Re
publican National Committee. made the
announcement yesterday that a complete
record of all contributions for the PresI-'
Dental campaign OF the Republican party
will be published shortly after October 10.
In his interpretation Of the Congress
sional campaign fund publicity act. signed
by President TAFT on August 10. 1911.
chairman Hilles expressed the opinion
that the act contained specific provision
that all national committees whether or
ganized merely for the furtherance OF Con-
,.oss,onal campaigns. or for the election
=, national ticket. must make pubic
- carnpaiyn contributions not more
~, af,e.n and not less than ten Gays
,-io- to the elections. Win TINS VIC"
., the law. Mr. Hilles said the Hepuon-
can National Committee did nov "iaNe
~. announcement OF an early publication
=, car,paign contributions In the nope vi
being declared virtuous. although '"e
,,a,,,ocra,ic committee did strike such
- upon making similar announce
mt Mr. Hilles. In statement put
-,,,..lf on record to this effect:
The acting chairman OF the Democrats W..
National Committee made stdlelnentt -
,a,,,iv 10 the effect that that coIniiittve
c'nHS uI,hIish campaign fund contripu-
49,, nrior TO the election. he wac
tlonf himself on the back because lie
60 Voluntarily virtuous. -.,.f.. ,-o-
a a matter Of fact, the Ia" WniCn ~ a.
L. for publicity OF contributions ~
Sonoressional elections IL so genera an ar
Cbain,, I'm lis character that IL coinpels
Suhitcitv OF all contributions usue
,,,rnos. OF influencing elections a.
the "'p5onressntstiyes In Congress are
Ehl,ad and provides that the term po-
h.Ti committee" under the PROVISIONS
~ ~ ,he act shall include the nauohIii
Committees OF all political parties as W.
.. the national Congressional coi'''i"'
,rbis lazy requires the treasurer OF ever
,.oiiticaI committee 10 file In the once Oh
,he clerk OF the House or itsPIeS 'aI,S.s =
lives a detailed statement OF al -. -
mot more than fifteen days ahu NJ 49,
~ zen days prior to an election.
Tbts act approved by President IsI'
t,st Year. will govern the Republican Na
tIonal Committee and, apparently, t., 80
govern all other nauonal comm 80, -
without the hope or eAp ,s a. ,hs voting
considered super-virtuous by the 'o''ie
public.
William @ McAdoo. acting chairman Oh
the Democratic National Committee
made the following answer TO the state
ment ISSUED by Mr.. Hilles:
In the present temper OF the American
p,ople il Is better to be over Nlrtuous
than under viftuous In the publication oi
campaign contributions 80.
The act OF Congress does not prohlpit
the publication Of campaign FUNDS prior
10 the fifteen days before election ias
required in the acU, ana any campalsI II
committee may, Of course, take shelter
under this act. IL IL wants to avoid taklns
the public into it's confidence as 10 the
people standing back OF that particular
committee. ~
The decision OF the Democratic Ma
tional Committee To begin publishing the
sources OF all campaign contributions on
the 10th Of September was MADE, not IoI
the purpose OF being virtuous, but tor
the purpose of responding to the over
wheifning public sentiment which de-
mands that there shall be no conceal
mcnt at any time during the campaign
OF the sources OF political contributions.
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