The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-30
FROM OTHER PENS

| COMBATING CORRUPT PRACTICES
10 the progress made by congress
| during the last two years in legisla-
tlon 20 prevent corrupt practices in
poiltlcaI campaigns will perhaps be
added further progress at this session
OF congress. The house has passed a
Dill requiring publicity of money con-
tr1butions received and used on be-
halt OF candidates seeking party nomi-
presidency.
1t is generally agreed that congress
TOOK a wise step forward when, in the
summer of 1910, it enacted the meas
ure forcing national committees of Ali
political parties and the national con-
gressional campaign committees of all
polltlcal parties and all committees
| associations or organizations which
shaH in two or more states influence
the result or attempt to influence the
result of a congressional election" to
make public after elections the
amounts contributed and by whom
ana for what purposes they were dis
The force of public opinion was
powerfully exercised on congress a
year later, to such good effect that
the law was extended to include can
dldates for the United States senate
By amendments passed at that time II
is also required that publicity of re-
celpts and expenditures shall be made
both before and after elections and
candidates
mouse or senate are interested: that
there must be included in these public
statements all promises or pledges of
appointments to positions of trust
honor or profit; that the candidates
themselves shall render statements in
addition to those of committees work
ing in their behalf and that $4,000
and $40, 600, respectively, shall be the
maximum sums and senatorial candi-
dates outside of personal expenses.
such as travelling, stationery, postage.
telegraph and telephone service and
distributing circulars and posters.
NOW 1t is proposed to extend some
what similar requirements as to pub
licity of receipts and expenditures in
the primary campaigns Of candidates
for the presidency or the vice presi-
dency. The ACTION of the house in
passing the bill follows closely upon
charges that very considerable sums
are being spent on behalf of presiden-
tial candidates in order that conven-
ton delegates may be secured by them.
All intelligent legislation tending to
prevent corrupt practices in political
campaigns will receive the hearty sup
port OF public opinion.-ChicaE
News.
WILL THEY HAVE TO PAY7
The savage massacre of the French in
Tangier bears all the earmarks OF the
first outbreak of the Sepoy mutinv in
India. 1t is a rebellion of the brown
skinned races against the white. No
fighting is more cruel than this His
tory has proved it over and over again.
There can be no question that Franco
owes to Italy this sudden onslaught
upon her troops in Fee. For the italian
adventure in Tripoh has excited to an
degree the AIohammedan
hatred of the Christian. The bitter re-
sentiment of the Arabs in the Tripolitan
deserts has swept over into the sphere
of French influence, from which. in
deed, only a wavering and imaginary
line separates them.
Is this symptom of further trouble
for the white masters of Africa and
India? Are the great colonial powers.
after all, to pay some price for their
weak acquiescence in the italian land
grab ?-Chicago Post.