The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-07-11
Corrupt Practices Act IN Effect
legaIizes Bossism.
MANAGER NOW A NECESSITY
Alone Given Right to Maintain Head.
quarters, Employ Help and In
cur Other Expenses.
Especial Correspondence.)

Especial Correspondence)
st. Paul, July 9.-You fellows who
nave been crying out against the boss
you whose every effort has been di
rected at curtailing the activities OF
this pestiferous cuss; you who fought
for primary law and later saw it ex
tended so as to take in the state al
large, what would you say if 1 told
you that the latest in progressive leg.
lslation for Minnesota practically lie.
galizes bossism? It does, and further.
more it makes bossism q recognized
procession. If you want to run for
office under the latest thing in. prima.
ries and not go counter to the most
drastic corrupt practices act yet
known, you must have a manager or
a personal campaign committee. It
is impossible to avoid the affection
and it applies to the humblest office
on the list as we'll as the best the
state has to offer. This little joker in
the law was discovered. the other day
and while the state legal department
would not give its official sanction to
the extent of an opinion Secretary of
State Schmahl thought enough of it to
order a large number of blanks for
the use of candidates in making affi-
davits of campaign managers or per-
sonal committees as required by the
law. The niger in the woodpile is
found in sections 16 and II of the
corrupt practices act relating to what
constitutes a legal expenditure. Can
didates may spend money for travel
Ing expenses, postage and telegraph;
rent halls for public speaking, pay
speakers and even hire musicians.
Several other minor expenditures are
permitted, but there is nothing re-
gardlng the maintenance of headquar-
tiers, clerical help or the various other
things generally recognized as need
full and perfectly legitimate in connec-
ton with the average campaign. Do
ing other than what the new law pro-
vldes, and especially that relating to
expenditures, constitutes a
criminal offense and it is here where
the managerial game comes in. Under
section II political managers or per-
sonal committees are recognized and
strange to relate expenditures that a
man as a candidate cannot incur are
permitted in the case of his manager.
II he has any. He or a committee can
maintain political headquarters, he
may employ clerical help, have stenog-
raphers and incur other expenses de-
MED the individual candidate, so you
see it you are a candidate and want to
play safe you simply have to hav We a
manager. l may not have made the
new order of things perfectly plain,
but if you are in doubt just read the
law.
Campaign expense accounts, with
W. E. Lee, S. Y. Gordon and 1. c.
Spooner as the names attached II the
affidavits filed, were features of the
political happenings at the state CAPT.
toll. All three are candidates fol the
nomination for governor.
The expense accounts as filed were
the first efforts toward a compliance
with the new corrupt practices act.
Mr.. Lee acknowledged to a pertonal
expenditure of $40 odd, Mr. Sptoner
about half that amount and 8. Y. IGor-
don trifle over $500. Each CAV. the
names of those composing his cam
pa1gn committee. The law specifics
minute details in the filing of expense
lists, which must be made one a
month, but it must be said that the
filed were not any too exact
In that respect. The absence OF the
proper blanks was given as excuse.
The third party movement is now
on, but as pointed out in a pre- ious
letter there is no unusual scrambe on
the part of the politicians to get
aboard. 1t is hardly possible thai the
will get beyond the naion-
Al stage. Hugh T. Halbert is lush
ing the Roosevelt cause in the Fourth
district and has perfected an orgaaiza-
ton, but it alone has the boards In a
boom way. Lieutenant Governor Cor
don gave evidence of where he Aood
the early part of the week by accom-
panying the filing of his candidacy
with a statement in which he reteat-
cd his previous stand on the preshe
ual question. He gave it out cold that
he was not for Mr.. Taft and he ddied
the right of any one to question his
Republicanism because of that act.
E. T. Young, who is expected to- file
this week, went Mr.. Gordon one bet
ter. He practically came out with well
wishes for Woodrow Wilson, the en-
ecratic nominee, making the pointShat
the New Jersey man offered solution
Of the problem for those who cluld
not stomach the alleged high ha1led
action of the Chicago convention. fhe
third party movement did not APPEAL
to him. It would avail honest process
sives nothing, he said.
!. i.
How Lieutenant Governor Gorion
could practically deny the natihal
candidate and yet file as a Republican