The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-10-02
RESULTS OF THE CAMPAIGN FUND
INQUIRY.

INQUIRY.
1t was not a very lofty motive that inspired the
campaign fund investigation now in progress under
direction of the Clapp committee; but there is already
plenty Of evidence that ii Is going to produce some
most useful results albeit not exactly the results that
the insigators Of the inquest hoped for.
1t was hoped to involve Colonel Roosevelt in
suspicion of discredtable transactions That was the
real motive. With some people dead who might
have told things in his favor, and other people alive
who we're willing to handle facts with a very free
hand in the effort to injAre him, the plan was to
smirch the former President
That part Of the project has sadly failed; but in
other and unexpected ways the probe has brought
most excellent results. For one thing, it has demon
strated clearly than ever before, how intimately
the great affairs Of the whole nation tied up with
the dirty sordid jobbery Of local politics in corrupt
communities. II has given an intimate view Of the
close relationship between the Quay-Penrose ma
chine In the two great cities Of Pennsylvania the
legislature at Harrisburg, and those influences that
control in national affairs. 1t has brought forth
startling details of fact about the cost Of running
politics. and made clearer than ever the reasons why
interests are willing to invest great amounts in
order to control.
The corrupt municipal government we know very
ment Democratic Tammany and Republican Phila.
delpha and Pittsburgh both illustrate this but never
before has so clear view Of the situation been pro-
duced as this which is being developed the screen
that the Clapp committee has hung up for it.
Every machine Of corruption is hooked up with all
the Others No department Of affairs is exempt from
the bghting influence. 1t takes money in vast sums
to fight even comparatively unknown machine in
an obscure city. The machine makes its money Out
of its CONTROL and can afford to spend 1t keeping
that CONTROL The forces that work for decent gov
eminent have nothing to make out Of their success
il occasionally they succeed that be precptatet
into campaign funds for pressing the fight. So re-
form is sporadic and intermittent.
The whole business of using money in politics
demands reform. Publicity is the first step towarc
getting that reform. The Senate investigation is pro
ducing measure of publicity that is already giving
the reading public fit Of nausea The next ster
must be legislation primary acts corrupt practice:
laws, short-ballot measures, and the like, that viii
make it easier for the people to get what they want
and harder for the bosses to control. These thing
are coming. They have been brought incomparabl,
nearer by reason Of the great revolt which the Pro
gressive party is leading They represent the frs
long step toward eliminating the rule OF graft ant
privilege.
Treasurer Hooker, of the Progressive nationa
committee made an effective point when he nance
the amounts that were used in behalf Of Colone
Roosevelt in the primary fights in Illinois, Maine
Maryland, and other States, and pointed out tina
these ptfully small sums had been adequate to vii
for the man whom the people wanted, simply because
the people, armed with the primary, did the business
The bosses couldn't run the primaries and the peop
got square deal
This is telling refutaton Of the charge, dshon
estly made and constantly emphasized, that the pri
mary is bad because too expensive. Senator Finn
who knows what practical politics costs and has BEEF
giving some fetching data on the subject wants rea
primaries in Pennsylvania, as means to ending tn
corruption. Every State will get them before man
more years. The primary and corruption issues viii
be at the front in the legislatures of many States tn
coming WINTER and it is most fortunate that the nee
of such measures is being emphasized at this time b
the investigation now in progress