The sun., 1912-07-21
BY WALTER WELLMAN.

THIS years Presidential battle
is'to he extraordinary in more
waysthan one. After it is over and
tho smoke has cleared from the
field it will not be necessary for the treas
urerr TO burn their books and forget
tho figures. This il TO he n campaign or
daylight political fln9nciering; the era of
darkness and secrecy has passed.
Money which in our day has bought
at least one Presidency, and possibly more
than one. is TO be of smaller importance.
10 far IA direct effect upon the result 10
concerned. than ever before. All the Pres
identinl campaicners will have TO get
along with smaller war chests than usual.
There is now no opportunity for the arising
of another Zachariah Chandler. Mark
Hanna or William {. Whitney.
Campaign funds will be small because
old bugaboos have been dispelled by ad-
vancing public opinion and better politi-
cal methods. Corporations and rich men
need no longer submit to indirect black
mail by both parties. Individuals may
contribute as much az they like. with
the satisfaction Of seeing their names
In the newspapers for their pains.
Already the campaign managers are
Ill
funds. Men Of money. Interested in cor
porations and large affairs. no longer get
nervous when the boss or the solicitor
comes around they only smile. The
Wilson people announce that they will
I've happy II they can raise modest five
hundred or six hundred thousand dollars.
and most Of that they expect to come in
driblets from the patriots. They have
no quarter million August Belmont on
their staff this year.
How In the world the managers Of the
dropping Taft candidacy are going to
raise even one half Of hah million 1t
il difficult to see and brother Charles.
10 whom in William HIS opinion Col.
Roosevelt stood next" in point of infu
once in 1908. will probably have to como
down with the greater part of it. as usual.
The Roosevelt coterie. alone of the rival
cAr,ps, has no troubles in it's financial
department. and the problem is not how to
get the money but now to get results for 1t.
This il the year Of the new rlles In the
national game. For the first time a
Presidential election ia to be held under
a Federal campaign fund publicity law.
That statute is now in force. though
not every one appears to know 1t. 1t
requires publication before election o!
all campaign subscriptions for national
purposes. and publication after election
OF al campaign disbursements.
II Is true the law is not quite as strong
rs j. should be- and efforts are still being
made at Nashinst to strengthen II be-
fore the adjournment OF Congress. BY a
rigid interpret alton of its terms as 1t
., Ix- frih ft6r "A
luado To Congressional campaign COM
mitteeas and TO expenditures by such COM
rrittees both before and after election.
l'ut rs the purpose OF the law was to
control all national political committees.
and as the Supreme Court has held in the
Seibold cass that "a national and State
election held at the same time consti-
tute one election it is believed the statute
applies TO all committees operating in
Two ar more States. whether their pro-
eessed effort il to secure the choice OF
Congressman or Presidential electors.
Public opinion il stronger than the
statute. and public opinion il well aroused
on that subject this year. Even if Con-
Sress shall fail TO strengthen the letter
Of tho act it is pretty safe TO say its spirit
will be observed by all the national candi-
dates and committees. He will be a bold
Presidential candidate or reckless party
mana ger who seeks to secure advantage
by a technicality and deies public opinion
by withholding publication Of income be-
fore election day or outgo after the bal
loting. In fact all Of the candidates and
parties are now virtually pledged TO con
formance with the spirit OF the law. and
public opinion may be depended upon to
secure observance of its letter.
What change from the old days!
We do not need to dcludc ourselves with
the notion that the millennium has come,
that money has lost all OF its magic. or
that all improper use of it has ceased,
Hut with this new order of things, with
publicity, with contributors freed from
yNrt = backmail. with penal corrupt prac-
-ice laws 40 severe throughout the coun-
Yry that n Minnesota candidate the other
day asked the prosecuting attorney II
he dared give away lead pencil with
his name printed on it or buy campaign
cigar for one OF his henchmen. and with
public opinion standing watchfuly by to
see that all laws are enforced and all the
guilty arc punished, the American people
need not fear that their history is again
in danger OF being tarniAhed by a Presi-
rency purchased with filthy lucre or de-
,ermined by the power of corrupt votes
or crooked returns.
10 you know that this very thing ha,
already happened twice in recent years.
Tint two mon elected to the Presidency
hv the fair votes OF tho people. rightly
counted. did not get tho Office. and two
,uer not actually and fairly elected die
ret if
Ono oS these cases is Of course vel
known and unmistaklble. II set thu
country by the ears. and tho wonder /!
that there was not bloodshed about it
To-day few men OF good knowledge ol
memory deny that Tilden was elected
President in 1870 and should have beer
seated Even Republicans admit II; th'
fact, are In history. That was thirty
ak years ago; the younger generation o
sthis day has no ca OF the bitterness
and turmoil and danger OF that episode
liut in time il all smoothcd out; the nut
tcrings OF violence ceased. Henry Wattcr
son changed his mind bout marchin,
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