The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-31
Publication of Politics

The publication of politics has kent
pace with the reforms already mentioned.
few years ago great senator declared
that purity in politics was an irridescent
dream. That was back in the DAYS when
Wall street nominated both candidates,
financed both campaigns took mortgage
on both administrations and then said:
"They are both good men; no matter
which wins, the people lose" But when
the voters learned where the money came
from and why it was given they de-
manded remedy and a law was passed
making it criminal offense for any cor
poration to contribute to national cam
paign fund. This was a great step in ad-
vance, but it was not enough. Then came
the demand for publicity as to individual
contributions, and we secured first q
law requiring publicity after the election
and, later, a law requiring publicity he
fore the election. But even this was not
all that was needed and the House of
Representatives has gone three steps fur
ther in the matter of publicity. The first
asks the President to make public the
recommendation, written and verbal.
upon which he appoints United States
judges; the second extends the publicity
law to the period before the conventions
In order that the public may know what
contributions are made to secure nomi-
nations; and the third, still more impor-
tant, finally law, requires newspapers
to tell their readers who owns the papers.
1t is strange that we have been so slow
in extending publicity to the newspapers,
the agent of publicity, but the people
have at last applied the pure food law to
our newspaper diet Predatory interests
are now compelled to put the label,
Poison" on their editorials when they
purchase newspapers for the purpose of
influencing public opinion.
We have made progress too. in the
matter of taxation and the states have
already ratified the amendment to the
constitution specifically authorizing the
income tax.
Our nation is as "a city set upon a HILL
as "a light that cannot be hid.p That
which is done here is soon known every
where and has its influence for veal or
woe. Every reformer ia Asia knows our
Declaration Of Independence by heart, un-
derstands our constitution and follows
our laws. In South America they watch
our movements even more closely.
What glorious destiny God has re-
served to our nation. What a privilege
to be a citizen in a land that is the torch
bearer among the nations, the path
finder for the world. And with this priv
ilege what a responsibility
The question that would burn into
your minds and hearts and carry with
me ever is this: the world is moving for
ward, our nation leading the way; It is
moving forward in intelligence; have we
done all in our power to advance the
worlds intelligence? 1t is moving for
ward in morals; have we done all in our
power to lift the moral standards of our
communities, our states, our nation and
the world? 1t is moving forward in the
application of the principles of popular
government to government have we done
all in our power to make our government
each day more nearly government of
the people. by the people and for the peo-
pie? And, If we have not lived up to our
great opportunities and responsibilities,
will we listen to the pleading voice that
comes to us from the battlefield of Get
tysburg? In that wonderful grafton on
that memorable occasion Lincoln referred
to an unfinished task to which those there