The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-20
Governors Friends In Letters
Appealing for Cash Express
Willingness to Violate Cor
rupt Practice Act
PLAN COULD COVER UP
GIFTS FROM McNAUGHTON
Law-Defying Scheme Barred
\ When Personal Note Falls
Into Progressive's Hands

When certain wealthy members Of
the progressive wing OF the Demo
cratic party folded their tents and
went home. after the Democratic state
convention here. In which the steam
roller was run over the progressives
and the machine crowt ran things
like clock-work, one Of the alienated
Democrats made ilis remark: I'VE
have furnished abou- 90 per cent Of
the campaign funds In the past.
wonder what the Ferris campaign
Committee will do for cash this Year,
4 The answer to nis query takes the
form or q letter, issued by the Fer
IRIS for governor committee" an az
Igregation OF eminenciy regular gen
Itlcmen. who are making frantic up
Ipeal for money for the Ferris cam
|pa.en. The appeal 10 supposed 10 be
ICent to the faithful. hut me OF the
Iccmmittee's letters. with supplement
Ital personal letter siSnod by one OF
the committeeman, reached prog-es'
Isive Democrat. VINO turned H. over 70
The Times.
In view OF the fact tnat Michigan
has q very stringent erection law,
known as the corrup. ,rsessce sct
the following excerp. from the per
sonal letter, supplemental 10 the com
mittee letter, Is interesting:
! trust that ! may interest you
20 give this appealing letter imme-
diats attention. and respond by
sending me q check for what you
feel you can afford 70 subscribe
toward the cause, AND iF YOU
PREFER THAT YOUR NAME BE
NOT PUBLISHED. YOUR
WISHES WILL Be COMPLIED
WITH.
This is the way q part of the cor
fupt practice law reads:
Sec. 4. Every candidate and
every treasurer OF . political com
mIttee shall, within 10 days after
any primary election, caucus or
convention. and again within 20
days after any general election,
whether state, county, city, ms-
nicipal, township or district cleo
tion. In ar concerning which he
shall have received or dlsbursed
any money, prepare and HE In the
once OF the county clerk Of the
county In which such candidate
Or treasurer resides. full, true
and detailed aecoVnt and stste-
msnt subscribed and sworn TO BY
him before an OFFICER authorixsd TO
administer oaths, setting forth
each and every sum Of money re-
esIvsd or disbursed by him for
nomination or election expenses,
the date Of each receipt, the name
Of the person from whom receIv-
ID or 20 whom paid, and the per
con 10 whom and object or pur-
pose for which DISTURBED. Such
statements shall also set forth
the unpaid debts and obligations,
II any Of such candidate or oom-
mIttss, Incurred for the purposes
ct forth In section three OF this
oct, with the nature and amount
o. each, and TO whom owing, In
detail, and 10 there are no such
unpaid debts or obligations Of
such candidate or committee,
such statement shall state such
fact.
That law II designed to allow the
|beople to see what interests or per.
Sons are supporting q candidate. fnan-
bially, and how strongly.
The letter, however, intimates that
knyone who cares to make q contri.
button and does not care to have his
name revealed. may do 90. Car Nc
Naughton. Of the Copper country.
|might be included In the contributors;
home breweries and public service
Corporations might wish to make sub
tantial gifts.
The Law. again. says:
Gee. 9. All such accounts shaii
Be open 20 public inspection In the
eHIces whore they are filed and
shall Be carefully preserved there
for 4 period Of one year, and 70
shaIl be the duty Of the officers
havlno custody Of che Same 20 Give
certified copies In like manner -
81 ether public records.
or course, the Ferris for governor
bommittee" IL not the state central
COMMITTEES, being merely an organi-
kation Of citizens friendly to the gov
brnor. But--here comes the law
kgain:
Sec. n. No person who 10 not
\ candidate. or the treasurer Of q
polltIcai committee. ehaII pay,
Give Or lend, or agree 70 pay,
ave or lend. any money whsthsr
contributed BY himssf or BY any J
ether person, for any election ex-
pensee Whatever. except 20 . can
dldats or 70 q political eommltfss.
Sec. r. No person shalI make
paymsnt Of HE own money Or :
o. another's money % any person
n connection with nomination
or election tn any other name than