Evening star., 1915-01-05
|REFORMERS ASSA|L
| LIQUOR AND TRUSTS
Conference Speakers Decry
Them as Foes of Popular
Government.
URGE FEDERAL CORRUPT =,
PRACTICE LEGISLATION
Declare Patronage as Well as Money
Is Used to Thwart Will
of the People.

Denunciation of the liquor traffic and
of big business interests as the primer
pal foes of popular government in the
United States featured the morning
session of the last day of the second
national conference on popular gov
ernment held at the Willard under the
auspices of the Popular Government
League The meeting occupied ltsei1
with a discussion of the urgent need
for an effective federal corrupt prac-
tices act, speakers representing sew
eral states detailing the results in those
states of the absence of such effective
legislation. Owing to the absence OF
Senator owen of Oklahoma, the presl-
dent, the chair was occupied by Juuson
King, executive secretary OF the 'of-
ganization.
That as sunlight is the cure Tor lu-
berculosis, SO it is for pubic corrup
tion and debauchery, and that one Word
-"Penroseism"-sum up the Whoie
trouble in Pennsylvania, was the
declaration of Representative M. Clyoe
Kelly of that state.
"Pennsylvania," he said. although
once in the forefront of the struggle
for popular government, has become
scof1ing and a by-word. At the lowest
estimate a million and half dol!ars
it's borders to defeat popular govern
ment, and that money came In tne
main from two sources-the liquor m
terests and the corporations desiring
special privileges We must nave
measure. different from the Rucker
bill, by which no candidate can re-
ceived a certificate of election until 1T
is absolutely certain that the law mas
been complied with to the letter. the
biggest single question in Pennsyl-
iC
Liquor Trafic's Part.
J. H. McGill of Indiana coincided with
Mr.. Kelly In his views as to the very
serious part the liquor traffic plays IN
defeating popular government
after years of experience" he declared,
1T sometimes wonder whether we can
abolish the saloon by popular government
or whether by abolishing the saloon we
can gain popular government"
Miss Janet Richards of this city, one OF
the vice presidents OF the league. was
called upon by Chairman King to discuss
certain phases of the very successful
British corrupt practices act
in the United Kingdom" said Miss
Richards, "the candidate, among other re-
strictions, is held strictly accountable for
the actions of his agent, as was distinctly
not the case in the Lorimer investigation
by the Senate.
The candidate Is forbidden to treat
prospective constituents to liquid re-
freshments, and in case Of any con-
tention over the result of an election
the case is decided by the local courts
and not by parliament at the time and
expense Of the whole nation.
Patronage as q Corrupter.
Not only the power of money counts
in Indiana" remarked the third speak
er, Theodore F. Theme of that COM
monwealth, but that Of the promise
of Office in nearly as great a degree"
That in his state, as exemplified in
the recent elections. the art of mold
ing the public opinion has to large
extent replaced the use of money it
self in defeating the aims of friends
Of popular government, was the state
ment of William ]. Macdonald, repre-
sentative from Michigan.
For those with whom neither method
can obtain, open coercion is reserved"
said Mr.. Macdonald. but in that state
the avenues of publicity are controlled
by the interests opposed to popular gov
ernment as they never were before"
W. ]. Ogden of Baltimore. member OF
the senate of the state of Maryland, dis
cussed the advisability of the absolute
elimination of money from all political
campaigns, declaring that he believed
that 1t is impossible to draw up cor
rupt practices act that will not be
evaded If money Is permitted to be
spent at all.