Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-21
Turn on the Light.

the light thereof a plain duty for the American
people-the national scandal of colossal campaign
funds and the imperative necessity of their being
hereafter held within reasonable bounds and guild
ed strictly into legitimate channels.
From being merely scandals in the past, these
funds have now come to stand revealed for what
they have always really been-a most imminent
menace to the life of the Republic and the free
rule of the people. They have been revealed so
sharply that no citizen, matter how indifferent
he may be, can fail to the revelation and under
stand it's meaning.
This instance must be cited. For the campaign
just closed the Republican committee has reported
and it is not done reporting-the expenditure OF
$2,868,677 And this takes account of the huge
that have been lavished upon affiliated al
liances and special committees operating in the
country at large and in individual states Nor does
this include heavy expenditures by individuals for
which accounting also is required by present
provisions of law. pent-up food of gold has
thus been turned loose, such the American
people have never known before.
So here we go, unlimited millions poured into
the country at large into states into districts into
counties into Cities into voting precincts, to turn
an election, which close that the turn
thereof depended upon the vote of few states, a
few districts, a few counties, few voting pre-
cncts The American people a nation are un-
purchasable but unlimited corruption fund Hood
ing a restricted section district may serve TO
sway the tide and defeat the will of the people-a
thing that we as American citizens must prepare
against zealously we would arm to defend our
country and homes from foreign invasion.
The era of Hannaism has passed. 1t must never
be allowed to return. Big business and big wealth
has been shown it cannot control this country. 1t
must now be shown and shown in terms that cut,
that it cannot corrupt it, The department of justice
at Washington is busy upon the trail OF those VINO
have committed frauds i'll connection with the pal
loting during the recent election, or who have in
any way trespassed upon the sanctity of the ballot
box. This activity is most commendable, but it
will fall far short if it brings to justice only the
petty offender. Penitentary stripes upon the back
of some higher-up handler of a corruption fund
would be a most salutary object lesson. 1t would
make clearer and purer the political atmosphere
for decades to come. 1t would render obsolete the
fear, seemingly increasing, that, when the result
of an election in some particular state or city is
announced it may not be the voice of the people
expressing itself but money talking. The tongue of
money that makes itself thus vocal must be cut
out. 1t must be rendered dumb and impotent in
the sanctuary of the American electorate.
Plans for a senatorial investigation into the
misuse of money in the last campaign already
under way. The machinery of the probe is to be
provided as soon as congress meets next December.
It should receive the plaudis of citizens of every
party The light must be turned and malefac-
tors discovered and punished. The devious course
of corruption money must be laid bare to the gaze
of the nation. The harm it has done and can do
must stand forth clearly, that the nation may
sit in judgment and hand out it's contempt and
it's scorn and mete out appropriate punishment to
traitors who would beray who would defle it at its
very fountain head, the ballot box.
&c
itures are few and we'll recognized. They have to
do chiefly with publicity work, the arranging of
meetings and rallies, the expenses of speakers and
executive Office work. 1t is expensive business
at best and. therefore, all the more reason for
holding the expenses to these uses alone The pur-
pose of any campaign only be to attain free dis
cussion and full publicity for the and measures
advocated When that has been accomplished the
campaign is at an end and there should end all
expenditures connected with it.
We have offered this suggestion before and we
offer it again Perhaps the time has come when
the government itself should assume far closer
oversight over the conduct of political campaigns
than it does The government may have to
appropriate out Of its treasury a reasonable sum
for legitimate campaign purposes for all the par
ties t the quadrennial contest and then allow no
other funds whatever to be used. 1t should call
for statements of campaign disbursements both
during and after the campaign and should see to
It at all times, by proper methods of inspection
that the funds going to legitimate uses uses
About which there can be suspicion of faint
This we commend to the serious consideration of
our readers everywhere in the light of the serious
situation that here confronts the Republic.
For we are, indeed, called to a solemn duty
The American people are growing more and more
impatient at the constant of the scandal
of corruption funds in their political life. Good
citizens everywhere should, therefore, commend
and heartily support the probe begun at Washing
ton. They should insist that 1t be pushed to full
conclusion. The American nation must take hold
of this menace to free government firmly and hand
ling it firmly and heroically end it once for ALL