Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-06
EVERY PENNY or SItSH FUND
TRACED no DESTINATION

L
TRACED no DESTINATION
Describing the citizens ri the COM
nnunity among which this condition
arose as among the bcttcr class. Judge
Blair explained how. "ith tho awak-
ching Of The sense OF the iSnominy OF
their positions. one by one these
ph loans came into court. confessed to
their obliquity and accepted the loss
of citizenship as punishment. He said
that every penny OF $4,000 sush
fund WAY traced To its destination IN
tho course of the proceedings looking
to the punishment of these Adar.s
election frauds.
Judge Blair Is optimistic for the fu-
turc, and described the conditions IN
the one time banner corruption cuun-
ty or The United states as Glenn and
pure and fire." from bribery and cor
ruptlon ~ amy community IN the land.
William Church Osborne talked OF
conditions in New York. He asserted
that election frauds and corruption
both were prcvcntable with adequate
publicity 10. the campaign expenses OF
tho parties and strict enforcement OF
the law with fines and punishmonta
for offenders commensurate with tho
gravity OF the ohensc OF buying or
selling votes.
But" said MIR. OSBORNE, mo l.w
viii he self-executory. and the pres.
cnt state of public opinion is such that
tho regular officers OF the law arc nc:
inclined to punish such offenders un-
less substantial body of private citi-
zens puts In energy. time aud money
III 4 determined effort 10 expose condi-
tions and rouse punlc sentiment 10
tho state where public officers regard
their duty In the prosecution OF cleo
ton cases as At least equal 10 their
prosecution or ordinary Offenders
against the crimina! code
Scoring tho present Federal Law re.
1uirinE publicity for campaign con
,r!butions AS quite worthless" SEN
ator Owen. Of Oklahoma At the OPEN
ing session to-day. said he has infor-
nation OF an Instance in the last pres
idcntial election in which one citizen
gave 100000 TO another citizen hold
ing high public Office for campaign
contribution. 10 which no publicity was
given or intended to be given"
Senator Owen estimated that $500
900 had been spent III 1916 for innu-
encinS tho elections. and said that
Ss.00o.010 OF that sum passed through
the hands of one man without pub
LEFTY.
The corrupt practices bill, which was
reported To tho Senate yesterday, was
the general subject OF discussion at
this mornings session OF the confer
cncc. which continued this afternoon
aud evening. and which Will hold
morning. afternoon and evening Ses-
sions tomorrow.
Senator owen :.nalyZed the corrupt
practices act now pending in the Sen
ate. and said. in part:
The government of the United states
has its statute books so-calIed
publicity of campaign contributions act
AN act which is itself quite worth
less. II prctends to require publicity.
when. in fact. il does not require pub
Lefty. 1t is merely a cloak which may
cover fraud
The representatives OF the people
OF the United states in Congress al
ready very well know where to draw
the line at which their government
shall be protected from corruption and
they will draw it now in Congress by
the passage Of this corrupt practices
act. Hy tho passage of this act we
shall sec another step taken to cstab-
lish the great ideal Of tho National
Popular Government Lcacue-an ideal
which will he found written in the Fill
Of Rights of every ono Of tho forty.
eight states. without 4 single cXccp-
tion-the sovereignty Of tho people
Just now VIC see the amazing thing
tina, tho railroad presidents OF the
United states. controlling the entire
transportation system OF this gigantic
republic. are giving public notice that
they will not obey the laws IA sscd by
tho representatives OF ln0.000.0o0 pco-
pie. until nine gentlemen. appointed for
life to the highest Federal court. who
are not responsible to anybody except
their own opinions. shall have said
what the law is.
Some power must be charged with
the responsibility Of saying whit Is or
Is not constitutional. That power Is
vested In the Congress OF tho United
States. and is not vested In any court