The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-10-04
POLITICAL PUBLICITY VS..
PRESIDENTIAL PATRONAGE

lican Publicity Association, through
it's President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne,
Jr., today gave OUT the following
statement at its Washington Head
quarters:
whatever amount of money may
have been spent by candidates for Re-
publican Senatorial nominations in
Michigan, it is readily apparent that
in behalf of none of them was there
exerted as baneful as dangerous and
as corrupting an influence as was ex-
erted in behalf of the Democratic NOM
inee, who, according to press reports,
says that he spent no money at all.
"The President of the United States
sent out the word that he wanted Hen
ny Ford nominated for u. S. Senator.
The civilian employees of the Govern
ment thereby received notice that it
would be pleasing to the administra-
ton if they exerted themselves in be-
half of Ford. There is no available
information as to the exact number of
Federal employees in Michigan, but if
the total number of such employees be
in proportion to the population, the
number is more than 10000, with an
aggregate annual compensation of
more than $12,000,000.
"In view of the active interest the
heads of most of the Departments have
taken in politics, and in view of the
efforts the administration has made
in the past five years to fill all the
offices with deserving democrats no
one will doubt that the word from the
White House vitalized the $12,000,000
Federal organization with its person.
mel of 10000. Thus Mr.. Ford had the
aid of an organization already in ex-
istence, possessing the prestige of
official power and naturally afraid to
go counter to the wishes of the Execu-
tive. While there were probably no
direct orders and no threats, there was
in effect a species of intimidation and
improper interference with the free
exercise of political judgment. No
president of the United States can sew
err his personal and his official identi-
ties. No President can speak as Pres
ident Wilson spoke without his words
being in effect an order to the employ
ees who depend upon his partisan cab
met their positions and promotions.
Coercion strikes at the foundation of
popular government, whatever form
that coercion may take.
"The total expenditure in behalf of
the man who secured the Republican
nomination was 10000, all but about
100000 of which was spent for news
paper advertising. Assuming that this
advertising space was used to state
facts regarding the personal qualifi-
cations and political principles of the
aspirant, there was no coercion, no
bribery, no improper influence in that
expenditure. There is nothing injuri-
Gus to popular government in 'pitiless
publicity. In state with 100000
voters, and with rent, travelling ex-
penses, music, lights, kilograms, ETC.,
to pay for, the remaining $4,000
could not have been used corruptly.
"No one will dispute the assertion
that $4,000 is too large an amount
to be spent in any ordinary. campaign.
On the other hand, no fair-minded
man will dispute the assertion that
the only way to stand ghost of a
chance to defeat a man with a $4,000
600 machine and 10000 personnel,
is to spend sufficient sum to let the
people have the facts. The sum of
$24, 900, 100000 is too much money to
spend in one year in war, but the only
TIMES EIGHT
way to beat the Hun is to spend it.
The people of Michigan were con-
fronted with the task of beating at
tempted dictatorship and if they &C
complished nothing else by the ex-
penditure of $4,000, they contribut-
ed to a worthy patriotic cause, and
should be accorded the plaudits of all
who desire the perperuaclon Of free in
stitutons Any man who won't spend
his money to protect free government
from its enemies is unworthy of citi-
zenship, Any man who tries to exer-
else dictatorship over elections GER
tainly becomes thereby an enemy of
free government
eff the republican form of govern
ment in the United States is yielding
place to dictatorship, then the people
should be informed of the transition
and aroused to the necessity for
prompt exercise of that eternal vigil
lance and courageous self-assertion
which are the price of continued lib
erty."