New-York tribune., 1920-06-24
Bringing Back Corruption

Bringing Back Corruption
Most of those who have rallied
against the expenditures Of the
Wood committee are, Of course, in
sincere. They are hypocrites whose
indignation is of a mock character,
or they are partisans who deem
that in politics the end justifies the
means.
But caught in the motley con-
spiracy are doubtless some who are
honestly indignant because a million
dollar fund was raised. These think
they are opposing corruption. To
this minority, we'll meaning but de-
ceived, let us address some questions.
Do they appreciate the inevitable
consequences of so stigmatizing pub
LEFTY expenditures as to make cam
didates and their friends unwilling
to embark on them? Are they
aware what it means to forbid or
greatly to limit contributions? Don't
they understand what they really
advocate? Don't they know the eff
feet of preventing men publicly
helping causes in which they are
patriotically Interested?
They are not fighting corruption,
but trying to bring corruption back.
There are but two ways of achev-
ing nominations-the one that pre-
vailed when the old-fashioned con-
vention met and the one that has
secured partial dominance with the
development of the primary system.
To oppose the use of methods which
are essential to the primary system
if it is to function is to oppose the
system itself, and this is to labor for
the return Of its alternative.
The gasoline of the primary sys-
tenn is publicity. Without this fuel
it stops. Those who believe in a
particular candidate must advertise
the reasons for their faith Only
SO can there be intelligent popular
choice.
And publicity costs money. A mill
ion dollars is not much to spend in
a nationwide effort. With 2O,O00,-
900 voters it is only a nickel each,
or the price of preparing and mail
ing one circular.
1t follows that to condemn large
campaign funds fatty is to seek to
restore the old crookedness. Muddlec
moralsts who pull long faces over
corruption work to have it in it's
former uglness. They would throw
away the cleansing influence thai
comes from forcing candidates. into
the open, with their promoters com
PEELED to Justify themselves in public
Not less but more money should BIZ
spent in political education.
The Chicago convention, which II
it's later sessions harked partially
to the old ways, rejected the pop
ular choice. A few men did the
selecting. Their choice fell on on,
who had not consulted the public il
any broad way. No charge is made
that pecuniary inducements swaye(
the decision, but the business wa
done behind closed doors in a non
democratic way. The next time
If primary candidates. are discour
aged, there may be real cause fo1
scandal. And to think men who re
gard themselves as intelligent were
enmeshed by the money outer,
against the Wood candidacy,
Giving for legitimate political pur
poses, even though large, is whole
some rather than the reverse. Al
that may De fairly asked, first, il
that the names Of the contributor.
and the amounts subscribed shall b,
publicly known, and, second, tha
there shall be current accounting fo
the precise things for which tn
money goes.
Political morality is 10 be upheld
but this does not forbid the cxercis
OF common sense, and to demand
relapse into bad ways is to disclos
neither morality nor common sense