South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-07
SEN. B0RAH CALLS
HALT ON EXPENSE
OF CANDIDATES
Idaho Senator Charges Million
Dollar Pre-ConventiOn
for Wood.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. April G.
A drastic Dill limiting the pre-con-
vention exoenses OF candidates for
the presidency Is offered in the SEN
ate by Sen. William +. Borah. re-
publican. OF Idaho. who will insist
upon early action in view of charges
and counter charges that large sums
OF money are being spent in the re-
publican presidential campaign.
The BOrah bill follows published
charges that a group Of milliOnaires
has undertaken 10 'un6erwrite" q
million-dollar Lre-convention cam
paign for Gen. Leonard Wood. That
other republican candidates are con-
ducting more or less expensive cam
paigns has also been asserted.
The bill offered by Sen. BOrah
would make 1t a felony 10 expend
more than ten thousand dollars IN
any one state. This IS not inclusive
Of the actual personal expenses Of
the candidates. such as subsistence
and travelling allowances, telephone
and telegraph bills. postage. station
airy. posters and printing, except
newspaper advertising.
Bnposes Heavy Penalty.
II is provided that amy person
who shall violate or conspire with
another 10 violate this act shall be
deemed guilty OF a felony, and upon
trial and conviction thereof shall be
punished by a fine OF not more than
$4,000, or by punishment in the
penitentiary for q term OF not more
than two years. or by both such fine
and imprisonment"
Providing for the fullest publicity
Of the receipt and disbursements Of
presidential candidates, the bill stip-
ulates that fifteen days before the
nominating convention. and thirty
days thereafter detailed statements
shall be filed by the candidate with
the attorney general OF the United
States.
These statements. 10 be filed with
the chief legal officer OF the govern
mcnt. must contain an itemized ac-
count of "alI moneys and things Of
value received BY him or by any one
with his knowledge and consent
from any source IN aid and sur port
OF his candidacy for the nomination.
together with those who have fur
nished the same IN whole or I'm part
And such statement shall contain a
true and itemized account of all
moneys and things Of value given.
contributed. used or promised by
SuCn candidate or DT MS agent,
representative or other person. used
or promised by such candidate or by
his agent. representative or other
person. for and IN his behalf with
his knowledge and consent UP 70
and for the last day OF the nominat-
ing convention, together with the
names OF all those 20 whom any
OF such gifts. contributions pay
mentS or promises were made for
the purpose OF procuring his nom
ination."
Fall On Candidate.
Under the terms OF the Borah bill
the only way a presidential candi-
date may ESCAPE personal responsi-
biIity for expending more than ten
thousand dollars in any one state
is 20 publicly make protest against
such expenditures" This provision
would direct personal attention 10
the fact that friends OF the Candi-
date were expanding more than the
maximum sum and Sen. Borah be
Neves would act as a check. With
out such public protest by the can
date himself tho candidate would
be criminally liable.
Sen. Borah's bill is entitled AN
Act 10 provide for publicity OF con-
tributions made for the purpose Of
influencing the election Of delegates
TO national conventions at which