The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-18
CORRUPT PRACTICES
Law IS EXPLAINED
Candidate for Governor Declares He
Has Stated That It Was a Crime
for Candidate to Employ
Political Advertising.

c. E. Emery of Newport, canddat,
for the Republican nomination for gov
ernor, and author of the much dis
| cussed corrupt practices act, wher
shown several editorials from Vermont
newspapers to the effect that he HAD
stated it was violation of this law tc
employ political advertising, said to-
day:
Il have never stated that this act
makes it crime for candidates to EN-.
ploy political advertising. That is a
matter for the courts TO determine
1T is true that | drafted, introduced
and advocated the passage of this
measure, in the Senate OF 1902, in sub
stantially the form in which the law
now stands. and | do not for one mo.
ment desire to avoid the responsi.
bility.
In doing SO, / did not have in mind
the matter of political advertising as
it is now generally understood.
u frankly admit that il was my
object, and [ believe the intention of
the legislature, to restrict the use of
money in political campaigns. or at
least TO put the stamp of Legislative
disapproval upon such practices.
I'VE had but recently passed
through governorship contest in
which it was known that very large
amount of money had been used, and
to the scandal OF the state which had
never attempted in any way TO regli-
late it. The legislature was in a frame
of mind to do something and IL passed
this bill and il was signed by Cover
nor Mccullough 1t may be that it
was not well drafted, and ought to
have covered a broader field | have
since been convinced that the act
should have placed rea sonable limit
on campaign expenses of all kinds.
With the great state of Michigan plac
ing a limit OF $3.50 and the federal
government making a $4,000 limit for
such expenditures, the reported dccla
ration OF some Vermont candidates at
this time, in our little state, looks like
the necessity for real corrupt prac.
tiee act, one which will enable a poor
man as we'll as rich one to enter the
field for the governorship. or for any
other office, and on equal terms. Any
law which fails TO insure this. strikes
at the very root of our supposed equal
dty.
1T is undesirable that rea sonable
amount of publicity. through the medi-
um of the press, is not only proper but
desirable, though this even, when ear.
ried on without limit, gives an unfair
advantage 10 wealthy candidates as
well as does an unlimited expenditure
in creularizing, employment of paid
workers, and the various other meth.
ods used in influencing voters.
Il did not introduce this question
into the present contest, and do not
think il can fairly be claimed that I
secured the passage of this law eigh-
teen years ago for the purpose of fur
thering my candidacy for a state office
at this time. + could hardly have
beer foreseen. Neither do ! expect to
invoke the provisions of the act in
question TO prevent any OF my oppo-
nents from spending their shousands
in this campaign, il they so fesire.
I cannot believe. however. that ahy
candidate upon reflection will be will
lHE 10 btinI ms Stdtt INTO the contempt
in which il will be held. by the en-.
ploymeut of large sums Of money for
any purpose, with the present temper
Of the public mind
The sworn statements required by
law 10 be filed by candidates within
ten DAYS following he primary cleo.
tion win become public records, and
hope will bring no discredit upon
Vermont, or the party 20 which they
belong.
Ny acquaintance with the newspa.
per men of this state leads me to the
hat no body Of our citizens
is doing more for the upholdiug Of
Vermont. or Is more willing Ia treat
public questions on their real merits
than are they. Being assured Of this
as 7 sm. would confidently expect a
general approval of my purpose. II 7
am elected governor, 10 secure the en-
ac, ment of law 10 limit campaign |
to a point thai will per-
nit any citizen to become n candidate !
regardless OF his wealth