Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-05
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

I'm 7 Ow that the intended crime
I'M against Abe franchise has
been exposed IN time, now
that the contributions OF
this money by these great monopolies
looking for the continuance OF OLD
favors or seeking new ones STANDS
admitted, now that these contributions
! have been made in such sums as to
induce and permit the most lavish
expenditures ever made. we as a peo-
pie. will fail in our duty If We shall
not rebuke at the polls this latest and
most fragrant attempt to control the
election-not for legitimate business
conduct for proper ends. but in order
that the few may still further
strengthen their hold upon our In
dustries."
Just where was it Gov. Cox made
this remark? Not Gov. Cox? Who
then? Judge Alton B. Parker of New
York, when he was democratic nomi-
nee for President in 1904 and his OPP
ponent was Theodore Roosevelt. then
President. Judge Parker was deliver
ing an address in Brooklyn on the
Saturday before election day. 1t was
on Octobear "a. however, just a cou-
pie of weeks before election day. that
She sage of Esopus, launched his first
charge against the republican party
that sinister influences had poured mill
ions into the party's campaign fund
fn order to purchase the election.
{ Gov. Cox Launches Charge Early.
And now, sixteen years later, the
democratic nominee for President has
again come to- the bat with a cor
ruption charge against the republican
party. In 1904 Judge Parker waited
until almost the eve of the election
hefore springing the charges that the
trusts had financed the Roosevelt
campaign, for reelection. Gov. Cox,
however. has launched the attack a
good two months and more ahead OF
election.
The politicians are asking them
selves now whether an election was
ever won or lost because of charges
by one side or the other, in this coun-
try. that huge campaign funds had
been collected. Certainly Judge Par
xkef did not make any particular dent
with his charges against the Roose-
welt campaign management He went
down receiving only lzo. electoral
votes to Roosevelt's $50.
In 1896 the cry went up and down
the land that the republicans and the
gold democrats had poured untold
wealth into the laps of Mark Hanna
ct al, for the election of William Nc
Kinley. the republican. and the defeat
of William Jennings Bryan. 1t has
been charged by the democrats that
rs much as. $1s.5oo.oeo was turned
over by various Interests" in that
year to elect" Mckinley. In that year
Mckinley received 271 electoral votes
and Bryan .176. And four years later
Mckinley again downed Bryan.
COrruption Charges Not New.
Charges of corruption and the use
Of huge funds in elections. both ma
tfonal and state, are not new in this
country. When Buchanan, the demo-
crat. was running against Fremont
back in 1856. and the republican party
was just bursting into existence.
Pennsylvania was the battle ground.
It was Buchanan's native state. The
democrats needed it. Both sides, ac-
cording to histories Of the day. rush.
ed as much money as possible into
the keystone state to aid in the cleo
ton. Nearly a million dollars. it is
said, was expended by both parties
lin the states According to the histo-
rfans, the democrats gathered money
from Wall street brokers. workers in
the Brooklyn navy yard, from clerks
in the government departments in
washington and the customhouse in
New York, and from the southern
states.
The republicans were no less active
than the BUCCANEERS. They obtained
money in New England and New
York and sent it into Pennsylvania.
Both sides wanted those twenty-seven
yotes-and the democrats got them.
There is no doubt but what the
American people do not take kindly
to the idea that the presidency can be
bought. On the other hand. not a
few Americans scott at the idea, and
are inclined to ridicule such charges.
Whey are used TO seeing political cam
paigns run on a large scale with all
the trimmings that cost money. Can
Gov. Cox make a major issue out OF
the charge that the republicans are
raising and will raise a huge CAM
Daign fund?
Legal Safeguards Result.
Tho frequently reiterated charges
that efforts are made TO purchase cleo.
ttons have had their effect in recent
years In 1907 there was enacted
into law an act to prohibit nationa
banks or any corporation ory 4nizet
by authority Of any laws of Congress
To make a contribution in connection
with any election to a political office
Three years later Congress ru
through a law providing for publicity
a contributions made for the purpose
of influencing elections at which rep
resentatives and senators are elected
This act was amended and strengthen.
ed by further acts in 1911 and 1912
and in 1918 another act was pu
through fixing fines and imprisonment
for any one who shall attempt to cor
rupt voters in elections Of members
6t Congress. This law was intended
to give the federal government juris
diction in such cases.
But so far the blue sky is the limit
under existing laws, when it come.
to raising campaign funds for ma