Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-07

Washington. Apr. $50 long as
political parties who seek control Of
the government accept vast contri-
buttons from those who are interest
ed In matters OF legislation or ad-
mintstration there will be sinister
and corrupt and controlled govern
ment." Senator Borah. Republican,
Idaho. declared in an address here
today before the students law en-
forcement convention.
In these days." Senator Borah
said, the government deals with all
the vast concerns of business, coal,
railroads, ships, Oil. tariffs, and It
Is simply intolerable that political
parties accept vast contributions
from those vitality interested in these
matters. 1t Is still worse for the
parties to go out and solicit contri-
buttons from such individuals.
These unusual sums are not
given merely because OF the COM
mon interest which partisans have
In their parties. Both political par
ties have for years placed them
selves in an indefensible position in
these matters. 1t all leads to that
sinister and subtle influence which
does more to break down represen-
tative government than any specific
instance of open bride. Besides, the
open bride follows inevitably as a
result Of the former practice"
Referring to the revelations before
the senate committee, Senator Bo-
rah told his audience that these
must not be accepted as an impeach-
ont neither IF tho Av,nrtoor
of government or Of the capacity of
the people to rule. Rather should
they be accepted as a "call to duty
to preserve and hand on 10 posterity
that inheritance which our forefath-
ers gave into our keeping"
War brings waste and extrava-
gance, and then corruption. One of
its spawn is corruption in public Of
f1ce-the exchange of honor and
place for gain. the heritage of a
good name, the esteem Of your fell
low men. the future happiness and
success of your children. all bar
tered and sold for gold. This Is one
Of the inevitable fruits of war. 1t
has been so from Pericles to this
hour. .''-
But the decentralization conse-
Quent upon war does not tell the
whole story. venture to believe
that SO long as the present system
and standards prevail in American
politics, regardless of party. you
will have conditions no less deplor-
able than those which now confront
US. The country was shocked TO
learn that q very large sum Of mon
ey was given to a high official by a
party having business with the gov
eminent. Well. what have we to say
about an individual having business,
or expecting to have business, with
the government, giving q very large
sum of money to the political party
which is in control, or is seeking
control. of theN entire machinery of
the government? And this is the
practice which prevails in this coun-
try. not as to one party. but as to all
political parties.
ut appears. for instance. that one
ocratic party and another $4,000 to
the Republican party and both were
expecting to do business with the
government. Now these gentlemen
do not stand alone. They did not
initiate that kind of practice. They
were doing what has become an ac-
cepted practice and system in this
country.
Both political parties accept the
system and pursue the practice. So
long as they do this these specific
instances of exposure may help to
put one party in and the other party
out, but the cause of clean govern
ment. of disinterested and wise leg
islation and uncontrolled admins
tration will not be greatly served"