Evening star., 1928-03-26
Views Publicity Law.
Writer Praises Proposal Made by
Senator Capper.

To the Editor OF The star:
address myself to you in that I
was one Of the original members OF the
National Publicity Bill Organization,
which framed and carried to success
full conclusion the enactments Of the
campaign publicity law, form OF
leg'ilation which had not previously
existed in our country and which Is
not to be found in any other. unless 1t
be in Cuba, where there is such q law
modelled upon our own.
You will remember the dif1cultleS
encountered In securing attention to a
new form Of legislation intended to
abolish secret party funds. Our
organization-a non-partisan one-was
composed largely OF Democrats, in
Cluding former Democratic President,
Grover Cleveland. Then as now the
same situation existed in both Houses
Of Congress. There were outstanding
Republicans who, though small III
number. co-Operated with the Demo-
cratic majority In the House, presided
over by Speaker Clark, who, under the
leadership OF John Sharpe williams.
were compelled to filibuster In behalf
Of the bill.
1t was Representative Norris OF
Nebraska, now Senator. and today a
consistent supporter Of the principle OF
campaign publicity. who repom1ed fav-
orably the original bill Of Wbe House
committee to which 1t had been re-
ferred
While the question today should not
be considered a partisan one, the same
indifference or opposition exists on the
part of large number OF the leading
organization Republicans
BY his remarkably clear description
OF the situation in the Republican
party Senator Capper has rendered
great service to the country and TO the
course OF campaign publicity. His sug
gestion that a limit should be pre-
scribed to contributions is an excellent
one, though such legislation by Federal
or State authority would form part Of
the existing corrupt practices acts.
which are penal statutes and founded
upon a different principle Corrupt
practices acts exist in England and
continental Europe. though secret
party funds there are considered neces-
Sary and, therefore. the secret en-
ployment OF such funds is tolerated
or approved.
1t was to have been expected that
the United States would take the lead
in applying the remedy for an evil
everywhere harassing the onward
march OF the organized forces OF de-
mocracy wherever they may be found
engaged in a struggle for the recog-
milton OF popular rights. The abolition
by Federal and State laws OF the
secrecy OF party funds is an accom-
plished fact. but in order that our
country should maintain its pre-
eminent standard a vigilant enforce
ment of the law must be demanded
and seems now to be insisted upon by
public opinion. Large published po-
litical expenditures do not necessarily
mean corruption or that there is more
corruption than in other countries,
where secret funds are legal and un-
revealed.
To render it's enforcement more
effective there should be incorporated
in the existing Federal law a pro-
vision under which any ten qualified
voters could during the progress OF a
presidential campaign apply to a
standing committee or joint committee
OF the Senate and House II up@ suf-
ficient evidence they have reason TO
believe that the publicity law Is not
being complied with. the Senate and
the House having complete Jurisdiction
over the counting OF electoral votes
PERRY BELMONT.