Evening star., 1928-04-01
CAMPAIGN COSTS HELD LEGAL
CHARGE ON PUBLIC TREASURY
Representative Luce Says Voters Will Continue TO Be
Shocked by Gifts Until State Takes
Over Expenses.

frowning will not for n long time, II
ever, sufiice. There must be action IL
the evil is to be speedily checked"
And this Is the action. the reform,
the answer TO the situation as Repre-
sentative Luce sees II:
There Is reasonable answer" he
continued. 1T may be found by carry
ing TO Its logical conclusion the self-evi-
dent principle that election Is primarily
a public rather than a private concern.
Therefore Its expense is primarily a
public rather than private concern
We have almost unconsciolisly
travelled far In that direction In the last
DO years. We have come to the fur
nishing OF voting places for both pri-
maries and elections; the printing OF
ballots. the providing OF paid officials.
In fact. nearly the whole process Is now
paid for out of the public treasury ex-
cept the most important thing OF all
the informing OF the electorate.
TO inform Is something more than
leRitimate--it Is imperative. II is the
prime object Of campaigns. II Is what
has brought TO enormous proportions
the cost OF campaigns, by reason of
the growth Of populations and the
lowering of suffrage qualifications.
especially the doubling of the electorate
by woman suffrage. Take your pencil
and figure out the cost OF sending a
single circular 10 the voters Of q single
State, Then add the costs of all the
other valid and desirable methods OF
enlightenment. Now comes a new one
the radio. IL Is expected that the
use OF the air will be the largest ex-
pense In the coming presidential cam
paign. II VIII be on top Of all the out
lays hitherto usual.
Believes Time Near.
I'm view OF these considerations. It
is my own Judgment that the time Is
nearly II not already ripe for the abso-
lutte prohibition Of any individual ex-
penditufes for purposes OF election, In
cluding expenditure by political "om-
mittees or any other private persons,
and the assumption OF all such expend-
lures by the public treasury.
THE cost of electing men To Office to
ambody the public win in law and to
carry out that will. being primarily q
public interest and concern. should be
borne by the public. The public stake
Is far greater than that Of any OF Its
parts
"Analyze the situation seientifica ~
and ind II you can one single valid
reason why any individual should be-
allowed by the expenditure OF money To
defect the expression Of the public will.
Only one reason can be advanced with
even q aemblance OF validity. namely,
that 0f aeif~interest. There are, indeed,
those who tnink that the best govern
ment will result from the competition
and conflict OF self-interesI, but II Is
not the conception now prevalent
Colorado was the first Stale To rec
ognize that instifiable electiol expenses
might properly be a public charge. In
1909 Il enacted law providing that
they should be paid only by the State
and the candidates, thus going part
way, The State was 10 give 10 each
political party aA cents for every vote
cast by IL al the last election for It's
candidate for governor, Candidates
could contribute within limits Contri.
buttons by others, or their acceptance,
WIS made felony, punishable by I'M
pris0nment ar heavy finer untnrtur
nately, the country inst the benefit Of
what would have been a most interest
Continued On Fourth rags)