Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-29

vindication Of Gov. Walter ]. Kohlsr
Of Wisconsin, after q trial under the
corrupt practices act Of that State,
again turns public attention to the sub
jeet Of campaign expenditures. The
Wisconsin law limits the candidates
expenditures to $4,000, and 1t was
claimed that the governor spent beyond
that limit. Some comments indicate
belief that the limit Is too low.
"The hours apparently wasted In the
trial were well employed If they lead TO
an illuminating explanation of an
obscure law" declares the New York
Times, observing that politics cools
slowly, II 1t ever coolS, In Wisconsin"
The Times remarks that "for more than
three weeks the trial has been going
on In Shehoygan County Circuit Court."
1t recalls that there was a long pro-
cesSion Of tedious. trivial and some
times comical testimony" and con-
cludes, THE attitude of the Judge
during the whole trial has seemed to
indicate that he wishes to have the
tees act cleared up definitely and finally
by the state Supreme Court"
y + y
wisconsin, like Oklahoma" says the
Tulsa World, has q silly law attempting
to limit expenditures of candidates.
These foolish laws should be
repealed. Corruption In campaigns and
In ONCE is not hindered by such
means. Everybody knows no person can
be nominated for governor or Senator
in even an average State without
spending more than the statutory limit.
And in the Wisconsin case the corrupt
practices act was actually used by an
intrenched machine TO allow machine
expenditures In an unlimited amount
and to prevent the opposition from
spending anything"
"Of course, everybody familiar with
conduct of political campaigns" &C
cording to the Baltimore Sun, knows
that no serious candidacy for the gov
ernorship in State as large as Wis
consin can be carried on with such a
sum as $4,000. The consequence is that
the money needed Is proyided by cam
paign committees and by friends Of the
candidate. In this instance, the gov
ernor's family gave literally to the fund
The jury found that the law did not
prohibit such contributions. Laws
which will secure strict accounting of
how funds are obtained and how used,
and which will prescribe the purposes
to which they may be devoted, OFFER
more promise than attempts at nat
limitation, and at small totals"
= #*
''It was obviously q farce, staged for
political effect" in the Judgment of the
South Bend Tribune, Gov. Kehler be-
ing very wealthy man, 1t is not diff
cult for the La Toilette organization to
obtain q hearing when 1t first sug-
gested that the State corrupt practices
act had been violated in the 1928 cam
paign. But when the evidence was pro-
duced the transparency of the case
against the governor must have i'm
pressed even the most obtuse citizen"
1.-The La Follettes, Philip and his
brother, the Senator" states the New
York Evening Post, ARE making
strong bid for the governorship. Gov
Kohler beat their forces two years ego.
and if the La Follettes can regain 1t
now they will pretty we'll control the
State organization and assure the re-
election of Senator Blaine two years
hence. OF course, If they had pushed
through conviction of Gov. Kohler, he
would have been automatically removed
from the race this Fall. But even with
out conviction they now are armed with
testimony that will bolster up lot of
campaign speeches"
~
"Too much money was spent in the
campaign" asserts the Milwaukee Jour-
nal, with the query, What Is there
that can be done to preserve and defend
the franchise and the right Of any man,