Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
Excessive Use of Campaign Funds
To Win Office Scored by Senator Nye

man or the man who has the backing
of orRanized wealth in one form or
another to make q campaign for nomt-
nation in Statewide primaries. With
such contention must take positive
issue, for public officeS contain example
after example Of the possibility OF the
poor man winning election contests
lures. I think it is not disputed that
there are more poor men and men Of
| average means in both houses OF Con-
| greSs today than was true in the old
convention days. People who are accus-
toned to making contributions to tnflu-
ence primary nominations probably
would hold the convention system
would be less. But the convention
would cost less than the primary system
only because it might be found cheaper
to corrupt the limited number of men
i delegated to a convention than 1t would
be to corrupt an entire electorate or
a majority of an electorate.
It cannot be doubted that politicians,
party bosses and those who seek to con-
troll elections with money and trickery
much prefer the convention to the pri-
mary form of nominating. The primary
grew out of the corruption prevalent in
| conventions. Certainly we don't want
to 60 back to that convention plan SIM
ply to make it easier and cheaper for
selfish interests to accomplish their
purpose.
If the repeal of the primary laws is
not the cure for the ills growing out of
huge campaign expenditures, then what
is the remedy? think there are three
positive things that can be done. First
there should be Tightening up of our
law governing the conduct of elections
both general and primary. Second
there should be Stricter hEcNitation by
law Of expenditures; and, III ally, there
should be an awakening on the part OF
people to rebellion against money hold
ing such sway as it does in some States
IN influencing the result of elections.
Public Revolt Urged.
In conclusion, let me say that the
best and finest results in opposition to
the influence of money in campaigns
would be gained If the people of
America would stand out and uncom-
promisingly and jealousy rebel against
and guard against the corrupting of
our election systel4 and fight it, whether
its sponsors were Republicans or Demo-
cratic leaders. NClean elections afford a
good guarantee of clean government.
Children cry out against the daily wash
ings TO which mothers submit them.
Yet these mothers uncompromisingly
insist upon cleanliness of body. Why?
Simply because they realize that the lack
Of cleanliness invites disease and cor
ruption These same mothers virtually
work their knuckleS bare to keep their
homes free from filth because they
know that filth invites disease and cor
ruption. Why should we not all as
Americans fight with equal diligence
against those influences which would
corrupt our election system and our
Government and ultimately bring upon
us disease that would destroy the RE-
public and representative government?
We can have government responsive
TO the interests and to the needs Of the
people only so long as we keep gov
eminent representative of the people.
Government will remain representative
only So long as our election system Is
permitted to function freely and record
the viii o. the greatest possible number
OF our people 81,
Huge campaign expenditures do not
nave as their purpose q freely frnc-
tiontng election system. At least IL
would be dfficult to cite a large CAM
paign expenditure which had the erect
OF purifying an election.