The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-06
It Might Be Worse

IL wight DS u
Back in 1907, according to information issued by the
Civic Bulletin, a publication Of the New York Civic
League, President Roosevelt proposed to congress that
the government finance national political campaigns.
The former president is quoted as saying:
THE need for collecting large campaign funds
would vanish if congress provided an a%ppropria-
ton for the proper and legitimate expenses OF
each Of the great national parties. an appro-
priation ample enough to meet the necessity Tor
thorough organization and machinery which re-
quires a large expenditure OF money
Others who are quoted as having expressed themselves
in favor Of the scheme since then are William Gibbs NC
Adoo, chairman Of the Democratic national commit
tee, in 1918: Senator William E. Borah. in 1927, and
Representative Luce from Massachusetts,.
Urging the soundness of the plan. the Bulletin says:
AN important cause OF lawlessness in this
country is the fact that the money for primary
and election campaigns is largely received from
criminals who by their so-called contributions IN
reality buy nominations and offices, legislation
protection from the enforcement OF law and from
Just punishment for their crimes.
IF the next congress will amend the federal
election laws SO as to forbid any individual or
corporation contributing directly or indirectly 10
any political party and will authorize the pay
ment from the treasury of the United States Of
all the money needed for carefully described
necessary expenses for workers, meetings. ltera-
ture and other publicity expenses. connected with
a federal election. it will greatly reduce the
money spent for political campaigns.
"SUcQ a law Will largely AEcC uoAA1SoSc ia
blackmail, racketeers and various forms OF graft.
1t will tend to transfer the management OF po-
ltics into the hands Of higher grade men. 1t WILL
enable poor men to run for office.
"It will restore our Republican form OF govern
ment. II will free legislators, judges and other
Officer Of the law from the tyranny OF corrupt
political leaders, SO that they Will serve not
political leaders and criminals, but the people.
How can we expect freedom from crime Wnen
we permit an invisible third house In every leg
islsture which is composed Of political leaders
who give orders to the upper and lower houses
and who get much Of their livelihood from organ
lied crime?"
Like all direct and simple remedies for acknowledged
evils, the scheme has directness to recommend 1t. Ger
tainly, the picture Of corruption in national elections as
painted by Senator Gerald P. Nye in a speech here last
winter, is black enough to demand that something be
done.
Senator Nye, hot from the trail of various ma'efactors
may have been over enthusiastic in his portrayal OF con-
ditions as they now exist, but even his worst enemy
would hardly contend that he was wholly wrong.
The trouble with this specific for our political ills Is
that it might create q new one Of even greater malign-
ancy. Imagine the elected public officers controlling
the money bags. It almost would be impossible to get
them out of office no matter how corrupt or arrogant
they became. II one accepts the theory that money rules
politics, 1t seems that the governmental appropriation
plan might merely mean a change In masters-and q
change for the worse.