Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-17
Investigating CAMPAIGNS.

Investigating Campaigns.
The Senate Campaign Investigating
COMMITTEES has been given an extension
Of life and $4,000 additional to con-
tdnue its work. In addition, Senator
Garter Glass Of Virginia has offered
. resolution which would authorize
the committee to investigate the cam
natgn Of 1928 The Glass proposal is
that If any complaint is made before
the committee by a responsible per-
son" alleging a violation Of the Fed
eral corrupt practices act, the commit
tee shall make an investigation and
report to the Senate.
Without debate the Senate adopted
the resolution extending the life of
the Investigating Committee. It has
still to act upon the proposal Of the
Senator from Virginia, which went
ever under the rule. The latter has
the eaSmarIs OF political fishing trip.
II the Senator from Virginia has in
his mind charges Of violations Of the
corrupt practices act. why not be
specific?
The Senate committee was set up to
investigate senatorial campaigns in
1880. Another committee Of the Senate
was commissioned to inquire into the
conduct Of the 1928 campaign and has
long since wound up It's labors.. There
should be no concealnaent Of violations
Of the corrupt practices act and vio-
lstions should be punished vigorously.
But the Glass proposal sndacks Of de-
sire, In the future, to erhbarrass the
Eoover administration.
The mere bringing Of charges, even
though they finally turn out not to be
founded on fact. frequently proves an
embarrassment. Thousands read the
charges who never read the denial Of
the truth Of these charges. And in the
heat Of political battle charges are
made too often merely on suspicion and
without facts to back them up. Why
bother to place ia the resolution the
provision that the charges must be
made by responsible person?
Every man Is supposed to be responsible
uAtil he Is proven otherwise.
The Nye Committee. as the Senate
investigating Committee has come Il
Be known, has seen active II has been
useful and serv1eeable On the other
Hand, It has lent itself to politics. II
has . corps Of Investigators sent into
many different states. following up
S1eads" that have come to the commit
tee. There is something about the
whole business. however. which takes
On an ireuisitorial flavor which is
unpleasant. Government, influenced
BY the spy method, is foreign TO ATleri-
can ideas. It is quite proper that def
rite charges made when there is proof
70 back them up should be investigated
by governmental body. But to set UP
an ineuisitorial body. instructed 20 deal
With charges no matter how loosely they
may be made, is something else.
The Nye Committee is soon to make
It's report on the Pennsylvania sera-
toFial campaign, involving Senator
Davis election. The chairman Of the
committee, Senator Nye, has said that
he intended to offer a resolution de-
claripg vacant the scat held by Sena-
tor Davis since it has been revealed
that more than million dollars was
expended IN the primary and genera
election campaigns for the ticket OF
which MI. Davis was running. AS Sen
ator Davis has pointed out, some 10000
candidates in all parts Of the State were
aGiliated with this ticket, including thu
candidates for Governor and many high
State officials. lie insists that IL Il
improper TO charge him with these
heavy expenditure It will be inter.
esting to See how the Senate reacts II
this ease. II 1t unseats Mr.. Davis
there seems to be no limit to which 4
may not 60.