Evening star., 1949-07-08
Lodge Proposal 10 Bar
Private Contributions
To Campaigns Hailed
Called First Real Blow
For Clean Government
Struck in Recent Years
Bv David Lavrence

of Massachusetts,, Republican.
Faith in the representative sys-
tenn of Government can be strong
or weak only in accordance with
the morality practiced N nigh
places. When the people find out
that Offices at the policy making
level are bought and sold. that
legislation is influenced by cam
paign contributions and By po-
litical support in the form OF
financial help in organizing elec-
ton campaigns, they will cry out
for reform.
Senator Lodge wants to bring
the facts out SO the public may
know. He wants also to end for
all time the system of private
campaign contributions which to-
day influences the appointment of
many officials in the Democratic
administration, just as has been
the case in Republican admins
trations in the past.
Work Back in Districts.
It is the height Of corruption
and is unlawful to bribe legisla-
tors with money paid into their
pockets for personal use. but 1t
apparently isn't regarded as cor
rupt today for organizations to
spend money to elect individuals
who will do their bidding in Con-
gress. They openly bribe by
threatening defeat or offering
support. A smoke screen has
often been raised against lobby
lists and legislation has been
passed requiring them to register
and to disclose their expenditures
here in Washington. But moth
ing is done to curb the work back
in The districts and States where
the pressure groups buy their in
fuence with legislators. 1t is
thee that the money is con-
tribited to campaigns which
makes it possible for these groups
to exact their pound of flesh when
the candidates are victorious and
coms to Washington.
Few Presidents of the United
Stats in recent decades have been
immune from these practices. A
President has to recognize, in ac-
cordance with the so-called code
of politics. the persons who con-
tribute heavily to his campaign
fund. Indeed, officials are i'm
potuned to contribute and, If they
do not, they are frowned on and
eventually replaced by those who
did contribute either in money or
spesch-making or in money-rais-
ing
No President of the United
Staes. for instance. should ever
havs been placed in the efnbar-
raising dilemma that confronted
Mr.. Truman last year when he
and his political associates were
unable to raise the money needed
to earry on the campaign. Mr..
Truman evidently felt compelled
by custom to accept the contribu-
tions of individuals who now are
benefiting or getting favors from
his Administration.
Senator Lodge urges the passage
of a resolution of inquiry to ascer-
tain the facts concerning pos
sible method of financing that
would liberate a President of the
United States from the financial
clutches of labor unions or busi-
ness organizations or any other
hind of association which organ
ICES the voting in presidential
campaigns and then demands that
legislation and special privileges
Se granted in compensation.
Publicly Ask Reward.
Some Of the organizations have
been bold enough to ask publicly
tor their reward when the elec-
tion is over or to criticize a Presi-
dent if he fails to come through.
The late President Roosevelt was
so embarrassed by a demand that
he favor a certain labor organi-
zation which had loaned his cam
paign $500,000 that lne initiated
Immediately a money-raising
campaign to pay off the loan and
rid himself of the political obli-
CATION that he was being asked
to fulfill.
The problem is not partisan. It
applies to all political parties. Be-
cause James Forrestal didn't cam
paign or contribute money to the
Democratic presidential cam
paign, he was attacked by persons
close to the administration. Be-
cause the President took no steps
to squelch that kind of attack
and indeed indicated loss of
confidence in his Secretary of
Defense, Mr.. Forrestal became de-
pressed and frustrated and came
to a tragic end. His successor
raised the money-estimated at
$1,500.000-to elect Mr.. Truman
In political parlance he received
o just reward.
1t will be interesting to see how
many true liberals there are who
will vote to look into the Lodge
plan for financing presidential
campaigns out of public funds
AS the Massachusetts, Senator in
dicates. it might cost $4,000, ,00C
or $7,000,000 every four years but
1t would save the country many
millions. now diverted to specia,
interests by self-serving appoint.
ments. Clearly also, if such plar
were developed for presidential
campaigns, it might furnish pat
tern for financing elections o1
candidates for Congress. too.
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