Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1906 — REAL REFORM WANTED [ARTICLE]

REAL REFORM WANTED

Honest Political Management a Crying Need. - LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE FREELY Democratic Committee Laeki Keeea•arj- Funds, While the Republican* Are Well Provided—Jio Fair Elec--tlon Can Be Had With the Monel All on One Side. There Is a vast field before the politician of the future that is able enough and honest enough to bring ifbout real reform in elections and honesty instead of notorious corruption In political man : agement It is pleasfint to record that beginning In 1004 the Democratic party has had no campaign funds for other than legitimate purposes, not even enough to compete in the lavish distribution of literature, much less to be able to pay a corps of speakers like the Republicans have. The Democrats have had to rely upon volunteers paying their own expenses. This poverty of the Democrats has htpl the great advantage of releasing the party from the bands of trimmers and grafters and repeaters that hang on the skirts of corruptionists, ever looking for cash and loot. It has had the good effect of drawing honest men, fqgmerly Republicans, to act with it. The public at the last national election was deceived into believing, by the denial of President Roosevelt of the charge made by Judge Parker that the Republican committee had received large contributions from corporations, that corruption had been abolished from the Republican campaign. It is notorious, from the evidence produced at the investigation of the life Insurance scandals, that enormous sums had been contributed by those corporations, although Mr. Roosevelt denied it. Nor has there bemi restitution of those tainted funds to the real owners, the policy holders, whose widows and orphans may soon suffer for lack of it A similar attempt is again being made by the Republicans In the present campaign for congress to impress the public with the belief that no contributions from tainted sources are being received. This is emphasised by calling on the rank and file of the party for dollar subscriptions. It Is safe to say the amount received from dollar subscriptions is not enough to pay rent and clerk hire, let alone the enormous cost of printing the campaign book and the thousands of documents and speeches that will be gratuitously distributed. Where does all the money come from If not from tariff beneficiaries or corporations? When the Republicans refused to pass the TUlman bill to punish the giver and receiver of tainted funds they virtually acknowledged they could not get along without such money. It Is therefore up to them to prove that the source of their funds is above reproach by publishing a sworn statement of receipts and from whom If they expect popular belief that corruption has been banished. It would be pleasant to record the fact that the Republican committee, like the Democratic committee, has not sufficient funds to meet necessary expenses, so that politics would be on a fairer footing. It would also be still more pleasant to record that funds from sources that expect In return legislative or executive favors had been refused pn ethical grounds and a real and lasting reform was being attempted. The personnel of the managers of the Republican campaign does hot offer much hope for Improvement It Is the same old gang at the old game, with no visible sign of repentance.