Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1908 — ON THE DEFENSIVE. [ARTICLE]

ON THE DEFENSIVE.

Indianapolis News (Rep.): Our Republican friends will have to be very careful or they will find that the advantage will be with the Democrats on the campaign fund publicity question. To begin with It will be difficult to remove the Impression that the concessions made by the Republicans were forced from them. They refused to enact a publicity law and their Chicago convention overwhelmingly voted down a plank declaring for publicity. But this is not all. The new treasurer of the national committee is a trust man, nominated at the suggestion of wflliam Nelson Cromwell, one of the best known trust lawyers. In view of all this the will insist on very strong assurances from the Republican leaders. Yet this same treasurer, Mr. Sheldon, said ouly the other day that he would make nothing public till after the campaign is over—that is, till after the party had got the benefit of the contributions, till after the harm had been done. He proposes to put himself under the New York law, which Is a good law as far as it goes. But really the main object to be gained by publicity is that the people shall know, before they vote, to what interests parties and candidates are under obligations. Mr. Bryan made this clear in his suggestions to the Democratic managers. The committee adopted his view and will publish names of contributors before election day.