Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1908 — BRYAN TAKES A TURN [ARTICLE]

BRYAN TAKES A TURN

Latest Controversial Mill Matter Ground Out on the Publicity Question. MAKES REPLY TO JUDGE TAFT taaiata on the Ante-Election Fablimtion of Contributions. raft Essays a Prediction—Saya **l Will Be Elected”—Talks at Omaha on the Issue of Injunctions.

Lincoln, Neb., Oct 2.—Declaring that ‘'every disinterested voter knows that large contributions have been Qsed to secure mortgages upon officlals,” William J. Bryan has Issued a Statement cricising the adoption by Taft of President Roosevelt’s announeSd view on the subject of the publicity St campaign contributions. Taft, says Bryan, “makes the same charge the president does—the astonishing charge that the voters are so liable to be misled that the knowledge [as to the ■mounts and sources of campaign contributions] must be kept from them.” The Democratic nominee then adds: **l insist that this is an Insult to tLe intelligence of the voter, and it does little credit to Mr. Taft’s judgment of the men to whom be is making his appeal.” Bryan Sees a Difference. Bryan says that Taft falls to see the difference between the publication of contributions before the election and that of the expenditures after the election, and says -that the difference is that expenditures continue right up to the close of the polls, so that a complete publication cannot be made until after the polls are closed; .while the reason for publication of contributions before the election is to let the public know whence such contributions come, ■o that the public may know which party the “predatory Interests” are supporting. More “Light" In Contributions. Further, the Nebraskan says: "The publication of contributions throws a great deal more light upon the influ •nee at work In politics than the publication of expenditures, for the publication of contributions shows to whom the party is indebted, and to whom repayment is likely to be made, while the publication of expenditures shows what lias been paid out, and disbursements do not create obligations that affect the <-ourse of the administration.” Then referring to Taft’s declaration that the chief objection to anteeiectlon publication of contributions is that the motives of those who contribute, and also of the candidate, will be perverted, etc., Bryan makes the remark quoted above that this is “an Insult to the intelligence of the voter.”

8A VS TAFT IS EVASIVE And'That the People Have a Right tc Know the Facts. Toft’s argument, Bryan «nys. fs an evasion, and only explainable by ‘‘a consciousness that Republican campaign methods will not bear the light and that it would be dangerous to his party if the public knew before the election what be promises to make public after the election.” Taft’s argument that ante-election publication would expose contributors to unfair and scandalous attacks and discourage patriotic contributors, Bryan says, has little weight, because of the great benefit derived from ante-election publication. and insists that “The people have a right to form their own opinion as to the influences which are at work • • •

“Mr. Taft knows that a great many matters come before executives and legislatures where It Is difficult, if not Impossible, for the average voter to Investigate the facts. • * * if, for instance, a candidate for governor Is likely to have to pass upon railroad legislation the people have a right to know whether men largely Interested In preventing railroad legislation have contributed liberally to his campaign fund. * • * And so If a man Is a candidate for office which brings him Into official connection with tariff legislation. it is proper for the public to know whether he will be so obligated to the beneficiaries of n high tariff as to Ih» embarrassed when he attempts to protect the consumer.” Bryan says Taft misrepresented what he (Bryan) said of Governot [Hughes, and says he asked the presl(dent whether the contributions to the Hughes fund from trust magnates made Hughes a good witness on the subject of trusts. Hughes, Bryan says, i|t only human, and adds: “We assume jthat public officials will be honest, and iyet we require bonds of those who handle money. • • * The law will not £ermit a judge, a juror, or an official. > accept a gift if the gift la from one who has an Interest In the official action of the official; and in forbidding •Us the law does not ask as to the character of the official. The law is Based upon human nature and human •xperieuee "