Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1908 — AS TO CAMPAIGN FUNDS. [ARTICLE]

AS TO CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

Indianapolis News (Rep.). According to the report of Treasurer Sheldon it cost $1,655,518 to prosecute the campaign of Mr. Taft. Out of this there was turned over to the various State committees 8620,000, concerning which no detailed report is made. We have no Information in regard to the amount received by the congressional committee. How much of the 8620,000 turned over to the State committees was saved we are not informed. Further than, this we have no report of any contributions less than 8500. Doubtless these gifts are small as compared with those of other years—lß96, for example. But they are nevertheless disgracefully large. The Democrats got through with 8620,000, and they had all the money they really needed for all honest purposes. To be sure we have no report from their congressional committee, but there is no reason to think that it much money. If a campaign can be honestly financed for 8620,000 anything spent over and above that must either have been wasted, or spent for corrupt purposes. In the Republican list will be found the names of many protected manufacturers, such as the Joneses, Olivers and Laughlins, of Pittsburg, and the Disstons of Philadelphia. Of course, our old friend Cromwell ro--’ponded liberally, his gift being 811,000. The committee had 820,000 from J, Pierpont Morgan. Robert Bacon, an Assistant Secretary .•of State, and an associate of Morsan. gave 85.000. Brother Charles heads the list with a contribution of 8110,000. We do not discover nauieis of any of the Standard people or of Edward H. Harriman in the list. However, no one can know who helped to make up the funds given by the Union League ‘Dtab, of Philadelphia. This report of Mr. Sheldon again raises the old issue and in very direct form. The American people can not afford to shirk it. With the increasing tendency to look on politics as a mere department of business, and with the growing disposition to subordinate everything to the so-called "prosperity'’ issue, we are likely to see larger rather than smaller campaign funds. Yet they are so large now as to be a positive menace to the purity of our institutions. We must in some way arrange to have the fullest publicity both of receipts and disbursements and to have it prior to the election. This was the demand of the Democrats during the campaign. It is a righteous demand. If our Presidents are to continue to be elected by the people rather than by the interests, if tn a word, we are to preserve free and popular government, we must put an end to this campaign fund scandal. In some way we must make it impossible, or at least very difficult for contributions to be made by men who have any direct and personal interest in legislation, for after all that is the greatest scandal in the business. It is a scandal because it amounts to a direct purchase of law. Protected make large gifts to the campaign fund and they then plead their generosity as a reason for protective duties to be levied in their interest.

No one is foolish enough to impeach the validity of Mr. Taft's title. The result shows that nothing could have defeated him. He was fairly the people’s choice. The election could not have been bought away from him. But there is still the danger that our elections may degenerate into a mere financial struggle in which the longest purse will win. If the Republican fund had been no larger than the Democratic fund, Mr. Taft would still have been elected. The necessary conclusion is that the fund raised In his behalf was much larger than was needed. Its only effect win be to create a feeling of gratitude on the part of Republican leaders to-

ward the men who gave so lavishly to the party’s -war chest. There will thus be the usual feeling of obligation—an obligation that ought not to exist. The best thing that could happen to the country would be to have both party committees "hard up" all the wjhlle. This would enforce an economy which would make for honesty, make eyen for true party efficiency. For the only men who really strengthen a party are those who vote for it because they believe in its principles, and never those who vote for it because they expect or hope to get something out of it.