Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1908 — TAFT TURNS TABLES ON BRYAN. [ARTICLE]

TAFT TURNS TABLES ON BRYAN.

Now that the Democratic party's platform Is before the people, It Is worth reading over and comparing with that of the party In power. So doing, it will ibe noted that the party In opposition improved its opportunity of copying many of the Republican party's declarations, simply altering the phraseology. Of course, the Democratic party had to accept and Insert a quota of the Bryanocratlc doctrine. ~ Four years ago, In the last national campaign, Bryan said in the course ot a political speech in Marion, Ind., that he had ideas and beliefs on government that he dared not even whisper in public. Dohbtless he has those notions still, and keeps silent on them for a politic purpose. Given “power,” he would speak right out. Sooner later, when his last hope of getting* placed In power has vanished, the Chautauqua platform will remain for him as a rostrum from which he will deliver his doctrinaire heresies and get much money for his talk. During the fifteen weeks before election day we wljl speak of the planks in the Bryan platform that differ from the accepted opinions of a great majority of the American people on the art of civic government One declaration in the Denver platform may be discussed now. It Is the plank on publicity of campaign contributions. Bryan deems Jt a.great votegetter. He doubtless desires that It be given the widest publicity. We are glad to help him. Bryan scp r to the Republican convention for falling to adopt a similar plank at Chicago. The denunciation is Immaterial. The world knows now that the candidate of the Republican party and this country’s next president has taken action for complete itemized publication of all receipts and expenditures in this campaign. On this question Mr. Taft has got ahead .of his rival twice so far. When Bryan sent him that famous telegram a couple of months ago, Mr. Taft astonished the # Nebraskan by adducing proof that the Republican candidate also favored the publicity of oampaign contributions, and had communicated his views and his wishes to Senator Burrows, who was to be chairman of the Republican convention. But more important still is Mr. Taft’s second movement.

George R. Sheldon is the new treasurer of the national Republican committee. . He was Mr. Taft’s choice, and for a special reason. He is a citizen of New York and was treasurer of the campaign committee of Governor Hughes. New York state has a publicity law and at the close of the winning campaign of Hughes Mr. Sheldon published an itemized statement of all contributions that came to him, down to the smallest, and ajl expenditures made. Treasurer Sheldon will do a like service in this campaign to elect Mr. Taft as president. Will Bryan appoint a New York man as treasurer of his campaign committee, so that the state law on publicity will be obeyed? We doubt it. York state alone has this law- By the admirable action o( Mr. Taft, publicity of Republican campaign accounts is assured. But the wording of the Democratic plank on publicity is peculiar. Bryan Is an adept in words that conceal well as reveal. Read It: "We pledge the Democratic party to the enactment of At law preventing any corporation contributing to a campaign fund and toy individual from contributing an Amount above a reasonable amount, and providing for the publication before election of all such contributions above a reasonable minimum.” Qreat word that ‘'reasonable.” What does Bryan consider a “reasonable minimum” and a “reasonable maximum”? Perceive The point In this precious plank? It does not stand for publication of each and every contribution, large or small, made to his campaign fund. Were Marcus Daly, William R. Hearst, “Jlm” Guffey and Roger Sullivan within the “reasonable” class In past campaign contributions when Bryan was .running for.tha presidency? The Republican party will publish In full all that comes to it this year and where each expenditure Is placed. There is no political “capital" for Bryan In this much-vaunted plank of his. Mr. Taft has cut it from under him by arranging to do all the party neglected to put in the platform he stands on.

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