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Show MAKE CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES PUBLIC If the plans of a Dumber of thinkers, aroused by the recent revelations reve-lations in the insurance investigation, are carried out, the next big c lection will see a law in force making compulsory a public statement of campaign contributions. A movement, started in New York and elready possessed of considerable momentum, has as its object Federal Fed-eral legislation on this subject. Perry Belmont of New York, who is a new member in the ranks of reformers, has appointed a committee which will use its influence toward this end. - On the list are a score or more of the most prom iirent men of the country men whose wishes are sure to le respected. Thre is no doubt that the campaign contribution has become one of the crying evils of the day. The Government has made' an attempt o prevent extortion of money from civil service employees and the underlings of office-holders, but this effort has been only partially successful. Every now and Ihen a howl goes up from some disgruntled dis-gruntled clerk that he ban been forced to donate to the campaign fund and lias lost out after all. As a general thing, no action is taken in such cases, and the matter is allowed to rest. ' But by far the worst feature of the present campaign fund custom cus-tom is the tribute levied on the large corporations. Concerns which :ue conducted on' a co-operative basis, or those in which there are ! large numbers of stockholders, are called upon to donate large sums. This is generally done, and the money of the people is diverted toward the election of whatever candidate happens to please the personal per-sonal preference of the president or board of directors. The stockholders stock-holders and the people who contribute the money have no say in the matter, and the fruit of their toil is often used to put into power an administration to which they are opposed The first concerted complaint of enormous campaign funds was . made when Bryan was defeated the first time. This complaint in- creased -When he was beaten the se;pnd time, and Judge Parker a ' Aear ago created a sensation by his charges that the Republican party was extorting thousands from the corporations. The cuve for this ' evil is publicity. Dollars should not decide our elections. . It is to be loped that the sought-for legislation will be enacted. |