Publication of Campaign Contributions
Performed by William Jennings Bryan
Recorded July 21, 1908
An election is a public affair.
It is held for the benefit of the public and it is
the means through which the people select their officials
and give directions as to the policies to be adopted.
There is no sound reason for secrecy in regard to
campaign methods; and publicity will in itself prove
a purifying influence in politics. The necessity for
publicity has increased with the growth of favor seeking
corporations. These combinations of capital have gradually
extended their power over the government through contributions
to the campaign funds and the officials elected by
them have, in return for contributions, sold immunity
to offenders. Public opinion has at last compelled
a reluctant Congress to prohibit contributions from
corporations. But in many cases, individual stockholders
in the big corporations have so large a personal interest,
that they can afford to subscribe the funds necessary
for the purchase of an election. The recent national
convention of the Republican party, by an overwhelming
majority, voted down the publicity plank proposed
by Senator Lafollete's friends. But the Republican
leaders already see that it was a serious mistake.
The Democratic party has declared in its platform
not only against receiving contributions from corporations,
but against receiving from individuals contributions
unreasonably large. And, what it is even more important,
our platform declares in favor of the publication,
before election, of all contributions above a reasonable
minimum. At the first meeting of the National Democratic
Committee, I joined with Mr. Kerr candidate for Vice
President, in requesting the committee to interpret
and apply this plank to the present campaign. We suggested
that $10,000 be fixed as the maximum for individual
contributions, and that all individual contributions
above $100 be made public before the election. All
such contributions made before the 15th of October,
to be made public on or before that date, all contributions
received after the 15th of October to be made public
as received. No contributions to be received within
three days of the election, and all expenditures to
be made public immediately after the election. The
Democratic committee unanimously adopted these suggestions
and will apply the doctrine of publicity. It is to
be hoped that the action taken by the Democratic committee
will compel the Republican committee to do likewise.
For the people ought to know what influences are at
work in the campaign, that they may better decide
whether either party has so obligated itself to the
great corporations as to make it impossible for it
to protect the rights of the people. Let there be light, is the demand of the voters, and more and more
emphasis is being placed upon this demand. If there
are any who love darkness rather than light, the excuse
must be found in holy writ -- it is because their
deeds are evil.