THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1908. AMERICAN POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3007, 2 October 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1908. AMERICAN POLITICS.

A few months ago a Mew York paper expressed the opinion regarding the Presidential election campaign, that "it required little imagination to foresee that Mr Hearst may be in a position to make a lot «f trouble." The remarks at the time applied merely to the establishment by Mr Hearst of the "National Independence Party," by which he carved a slice out of the Democratic Party, but in tlje light of his recent sensational disclosures, the statement must seem almost prophetic. The effect of Mr Hearst's "bombfhell" has already been to drive oat of politics a Republican Senator and the Democratic Governor of the State of Oklahoma, each of whom have been I taking a prominent part in the campaign, to besjmirch the characj ters of several other politicians, to I cast suspiciion on the bona fides the Republican and Democratic leaders in refusing to accept campaign ■tions from trusts and corHteed to create distrust as of the President's

anti-trust policy. There is also some natural uneasiness in the ranks of both parties, who, it ia reported, fear that Mr Hearst may have other disclosures up his sleeve, for use when he thinks fit. From one point,of view the disclosures have come at a ,most inopportune time, for the approaching election promised to be conducted in far cleaner fashion than has been the case for many years. Both parties have given "publicity pledges,'' which means that they have adopted a self-denying ordinance by which, for the first time, the public would be able to see how much the cam - paign cost each party, and —a much more important matter —where the money came from. The Democratic National Committee announced that no contributions would accepted from corporations, no contributions over ten thousand dollars would be accepted from anyone, all contributions over one hundred dollars would be published before the election, and all expenditure immediately afterwards. The Republican Committee have not taken similar action in limiting contributions, nor have th.;y promised to publish details of their receipts before the election, but Mr Taft, the Republican candidate, has stipulated that the party shall adopt in regard to the campaign fupds the law o(f New York State, which requires the details of receipts and expenditure in State elections to be iiiade public and certified under oath. These steps by the two leaders make for political decency and honesty.