I recommend that
a legislative committee of investigation be appointed with the
power to employ counsel, and the authority to summon persons and
papers and to swear witnesses in order that it might be known
just what organizations have been entering into campaign
activities, and how much money they expended and collected--also
the names of the contributors. This should extend also to
candidates. The facts as adduced will then be a safe guide as to
the necessity of strengthening the corrupt practices act, or
more rigorously enforcing existing law, or both."
The legislative session had hardly concluded before the war with
Germany broke out and it was deemed unwise at that time to
proceed to any agitation on the subject. The functions of the
committee were, accordingly never fulfilled. Early in the year
of 1920, the Governor gave warning of the report that huge funds
were to be raised in this year for election purposes. At the
very outset of his campaign in addressing the members of
Democratic National Committee at Columbus, the Governor said:
"I hope I do violence to no member of this committee when I
submit to you this proposal: That we purpose not only to deal
with eminent good faith with the electorate of this nation in
November with reference to platform pledges, but we mean to let
every man and woman understand where every dollar comes from,
and for what purpose it is spent. We not only urge that as a
matter of high principle, but in order to guarantee the triumph
of our cause which deserves to triumph.
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