Would-Be Judge Offered Contribution to Bellotti

Lt. Gov. Francis X. Bellotti told 200 Harvard-Radcliffe Young Democrats last night that he rejected an offer of a $30,000 campaign contribution in exchange for "serious consideration for a judgeship" for the contributor.

Bellotti, the Democratic candidate for governor of Masachusetts, said the incident took place yesterday.

He used the story to illustrate his plea for state aid in financing political campaigns. "The beginnings of corruption are in campaign contributions. If a man gives you $10,000, it isn't likely to be because he's interested in good government."

"I had a fellow come in today and offer me $30,000 in exchange for 'serious consideration for a judgeship.' Now he didn't mean serious consideration, he wanted something definite. We're $60,000 in the hole and going downhill fast...." Bellotti said he expected to be $100,000 in debt by the end of the campaign.

Opposed Day

Bellotti's speech highlighted an organizational meeting at which Young Democrats also endorsed all Massachusetts Democratic candidates, staged a mild revolt against the leadership, and voted against tacit approval of Noel Day's Congressional campaign.

Day, a Negro social worker in Roxbury, is running for the Congressional seat of Rep. John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House.

Leland D. Sanderson '67, introduced a resolution calling for the club to except McCormack from its blanket endorsement of Democratic candidates. The motion was defeated on a show of hands.

The club also voted down a motion to donate $600 to the Democratic Senate and House Campaign Committees after speakers said the money would go to "racists" and "conservatives" as well as liberal Democrats.

The Young Dems then voted to give $100 to the Democratic National Committee for voter-registration work, $200 to a fund for liberal Democratic candidates, and $50 each to Thomas H. Doherty and Bob Doyle, Democratic candidates for the state legislature from Cambridge.

Bellotti gave a brief prepared speech on the differences between the political parties and wound up with a ringing endorsement of "progressive social legislation."

"If it was not for this, I would not have been born, I would not have been educated, and I would not be before you tonight as a candidate for governor. This is what I stand for," he said.

During a brief question period he opposed a referendum question calling for repeal of the Governor's Council ("but I know it'll pass anyway"), approved a pay raise for the legislature ("though the voters won't ever approve one")