Brokers, Accountants Try to Buy Some Lenience

Wall Street is trying to pay the piper -- to pipe down.

Campaign donations from brokers and accounting companies are soaring, as the embattled industries try to align themselves with politicians most likely to go easy on them.

Brokers rank third among all groups for the amount of money they've donated this year -- outranked only by lawyers and retirees. Indeed, brokerages have shelled out more money in the current midterm election than in any other, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit organization. ...