The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-28
Pumping in Pennsylvania.


II is an Interesting pecularity OF criminal
voting in Pennsylvania, that the rascally re-
peateTs, when brought 10 the witness stand,
usually noWledg-. their multiplied misde-
meapOrs with cheerful iraukness which is
eminently edi'ying ested election case
(Bunn VS.. Wiltham) was la,ely before Legis-
Iative Commit g at Harrisbul g-the seat in
dispute being that o. the Eleventh Legislative
district One witness, Michael Siaven by
name, sWeaTs that he voted the Democratic
ticket twenty times bstween o'clock A. NJ.
and $50 z. M.-beiDg about twice every hour
"a II rtmarkably energetic days work, and
speaking highly for Mlchas's peripatetic ubi
guilty. Then comes contessOr rejoicing in
the gentle name of Lamb, who acknowledges
that he voted the Democratic Ncket twenty
times on election day. hen follows Henry
Elliott, who, on his own statement, was also a
double Y voter. The modest aud moderate
John Rowan contented himself with voting
the Democratic ticket only ten times. Accord
ing TO tie testimony Of Slavep, there was
small party of ten men, the witness himself
beipg one of them, who went meandering
about all day, voting the Democratic ticket
whenever they pleased and as often as they
pleased being furnished with ballots by ''men
with the Democratic badge on" Some OF his
companions, according to Lamb, belonged in
Baltimore and some OF them in New York.
Elliott, it seems to us, was absurdly cautious;
for lie depOses that he changed his hat and
coat sometimes in going from poll to poll"
Why he did this we are sure we do not know;
for it is not at all probable that any Demo-
cratic challenger would have molested him or
made him afraid while he was doing a work
so noble and patriotic. For the enthusiastic
Elliott to disguise himself was, as it were, to
hide his light under bushel, and the change
of hat and coat might have rendered it diff
cult for him to establish his identity when the
rovers called at the Democratic headquarters
to receive their reward.
Mr.. Slaven testifes to an interesting oircum-
stance in regard to "the man who gave us the
tickets" This charitable purveyor of ballots
presented TO the devoted little band So bill,
whereupon the free voters went to tho Girard
Avenue Market and ''got their dinners
! and an uncommOnly good appetite we should
think they must have had after their long
walks and exhausting exercise of the fran
chise. These were, indeed, true Democratic
politicians. They were after a free dinner,
and they got it; and whoever says they didn't
earn it can know nothing by personal expe-
rience OF the fatigue of voting early and voting
often.
Mr.. Michael Slaven and the other diligent
perambulators exhibited a touching confidence
in Democratic integrity. "We voted" says
Michael, "the Democratic ticket; did not exa
mine any of them; the man we took them
from had the Democratic badge on" Each
enteIpllnlhB NOler received from 'tne mar
with the badge on" slip of paper. Upon this
were written facts with which the recipient
was supposed to be unacquainted, viz, hii
own name, residence, and occupation. These
memoranda We're necessary, it seems, TO manu-
facture citizenship for the gallant balloters
1t isn't everybody who can be- rechTistened
: get new house, and learn a new trade
dozen times over in one day.
T Although the Philadelphia system appear
to us TO be nearly perfect, yet there is on
, improvement which we may venture t.
suggest. Common humanity would seem t.
require that every repeater, passing ''fron
poll TO poll" should be furnished with
veocipede. II Mr. Michael Slaven. withou
this locomotive convenience, could vot
twenty times in one day, it ia evident that b
, its aid he might double or treble his usefu
ness. We give Mr.. Chairman Wallace tn
hint, and charge him nothing for it, beyon
the common gratitude which our past favor
: have already SO amply earned.