New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-27
PUMPING IN PENNSYLVANIA

1t is an interesting popularity of criminx
voting in Pennsylvania, that the rascally Re-
peaters when brought to the witness-stand
usually acknowledge their multiplied misde.
meanors with a cheerful frankness which ia
eminently edifying. A contested election cass
Dunn VS.. Witham) is now before a Legs.
latiye Committee at Harrisburg-tle seat in
dispute being that for the XIth Legislative
District. One witness, Michael Slaven by name,
swears that lie voted the Democratic ticket
twenty times, between 8 o'clock a. m. and 5h.
3Om. D. m.-being about twice every hour-a
remarkably energetic days work, and speaking
highly for Michael's peripatetic ubiquity
Then comes q confessor rejoicing in the
gentle name of Lamb, who acknowledges
that he voted the Democratic ticket twenty
times on election day. Then follows Henry
Elliott, who, on his own statement, was also
double X voter. The modest and moderate
John Rowan contented himself with voting
the Democratic ticket only ten times Accord
ing to the testimony Of Slaven, there was
small party of ten men, the witness himself
being one of them, who went meanderinR about
all day, voting 5he 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 compan-
ions, according TO Lamb, belonged in Baltimore
and some of them in New-York. Elliott, it
seems to us, was absurdy cautious; for he
depOnes 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
il is not at all probable that any Democratic
challenger would have molested him or made
him afraid while he was doing 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 difficult for him to
establish his identity when the rovers called
at the Democratic Headquarters to receive their
reward.
Mr. Slayen testifies to an interesting crcum-
stance in regard to the man who gave US
" the tickets" This charitable purveyOr OF
ballots presented to the little devoted band
IS BILL whereupon the free voters went to the
Girard-ave 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 franchise.
These were, indeed, true Democratic politicians.
They were after free dinner, and they got
lt ana whoever says lueJ uu y O"i" ~ ~"
know nothing by personal experience OF the
fatigue of voting early and voting often.
Mr. Michael Slaven aud the other dilgent
perambuators exhibited a touching confidence
in Democratic integrity. 1--WE voted" says
Michael, "the Democratic ticket; did not
examine any of them; the man we took
"them from had the Democratic badge on"
Each enterprising voter received from the man
4" with the badge on" a slip of paper. Upon this
were written facts with which the recipient vas
supposed to be unacquainted, viz, his own name.
residence, and occupation. These memoranda
were necessary. it seems, to manufacture cltl-
zenship for the gallant balloters 1t is me- every
body who can be rechristened, get new house.
and learn q new trade, dozen times over in
one day.
Although the Philadelphia system appears to
us to be nearly perfect, yet there is one I'M
provement which we may venture to suggest.
Common humanity would seem to require that
every Repeater passing from pole to pole,"
should be furnished with a velocipede. If Mr.
Michael Slaven, without this locomotive con-
yenience, could vote twenty times in one day,
il is evident that by its aid he might double
or treble his usefulness. We give Mr. Chair
man Wallace the hint, and charge him nothing
for il. beyond the common gratitude which our
past favors have already so amply earned