Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-03-12

chanan, in 1856, pernlcious usage
sprang up in political circles that
we desire to condemn. It is the prac.
tice of hiring men to go from one coun-
ty, where they are not needed, to the
other doubtful counties for the purpose
of voting at the State aud county elec>
ton. The practice is commonly known
under the name of Importation of vot-
ers, and was first resorted to by the
Democratic party, and, as far as we
know-and we think We are posted
the thing has entirely been confined to
that political organization.
In 1866 this county was sought to
be carried by that method Of gerry
Wandering, but failed simply because
the importation was not large enough.
At the last election it was tried again,
and now this year the same game is
being put up, if correct information
has been impaired, and, in fact, some
members of the Democratic party
,oldly admit that such is the case.
Now such resorts are wrong and corr
rupting, and have tendency to ulti-
mately overthrow our Government.
Happily the best men in the opposition
party utterly refuse to endorse such ac-
tions, aud always condemn any who en-
gage in the scheme. Hence, of ne.
cessity, the baser members carry on
their work secretly.
To cover up their tracks more effect
ually they are charging importation
into this county upon the Republican
party. They believe in the old dodge
of "stop thief"
We take this opportunity to say we
know of no person who has been in
duced to come into Polk county for
the purpose of voting, nor do we know
of any parties who have sought to pro-
cure such voters: Such course, in
the very nature of things, is impossi-
BILE, even if Republicans were never so
willing In the first place, Republi
cans have not the money to spend in
such illegitimate enterprises in the
second, if they had the money they
could not get the men, for the party is
made up of steady, sober citizens, who
will not 20 aDd stop in county three
months for board and whisky money.
On the other hand it is not from such
reasons that Republicans refuse to en-
gage in such devices, but from princi.
pie and their high sense of political
honor.
And We believe there are many Dem.
ocratsj of the same mind, who, when
the day of election comes, will rebuke
their party associates for such conduct
by voting the Republican ticket.
We expect that the Democrats will
deny the charge of importation, and if
they do, we will ask why il is that the
great manufacturing corporation in Sa>
lem has established such large wood
yard in the bottoms above Eola? And
why was the same thing done two
years ago? The company now has, in
its yard, over hundred cords of the
wood prepared at that cutting. It is
not legitimate financial management to
have three years stock of wood on
hand for the purpose of rotting down
in the pile. Nor would legitimate
business neccssitate the company to
send to Scio, in Linn county, to get
men of the right political party.
The course left for Republicans to
pursue, inasmuch as we cannot rely
upon the honest portion of the Demo
cratic party for help, is to sec that
every man comes out to the polls and
votes, not only for his political opin-
ions, but against this nefarious impor-
tation scheme. With a full vote Of the
Republican party we stand good
chance of defeating our opponents. IF
We are worsted, we have the conscious
ness of knowing that We have done