Smyrna times., 1873-01-15
TF1F Ih" Smyfnn Til
BRIBERY AT TIE lsnIIS

Ma. EDIToR-Dr Sir:-It Is gra,lv,ng :.
that such men as Mr. Bayard seIs his seal Of cnrd
nation on the praciIce Ui bribery al the polls n ~,
men OF like Influence cash. and all parties s,,, u,t
equally condemn II, aud lend their Influence L ~
Suppression, II can, IN very shOr lime be en,,,a,
exlrPa'ed why should thus plagne. spot con,,ny
and increase from year 10 yeart There Is nn '
reason why any man should be paid TO vote H Ju''
exercise his free WILL and either vote or moi v, ."
best sulis MIN IL IL not charity 10 ask a man II, 80,
his self respect Tor few dollars and should h 'e
cept the offer it, IN nine out OF ten , N
rather u curse than blessing, for Ihnse "a ho he'
sentiments which they value above "A lew r.,,
generally spend this III gotten gam Tor thai ta
still fur Iher degrades them. When money !, iI
used our elections but farce golnp for Tho oP
which has the longest purse and as each nor,r 10y
as good right To play al IhIs game AZ Ihe olh.,,
lar 10 presume that the long purse Will noi d.,
remain on Il same side. II IS therefore eyi,lsn,
II will be to the interest Of all parties 10 has,
lining stopped And here The question arIse, ha,
! can II be done! "o"
| We believe that legislative enactment can do :.
| And while we would not presume 10 dirIaIe =, W.
Lawn akefs, we would ask the DrIyIega IN . ~ o"t
! some means which we believe. II earned nm So
effectuslly put STOP to the aDOmnable prac,ics u
We would suggest that each and every man n,,,,
guilty Ut offering brIbe 10 elector shuid ho ~
qualified from holding any office Tor seven o, G",.
years. or some other lime deemed sufficient unn,st
ment for the Offense. F'''Sh'
And any man found guilty Of receiving bribo -.
dlsranchIsed Tor al least the same length Of ti,ns
| Any man proved guilty Oi furnishing Innds - l.
used al The polls, ior the purpose OF buying vnss S
disqualified from holding UfiiCe o. a cetIaIr Ie,ro "
Any man proved guilty OI holding FUNDS or d,.b,,
ing Inc same as payment TO electors be GkpushGaa
| IRON holding office iOr a certain length Of ume
Any man elected 10 Office should be reun,,sd =.
laRe an ohlh that ne had not been engaged dIreciv
or indirectly IN buying votes slnce The tassage OF M,
| same. - '"e
As further security. have al each polling Yin4,,
an enclosure with b iards and frosted elas, whs's
only one voter IS admIted at a time where he mav
have an opportunity OF quietly deposIiIng HI. yor.
and none 10 see HIM but The election Olfnefs
And iOr further security require all tickets of all
parties TO he printed on white payer and OF nn,ion
SIZE. say - inches WIDE by 6 inches lonR That Iho
tickets OF all pOrtIes shall cOniOrm TO this rse a.,
mat no man can tell frnm The outward appearance nr
me uckel ~hAt party u belongs to. And sny Icks AZ
having any device, number, Cr maTk of any k,nd
npnn Il differing from others may be taken as MIN,
Jdcle evidence OF fraud or other words that Ins
voc had been bought, and illegal, and should he
thro" oni or kept IN separate box from the general
ballot. hnd counted separately, 81 that IN eise of a
contest they may be examined by an Impartial cum.
mittee
We would also suggest that a board Consisting nc
iOur JudIclons men, two from each paTIy sci IN a
separate room from that IN which ihe uekets are ,e
ceIved, TO whom s4Ould be referred all CHALLENGED
votes. whose decision shall, IL favorable entuIe The
party 10 vote, (or reject If they think the evidence
sufiicient0 certificate being given 10 that effect
which, presented at the window, shall be spite enI
evidence 10 The officers Oi the election that be party
presenting the same IS entitled To vote
III Is would greatly facilitate The business Of The
election and remove most VI The wTsDghDg ablui The
window
Then il IL was not lawful To sell or give away any
Intoxicating liquors on The day OF elecIon, The day
might come when ladies might approach the polls and
de DOEIt IhetF b1llOl H.