The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-16
HOW LEGISLATORS ARE CREATED

pet bag rule, statesmen were mace at inc
south our purpose, this morning, is, by |
another reference to Alabama, to show |
how the material for statesmen is manu-
featured, how legislators are created and
placed in training for craftsmanship. Our
authority for the facts given, are the
statutes of Alabama, the sworn testimony |
of ]. s. Perrin, republican member OF
the legislature, deputy United States mar
shall, and an United States supervisor of
election, as well as 'dstributor of bacon
the "bacon" being distributed under an
appropriation of the general government
for the relief of sufferers by reason of the
disastrous freshet of 1874 and of other
bright and shining carpet-bag lights. For
further authority, we have Charles Nord-
hoff, gentleman of intelligence and OBJ
servation. and: whose perfect veraclty is
unuuestoned and unquestionable-the is
none of the ten cents word kind of truth
about him, that kind of veracity being
monopOlized in more northern commu-
nifty.
The first machinery necessary, was
registry law and a registration of voters,
and, accordingly, the necessary legislation
was had in 1868, and the registry of vote
made in the latter months of that, and the
carly months OF the following, year. b
this law, Il lists were made and deposited
with the judges of probate, and it was
made their duty to add, at any and all
times, th, names of sucl, persons as would
make oalh that they were voters. No pro-
vision was made for r, vising these list4. or
for striking off the names of voters who
might thereafter de or remove from the
state but, in order TO keep the list full,
inspectors of election were permitted to
add new names at any time, on the day of
election, before the close of the polls. The
law was strictly complied with the pro-
bate Judges adding names from time TO
time, and the inspectors from hour TO hour
on election day. both being very careful
never to erase Maize once on. For fear,
however, some one might be deprived of
voting by reason of nom registry, the
" the intent and meaning of this act that
I" no registration lists shall be used by any
" inspector or other officer of election for
% the purpose of determining who may or
"who may not vote and any person at
" tempting to interfere in any manner
q" with any other person who may desire
{" to vote shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanor and punished in the same man
ner as now provided for in the election
laws" Under this provision, inspectors
of election actually received and counted
the votes of persons whom they knew
The machinery beng in working order,
the next step was to make it available
Accordingly, REPUBLICAN union clubs ="
were formed, in which the ignorant ard
vicious were drilled in the varied duties
and responsibilities of election day. Sham
elections were held in the club rooms, the
members taking their turn in acting as in
spectors of election, federal supervisors of
election, deputy United States marshals,
honest republican and democratic voters,
fraudulent voters, reporters, the "quict
" citizen looking on" ETC., etc. Pretend
ed voters were challenged, rejected as lille
gal, and then instructed in the method of
retiring, assuming a new disguise, and then
coming back and swearing in their votes.
That we may not seem to eXaggerate, we
will quote from the sworn testimony of
Squires, the chairman of the republican
. union club of Mobile, as given in case
OF contest for seat in congress from the
Mobile district, and which will be laid be-
fore congress at its assembling in Decem-
Der; 'lts object" he says, twas to in
g crease the republican vote of the county
first, by voting themselves; second,
by inducing their friends to vote; third,
" by oOting for their absent friends, those
&c chO are dead, and others acho nerer lad
" any eristence.' That these objects might
be carried out, drills were held as we have
stated, and Squires testifies that they were
carried out; that two hundred and fifty
men cast over one thousand votes while
another member testifies that they did this
" for the promotion of the interests of the
" republican party, by voting early and
1" oftcn;" and still another tcstifcs that
the club was "driled to repeat then
change hats and 60 back again, but be
" smart enough not to be caught" and that
they so acted election day.
Repeating having been duly provided
lor' yet Spencer and company were not
content. They were not quite sure of the
colored vote, and their attention was turned |
to bribing, coaxing and illuminating this
important element Of success. And here |
the bacon came in very OPPORTUNITY. II
was alleged, perhaps truly, that there was a |
vast amount of suffering occasioued by the |
overflow of the Alabama river, and COM
gress had ordered the distribution of a |
large quantity of bacon for the relief OF
persons so suffering, and its distribution
was entrusted to Perrin, who had been ap-
pointed deputy United States marshal
upon the recommendation and at the re-
quest of the chairman of the republican
state committee. Being himself candi-
date for the state legislature, he distributed
il wisely and well, taking especial care that
it should all find its way into the hands of
negroes, and that none of it should 90 near
the inundated region. In reference to this
distribution, he testifies as follows 81
" issued the bacon for Monroe county.
Previous to doing so a report was clrcu-
" lated among the negroes that in order for
them to obtain bacon they would have to
" vote the straight republican ticket, and
" II they received bacon and afterwards
refused or neglected to vote said repub-
hcan ticket they would forfeit their
rights in law. Az was candidate for
" the legislature upon said ticket, did not