Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-06
HOW MAINE WAS CARRIED.
MORE OF REPUBLICAN METHODS AT
THE LAST ELECTION.

ISAL's RELEASE WITH VOTES.
From Special Dispatch to Philadelphia Record.
'BosToN, November 2.--The Globe con.
tinues its exposures of Republican
methods in Maine at the last election,
and much comment is caused by the
revelations made. Blaine and other
leaders are said to be very much exer.
cised to know how much the investiga.
ton in their State has really developed.
One Of the most important points yet
made public is the story of an interview
with +. X. Hall, Representative elect
from the New Castle district, who hav'
ing been convinced that the interviewer
was good Republican, freely confessed
that he and other inen in the district
openly bought votes at prices ranging
from fifty cents TO fifteen dollars apiece.
The following letter from Jas. q. Blaine,
which Mr.. Hull confessed to having re-
ceived, is also published:
See every man in your district, and find
out how he is going to vote, If he Is a
Republican and weak -knecd see what will
strengthen him. If he is Democrat or
Greenbacker see what will induce him to
vote with us. Make up Il statement of the
amount of money which you will need for
all expenses, and forward at once.
(Signedl JAMES G.. BLAINE.
Letters similar to this and signed by
Mr.. Blaine appear to have been sent to
confidential workers all over the State.
Another interesting interview was
had with a man by the name OF Her
bert. lie said that il took hard work
and great deal of money to carry the
last election in Maine, but that it had
been done in thoroughly business.likc
manner. Continuing he said: "Out OF
our town there were a good many that
had TO be bought, but ours cost us
good deal less than most anywhere else.
Why, | didn't pay over 81 apiece for
some of the worst of them, and good
many got for a days work" lie fur
ther said he paid the money himself AS
the representative of James q. Baine.
On Mond y morning will be published
another chapter devoted to the city of
Lewiston and the town Of Auburn, in
Androscoggin county. OF the discov'
cries in these places the report says:
In the beginning of the year 1878 the
forty Tor therenbouts) liquor dealers
here voted the Democratic ticket, and
the city government was then Demo
cratic. 1t is now claimed that at the
late municipal election Lewiston's city
government Was elected from the Re
publican party by the intimidation Of
the mill hands, the casting of Illegal
votes and free use OF money. The
Republicans put all the machinery Of
the prohibitory law into operation, Sc
cured the indictment OF nearly all OF
the liquor dealers, and then, not press.
ing them 10 trial held the indictment
over their heads, thus forcing them 10
vote contrary to their previous record.
At the time or just prior to the time
that William L. Frye was elected TO
Congress one Michael II. Ward had
been imprisoned for violation Of the
United States revenue law. 4 petition
or an agreement was then drawn up,
which stated that the signers would
agree to vote the Republican ticket at
that election and in the ensuing cleo.
tions, and as a reward for such sale OF
votes Michael II. Ward should be re-
leased from confinement, and his fine
should be remitted. BY this means
and by the means of threats made 10
those over whose heads the indictments
hung 100 Democrats THE number
which il was stipulated was necessary
to secure Wards release) were secured,
and Ward, as is claimed and "a can be
shown. was released without the form
Of either pardon or trial. At least a
dozen men, who keep what may be call
ed open bars in Lewiston, have said.
and do say openly. that they have no
fear Of arrest, even il seizure should
follow, because of the fact that they
have agreed TO vote the Republican
ticket, and because the official dare not
press them, on account Of what they
might tell so far as intimidation goes.
Affidavits have been made 6T izens
of Lewiston to the effect that sessu
ing places in the First and seventh
wards were left in charge of improper
parties also, that twelve students at
Bates College, belonging in other parts
of the State, and, in some cases, out OF
the State, voted at the last election
also, that unnaturalized residents voted,
and that a considerable number Of non.
residents cast their ballots.
There is sworn evidence that at Au.
burn Alderman Miller was seen to add
two names to the check list. But n
great many of the small traders Of the
town refused TO make affidavit to the
wrongdoing they had witnessed. saying
that the result would be TO ruin their
business. To be a Democratic lawyer
was to lose nine. tenths Of the cases
brought before the municipal and coun.
ty Courts. IL is alleged that at least
three hundred persons voLed there who
had not become citizens OF the United
States.