Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-28
How Voters are Bought in Maine.
How the Republicans Tried to Carry
that state.

How the Republicans Tried to Carry
that State.
The Boston Globe of the 30th ult.
contains an article that is the result
of Investigations made in Maine re-
specting rurnors of fraud and cor
ruption which were so widely circu-
lated just before and after the elec-
ton in that State. It says the asser-
tions which it makes of fraud, can be
supported by affidavits and such 9TH
or detailed evidence as must satisfy
anyone that the Republican convass
was carried in the most unscrupulous
manner, and that there were organ
lied systems of purchasing votes and
bulldozing voters into voting the Re-
publican ticket.
1t is certain that the Prohibition
law was one of the engines made use
of to obtain Republican votes. Men
appear to have been promised immu-
nifty from prosecution for selling liq-
uor if they wonld vote the Republi-
can ticket, and to have been threat
ened with prosecution unless they
did so. There stands upon the rec
ord of several county courts to-day
sentences imposed but never en-
forced, both of Imprisonment and
fine, and evidence equally strong
that indictments have been made,
but quietly shelved and no further
action taken on them---laid on file or
noN pressed. In the eases of some
individuals there have been as many
as q dozen different indictments, with
several counts in each that have been
thus disposed of without punishment
to the party prosecuted. This, it
must be remembered. is in the case
of men who left the Democratic par
ty for their safety, ard voted the Re
publican ticket under the stress of
combined promise and threat. IL
one county, almost Immediately af.
ter election, two men were arraigned
on charge of selling intoxicating
liquors; both were convicted. The
Judge imposed like sentence in the
case of each--a fine of $50 and costs.
The Democrat was obliged to pay
his fine; the Republican, or rather
the former Democfat, who voted the
Republican ticket on this occasion,
went himself to the County Attorney
and told him, in very plain and dis
tinct words, that he had been prom
ised immunity. The fine in his case
was remitted, and hepaid simply the
costs of the court, Sc so, or therea-
bouts. Parties complained OF and
indicted, and in some cases convict
ed-and in one or two even SEN
tenced-,for other offenses, such as
burglary, assault and other misde-
meanors, are allowed to go at large,
and they boast among their fellows
that they have been insured by the
immunity referred to.
The minor officers of the revenue,
postmasters, town officials and 9th.
ers who belong to the ranks of the
Republican party, have been induced
under threats of losing their posi-
tions, to do and repeat that which
they freely acknowledge their con-
science forbade. They have been
forced to take money from their
pockets and that contributed from
other sources, and go into the mar
ket and purchase luke-warm, weak.
minded and unprincipled members
of the opposition for such sums as
they could agree upon. Evidence
cleaned from all sections of the State
in this investigation, shows that this
system of purchase and pressure was
general all over the commonwealth,
and had its origin in the headguart
ers of the party, and in certain
head of the organization: For in
stance, scores of men are found who
try to excuse themselves in the
shameful practice of buying votes by
remarks like this:
81 always take care to pay mer
for their time, SO that there would
be nothing criminal about it.
know how to do these things. Me,
around here don't earn more than s.
or 81 25 day; aud at the time o
election a great many were out o
work. You say to man that if b.
will come and vote the Republican
ticket, and take a horse and brin,
his neighbor whom you know to b.
a Democrat, and have him vote ais
the Republican ticket, you will pa,
him e dollar aud a half for bis time
and seventy-five cents for his horse.
Now that is the way the ballot buy
ers talk, and the explanation Of hoy
these votes were bought is SO simila
in different towns, that is in itsel
strong proof of instruction from
master mind. More than a hundre'
men h We acknowledged that the
put out money for votes, and almos
every one gives such an explanation
as this. Then, too, there were Fed
eral, State and town officers who ha