The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-16
TIE CORRUPTION OF THE REPUBLICAN,
PARTY.
The conrsssson Of Practical Republican
Politician.

The confessien of n Practical Republican
Politician.
Fton he Tadepend,nL
live In rural district i'm one OF the Mid
die Statcs-one OF the weathicst most popu-
lous. most intelligent and oldest in the whole
country; the community composed almost en-
tirely OF aRriculturisis. whose representatives
in Congress and the Legislature have ut times
the state. as advanced In morals and general
S S0ndon sna to as be- No eo ron from darE
ways and vain tricks OF practical politics
as Ssops ey 6St bo OF
community political corruption and bribery Mt
elections have manifested themselves in two
party In tho struggle for nominations. which.
by reason Of tho overwhelming strength Of that
majority, are equivalent to election. 2, AT the
general elections. moro especially in the sub
districts Of the county, where the parties are
The county can poli as many az q 900 votes.
1900. No probable objections, revolts nsub-
overeomo t. 7 hSye known mem Who were. by
their own confess ion and by current charges that
Were never I,spit9yedo on nor even d9nied pubic
Such certainty ofsuccess transfers the contest for
local offices from the general TO the primary
elections. Candidates are settled by popular
vote. BY special legislative enactment the gem
ernl election laws are made applicable to these
pTmares EpeGGng 9Ga voting ana t%So
ishablc. like as these offences at tho general
elections. Nevertheless. ererV election is dUe1id-
met an active politician Of the majority party
for years who could not give me we!l-authenti-
T nroofa nnd pot co S over o vst coma
TO Judgment.
Attempted prosecutions have been made. In
one case, at preliminary hearings. although
prima facie ease was made out, the defendants
were discharged-once, II Is certain, owing 10
the bribery Of the Justice Of the Pence. Again
influences working In the Grand Jury. or petit
juries have effected mfscarTiages oil Justice,
until no one will run the risk OF prosecuting
the most fragrant offender, Fear OF the law Is
no longer barrier to the most outrageous
fraud, because the operation OF the law is
altogether Ineffective to punishment.
At the primary elections the rings and fac
lions OF the majority form their combinations.
and certain leading politicians frequently con
tract. for a money consideration. To- put through
single candidates or rings. which, with any
efficient organization. Is Of comparatively easy
accomplishment since plurality alone elects
in some cases not requiring more than 1000
votes out OF n total poll OF 10000. They assess
pool TO elect the short ticket and pocket the rest
M their profit. For instance. n few years ago.
two entcrprising political partners made such a
candidates his note for $4,000. to be paid If
omnaicd and from others smaller amounts.
W a short ticket, laid out $4,000 in bribinG ac-
tive workers al oyer tho county to vote that
ity, Of course. The obligations were paid. tho
firm cleared $500 by the operation. gad am
glad 70 say one Of the rascals cheated the other
This systematic and lucrative style OF munag-
ing the thing encouraged similar operations
and Increased the number OF operators. with
the usual results Of enlarged .competiton-a
dminutiOn Of the percentage OF profits on tho
capital riskGd. But the system has not been
fully collected data that tho total expenditure
of all the candidates. mostly for. corrupt pur-
poses, amounts 70 az much ne the total legiti-
mate profits Of the Offices sought.
Al the last primary election there was q per-
feet carnival Of fraud; A local journal has
mnde thie unchallpnnpd statement.
class OF bummcrs infcst the city and county hc.iey.
ms candidates ,or beer ana money and to weia eNen,
he ready yicdins 10 them become worse Votes sre
AMI I .ma IN s t s sSa Without Iq
SsS So'; IT, nsT %sA % os Sna S S
aetive politicians ~ he last .mpsgn m This county for
| IN The aeErcsss between $500 and stO.d,o. OF
sSus e s. "% sup eS s.' to which @s
have reissred 70 such a pitch Of excitement and
sres.d that election DAY e agents Of The candidate
hand buyins everything that came along regardless d
SSs and -s s s o sq'uHS Tie cash Into
This last statement IL literally true. The party
| poled Ia the central city Of the district at this
| primary election more votes by nearly twenty
| per cent than 1t can muster ut general election
| though not three-fourtlls of its members on an
| average. interest themselves in the primaries.
| The vote was swellcd by the purchase Of minors
| non-residents reporters and vaerant members
| OF the opposition party. They were led to the
| polls. and M soon as they deposited their bal
|
grains. the shrunken standard Of their man
| hood.
One incident Of the campaign was notable
| OF several candidates for IN 3 Congressional
| nomination. one was far behind In his pros
| poets until tho last week OF the campaign. Their
| he suddenly loomed up. made " a terrific burs
Of speed on the Lomestretch., and beat his op
| pouents by q decided majority His election
| was yariously attributed 10 great moral inhu
| enccs." popular revolt against the King. a.
| | asked one Of his practical politician
| friends how 10 account Tor As remarkubl,
victory. He said: He drew $4,000 out q
bank, and stiffened his backbone To spent
il. We went TO work. The fellows that Is ha,
bought on Monday night had sold out to G OF
Wednesday. We bought them on Fridn'
Saturday WIS election day. some got S2j
some $50. some 500 for themselves, and man
were authorized e. pay from 81 10 So apiece 70
| individual votes. When the bills wero all in,
had cost about g.. 200: but his victory was -
complete that lie will never again be cOnfrnnte,
with formidable opposition. and he will fin,
that il WINS economy TO make one good fight an,
win It SO emphatically." The gentleman win,
owed his triumph To such means Is distinEuis h
ed for old fashioned ideas OF political upright
ness the people" believe IN him thoroughly
he enters the House OF Representatives Hmoni
It's oldest and most highly respected members
and with the reputation Of singular probitl an,
honor in his walk and conversation at Wash
ington.