Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-31

We agree with the Sprinsiirh. Fa't'e'M
that "a campaign with mca.i' a. lrrim!ng
a CRYING evil in New Eu.au! r,..;.... Of
corrupt election methods in B1stoa, the Re
publican says: Large sums are yearly spent
and it is too true that baI'ls make elections.
So far as appears on the surface there is little
open buying of voters. The money chiefly
goes to ward bosses who deliver the votes.
They are frequently given 50 much Tor every
vote beyond a certain majority that can he
shown in this or that prec!nc;. Fully hall OF
the money expended is probably wastcd,-
that IS to say, 10 equivalent Is rendered for
il. An enormous amount goes in the pay
ment of poll taxes. According TO the cur
rent talk OF Boston politicians Congressman
Morse was told that he must Put up ;Sl5,OO
for this use in the recent campaign. Axcl
Dearborn, Democratic candi,latein the Third
District, was assessed as much, and called
upon 10 double ii before he got through
Saws the Boston Heyaid: 1t is not an
uncommon thing for a candidate for Congress
to spend so. 900 or S30, 1000 10 secure his
election L. is estimated that, in The two
Boston districts this year, the amount eN-
pended was in the neighhorhood al SSo,UOo.
4 district in which there are such contests
becomes terribly demoralizcd. y regular
class of political bummers is developed, who
look upon campaign rs their harvest time,
and TO whose fingers a large part Of the
money expended sticks. The same reckless
expenditure has been introduced into the
State elections by Gen. Butler, whose eN-
penses in his two last campaigns were esti-
mated all the way from 100000 10 SOU
000
A Concord. \. H., politician writes Il
suppose over 100000 was spent for votes
and liquor in this city and vicinity The
leading nominations, except Gov. BELLS,
went to men with har'ls the Democratic
electoral ticket especially being handed about
to the highest bidder. When Nat White
died there was canvass of the State to get
a man of equal wealth and liberaiity to sue
coed him. 1t was campaign fought with
money and drinks on both sides.
Facts similar in kind, if not equal as re-
CARDS the extent Of the corruption, are men
toned, from Connecticut, Maine, and even
Vermont Allowing something for exag-
ceration, there remains melancholy amount
of truth, in the picture thus drawn. Where
are we coming out if this sort of thing con
tinues How shall this evil he rcmcdied?-
are questions asked 10y many a thoughtful
student Of the signs of the times. Something
in the way of retarding the spread OF such
corruption may be effected by constant de-
nunciation of such methods, on the part of
the honest men of both parties but We do
not believe that an effective remedy will be
secured Till every State, and the United
States, has law under which cases of
bribery or corrupt use Of money in elections
can be taken. by a short and easy process,
no. to any legislature or political body, but
10 the courts. with the result that the proof
of single case of bribery or corruption
throws the Congressman, member of general
assembly, or officer. against whom it is
proved, or in whose behalf the money was
used, ont of his scat or Office. The elections
of members of parliament in Canada, take
place under such law; and 1t has had
wonderful effect in purifying electors in the
Dominion.