Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-12-16

that they seldom come to the front.
Mr.. Jay Gould,in bis evidence before
the New York Legislative committee
OF 1873 which investigated the affairs
OF the Erie Railroad, openly testified
as follows:
Il do not know how much paid toward
helping friendly men. We had four States
to look after, and we had to suit our politics
to circums stances. In Democratic district
! was Democrat; in Republican district
was Republican, and in doubtful district
was doubtful; but in every district and at
all times have been an Erie man."
The state of things unearthed by
this investigation was officially de-
scribed in the report of the Legisls-
tive committee, as follows:
ut is further in evidence that Il has bee n
the custom of the managers of the Erie Rails
way, from year to year in the past, to spend
large sums to control elections and to infiu-
ence legislation. In the year 1868 more than
one million (sl ,o00,o00) was disbursed from
the Treasury for extra and legal services.
For Interesting items see Mr.. Watsop's testi-
| mony, pages 500 and 397.
"Mr. Gould, when last on the stand. and
examined in relation to various vouchers
shown him, admitted the payment during the
three years prior to 1872 of large sums to
Barber, Tweed, and others, and to influence
legislation or elections these amounts were
charged in the Ildia.rubber account The
memory OF this witness was very defective as
to details, and be could only remember large
transactions but could distinctly recall that
he had been in the habit of sending money
INTO the numerous districts all over the state,
either to control nominations or elections for
Senators and members of Assembly. Con-
sidered that, as rule. such investments paid
better than to wait till the men got TO AL.
bany. and added the significant remark, when
asked question, that it would be as impos>
sible to spec fy the numerous instances as it
would TO recall to mind the numerous freight
cars sent over the Erie road from day to
day." (See testimony, page $685.
The report of the Legislative com.
mittee concludes with the following
remarkable words:
at is not reasonable to suppose that the
Erie Railway has been alone in the eorrupt
use of money for the purposes named but
the sudden revolution in the direction of this
company AS laid bare a chapter in the secret
history OF railroad management such as has
not been permitted before II exposes the
reckless and prodgal use of money, wrung
from the people to purchase the election Of
the peoples representatives, and to bride
them when in office. According to Mr. Gould,
his operations extended into four different
states. 1t was his custom to contribute
money to influence both nominations and
elections"
A recent editorial in the New Y ork
EUening Post, entitled "Wealth in
Connecticut Politics." discuss this
subject as follows:
90 With slow but steady nropress
the principle has come to be recognized, es~
pecially in the Congressional districts and by
the Democratic party, that man who wants
an important nomination must get it by the
promise or implication of liberal contribu-
ton alter the nomination is secured. The
result is the free use of money at Connects
cut elections and corresponding debauch>
ment OF the political morals Of tie State.
"a good Illustration of this evil appears in
the Fourth Congressional district made up of
Fairfield and Litchfeld counties. This is the
district represented in Congress for several
years by William II. Barnum, afterwards
United States Senator, and now the chair.
man OF the Democratic National Committee.
Probably no man ever succeeded as well as
he did in organizing corruption. In each
town was his band of workers, charged with
the dispensation of funds on election day. He
knew his men and his men knew him, and
| after each election, when il was found that
Bill Barnum had run ahead Of his ticket
all over his district, men understood the
reason why. Presently the Republicans
caught up the trick and practiced it in the
Congressional election OF two years ago when
a comparatively obscure candidate for Com
gress ran ahead of Governor Andrews in the
Governors own town where his well-deseryed
popularity was unquestioned. In every small
town of the district it has now come to be
the fact that venal bsnd Of from twenty to
fifty electors offer their votes to the highest
bidder. A secondary result has been that no
man of moderate means can afford to run for
Congress or even for State Senatorship = +
"All this, which every intelligent voter in
Connecticut knows TO be fact. is a most
and comprehensive bribery at important
elections is notorious, and it ia no small stig.
ma on the good Dame OF New England
commonwealth that the crime is stimulated
by moral cowardice in communities which
prevents alike the prosecution of the briber
and bribed. A little wholesome law and
some independent voting will 90 far toward
remedying an evil that every good citizen in
the State sees, feels, and understands. yet too
often hesitates to rebuke. "-New York Eye,,-
ing Post August 10, 1880.
Mr.. Barnum is a type of a ruling
class in both political parties, half
statesman, half railroad man, who
mix railroads and politics for their
own advantage. They differ materi.
ally, however, from the John Adams
type OF statesman, who, when elected
to Congress, Immediately sold his
stock in the United States Bank. on
the ground that no representative
should have a pecuniary interest in
any matter likely to come before him
in bis Legislative capacity. The rail.
road statesman is found in both par.
ties and in every Legislative assem-
bly,; while perhaps not numerically
IN the ascendant, through packing
the principal committees, and ere.
tanning" members of the legal pro,
fesslon who happen at the time to
be Legislators, their ends are usually
obtained. This feature is alluded to
in one of the speeches of Senator
Beck, of Kentucky, as follows:
sit is impossible to have an honest Legis.
lature, state or federal, so long as representa-.
tiVes are sent who owe their election to. or
are personally interested in, great moneyed |
corporations or monopolies. No matter |
whether they call themselves Democrats or |
they are not the representatives |
Of the people /; they are simply the agents and |
attorneys of those who seek, by taxing the /
masses, to enrich themselves, whenever they
'we their election to monopolists. or are
themselves interested in class legislation"
CONCLUDED nert week