The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-10-22
lNrlMIDATlON UF VOTERS.

Among the measures used by the repub.
lcans to carry Ohio aud Indiana was the
intimidation Of Democratic voters by repub.
lican employers 1t may not be that the
workingmeu were distinctly threatened with
discharge if they voted according to their
own inclinaiiou but they were made to un-
derstand that their employers wanted them
to vote the republican ticket. In ,ome places
notices were posted up that if Hancock is
elected wages will be reduced to 60 cents
day. Others intimated that their works
would close in case of Democratic success
while still others openly stated that they had
no employment tor men who voted the dem
ocratic ticket. This sort of thing is not
confined to Ohio and Indiana. 1t is being
used all over the country by INSCRIPTIONS
employers to compel the ir employees to vote
for Carrie d. 1t is flittle moment whether
voters he intimlAted by the shot gun,o ly
threat to take the bread from the mouths OF
their famil es There is no intimidation Of vo
ters in the South that can compare with the
wholesale compulsion in the north, by which
the wOrkingmen are made the slaves Ui their
employers, and compelled to vote against
their own convictions or lose their situa
tons.
Laws have been passed torbiddng THIS
thing which the republican party is doing TO
carry the election. In the United States
statutes we find the following:
SECTION, 5,596. Every person who, by any
Unlawful means, hinders delays, prevents or
combines and cOntederates with Others to
hinder, delay, prevent or obstruct any clti-
zen from doing any act required to be done
to qualify him to vote or from voting at any
election in any State, Territory, district,
county, city parish, township school district
municipality or otf er territorial subdivision,
shall be fined not less than $500, or be i'm.
prisoned not less than one month nor more
than one year, or be punished by both such
fine and imprisonment.
SEC 5,597. Every person who prevents,
hinders, controls or intlmidates another
from exercising or in exercising the right of
suffrage, to whom that right is guaranteed by
the Fit eenth Amendment to the Constitu-
ton OF the United States, by means of bri-
berry or threats of deprviDg such person OF
employment or occupation, or OF tjecting
such person from a rented house, lands or
other property, or by threats of refusing to
renew leases Or contracts for labor or by
threats OF violence to himse! ( or family shall
be punish ID as provided in the preceding
section.
Any employer who attempts to control the
votes of his employees is liable under
the foregoing act,
There is another statute on the subject of
intimidation of voters to be bund in the
criminal code of the State of Pennsylvania,
1t is that of the Both of March, 1862 section
81, Purdon's Digest by Brightly, volume |,
p, 33l ANY person who shall
with the Intention to intnenoa or intimidate
such elector to give his vote for any partic
ular candidate or candidates at such election,
give, offer or promise to give such elec'or
any Office, place, appointment or employ
ment or threaten such elector with dismissal
or discharge from any office, appointment or
employment, public or private, then held by
him, in case of his refusal to vote for any
particular candidate or car didites at such
e., ction, the person SO offending shall be
guilty OF misdemeanor and, on conviction,
ne sentenced to pay q hAe not exceeding
fl We hundred dollars and undergo an impris
onment not exceeding two years.
The only way to put an end to the Use Of
such means to carry an election is to prose-
cute all offenders, nd teach them that work
ingmen have rights under the laws which
the money power is bound to respect,