The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-05-06
THE BLOOMSBURY RING.

In every campaign in which county
officers are to be elected, there is always
more or less talk about 'The Bloomsbury
Ring" BY this, we presume, is mean,
some clique of politicians who are sup
posed to influence nominations and con
troll elections. If such thing exists il
is beyond our knowledge, but certain il
is that there have been some nomina
tions made by the Democrats of thi,
county, in past years, which we cal
hardly blame the party for wishing to
place OH the shoulders of few
There is Bloomsbury Ring, howev
er, with which we are well acquainted
1t is not composed of professional poll
tcians, nor office holders, nor office seek
ers, but of men engaged in various pur
suits, and whose interest in politics is in,
duced only by "A love of their country
and desire to see their party succeed
With very few exceptions, they are mer
who have never held any Office of profit
and probably never will ask any fayors
of that kind from the people.
In every important campaign there
must be public meetings, and speakers
are expected to be furnished by the
Chairman of the county committee. The
speaker is selected from the "Bloomsburg
Ring" and sent out to different points to
talk to the people. He is granted many
privileges In the first place, he is per
Initted to hire his own horses, pay his
own hotel bills, make his speech after
riding out through the storm and dark
ness, TO reach remote points where the
voter needs to be stirred up, and then
treat the crowd; or come away, leaving
the feeling in the breasts of his listeners
that he is an almighty mean man. Then
come the big parades, for which banners
and torches and caps and brass bands
and halls and speakers from abroad must
be provided. The rank and file of the
party cry out that such things must be
provided by all means. Candidates de
inand all this display to help along their
own cause, and do not hesitate to de
nounce the county chairman as inetli
cient if he does not attend to all these
things. Meetings must be announceGall
over the county, printing must be done,
and if the printer refuses because he does
not know who is to foot the bill, he
arouses indignation against himself for
the simple intimation that the candidates
would refuse to pay their campaign eX-
penses. And so the thing progresses.
There are fire works, and music and ex-
citement, and finally the campaign closes.
Then comes day of reckoning. The
cash account is looked over and falls
short of the necessary amount. several
hundred dollars A fund has perhaps
been raised beforehand, but it is too
small. 1t has been contributed mostly
by few gentlemen OF Bloomsbury, who
have no pecuniary interest whatever in
the result of the election. This Blooms
burg Ring that has made all the speech
es, paid all their own bills, and perhaps
n good many of some body elses, con-
tributed all the funds, assisted only by
one or two county officers, have got to
put their hands in their pockets again
and again, and keep on paying until the
bills are all settled, because other county
officers, and the newly elected candidates,
the only men who are pecuniarily bene-
fitted by the election, absolutely refuse to
contribute anything towards the expen-
ses. The printers who have done most
of the printing for the campaign,not only
give what they have done, but have to
contribute money besides to keep up the
reputation of the party. All this is done
by ,he 'Bloomsburg Ring" The feeling
is fast gaining ground, however, among
those who have been doing the work and
pa, lug tho bills that hereafter the men
who get the benefit of the election will
have m opportunity of organizing ling
of their own, whose chief amusement
will be to pay the expenses incurred in
placing th.m in office These are plain
facts, aud it is time the public generally
what is meantby the "Bloems-
burg Ring"