The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04


much talent in the society.
Those who have watched the editor of
the Reoieto and his political career for
the past twenty years, do not need TO be
told that just previous to every election
he drops down from his perch of high
moral sanctity and incubates roor-back
by which he attempts to intimidatc and
Brighten the uninitiated into the belief
that they are being made tc dupes OF
some stratagem consummated by the
Republican party. For fear there may
be few whose recent removal to the
county has not made them acquainted
with the workings of this detachable
editor, we Will dissect his periodical
effort at intimidation and disclose its
true inwardness. 1t comes this year
under the head of" Fraudulent Tickets"
The Reoiep says
| We understand that last week n ticket was
printed and has been literally circulated
through the county, Initiating as nearly as
possible the regular Democratic ticket, but
containing the names of q. w. Monks and w.
| T. Matthews, the Republican candidates for
sheriff and Register. No exception is stated
at the head of the ticket, but in small type the
| exception Is printed under the head of the
county ticket, an unusual place, and where Il
| voter will seldom look fori il. The appearance
of the ticket shows that il was gotten up for
the purpose of deceiring and misleading
voters, and comes within the provisions of our
| criminal laws, for which pretty rigid penalties
| are prescribed both for printing and circulat-
| ing. These tickets are evidently gotten up To
| be imposed upon the ignorant and thOughtless,
and will probably he distributed NJ the polls
as regular Democratic tickets. No respect
able printing Office would print such ticket,
and no honest man would circulate them.
First-Everything is IN understanding
that such thing has been done, but the
editor doesn't know anything himself,
and to quiet his trembling nerves we will
inform him that no such tickets have
circulated in the county, either literally
or in any other way--that no tickets from
THE FREE Press Office have been printed
bearing the least resemblance to the
Democratic ticket bearing the names of
Geo. w. Monks and w. T. Matthews.
Second-The split tickets which we
have printed have invariably borne the
exception in plain, easily distinguish
able type, Immediately under the head
of the county ticket, the place where it
legally O., rightfully and properly be.
longs, instead of at the top of the ticket.
Third-As far as the legality of the
matter is concerned, it don't make par
ticle of difference where the exception is
printed, whether under the head of the
State or county ticket, or whether it is
put on the ticket at all. But if it is
necessary to print the exception, then it
should be under the head of the county
ticket, because there is where the excep.
tons are made, and not in the State
ticket. Surprising voter did not want
to vote the State ticket at all. and tore
off that part with the exception printed
at its head, and then voted the county
split ticket. Under the forcible @ argu-
ment of the punctilious Reciep such a
vote would be Wega,-but we claim that
there is no legality or illegality about it.
FOurth-The editor says such ticket
was gotten up to deceive and mislead
voters, and such proceeding would come
within the provisions of our criminal
laws, etc. Ifsuch is the case, the Reciew
man may thank his lucky stars that he
has not been under the sheltering wing
of a criminal law in years gone by for
practicing similar receptions.
The Reriew further says, "no respect
able printing office would print such
ticket, and no honest man would circu-
late them" 1t is unfortunate that the
Recteu should be compelled to confess
its own corruption, but guilty con-
science needs no accuser.
Docs the Reoiep remember that only
two years ago it personally and unjustly
abused Mr.. Gaylord Lamb, the Republi-
can candidate for Sheriff, because he cir
culated split tickets with the exception
at the top Of the ticket What has
caused this change Of opinion Truly,
consistency, thou art jewel !"
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