The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-15
THE USE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS.

The Democratic and the Reputation Party
FRIEND OR-Thankful for your
kind expression of sympathy LOT my
misfortune, | embrace the opportunity
of giving YOU one more blast OF the pO-
Iitical bugle before the light goes OUT
Only darkness cOveTeth the land.
In nv opinion the late elections show
ed thai the Democrats, as we'll as the
ReDudiatOrS-that is the name Iney go
nv here-are taking new departure;
that those who are foremost In polltlcal
movements will do well to heed. al
Iude to the lavish use of money at elec-
tions and about election times. Inc le-
ultimate use of money in elec1On cam
5aiOns is not Objectionable, but the
uarfy leaders and party conventions
will soon learn that the placing OF men
on the ticket who have no other qualln-
cation than the length of their purse,
that IL NAV swell the campaign tund,
will not carry an election. A not 10 De
nisreparded manifestation OF TINS Ieel-
ing was made at the late elecGloh III
Ohio, and also notably 80 III tHe ldsC
election in New York. There, In the
Astor district, the RepudiatOrs nomlna-
ted AstOr, who is an admitted hgure-
head. for the sole reason that his vast
wealth. and the wealth of the AStOr
family would carry him through, not
withstanding it was strong Repudla-
tiOn district. The Democrats nOmlnaI-
ad Potter, who declined, because, al
thOuph a man of wealth, he could nOG
afford to incur the expense OI Inc Gal, TaLn,
Daign against AstOr's money. Ihey
nominated Flower, wealthy BAN
keT which ought to have made him OBJ
iectiOnable under the circumstances,
and defeated AstOr by some 2,oOO major
-itv in a district that last year gave MOT
tor. RepudiatOr, 1920 majority. Again,
in the city of Brooklyn, that mas Deen
giving a Democratic majority OF 2O,OOO
fhe Repudiators nominated wealthy
1antIaman. but who gave out very dis
finctly that he would not contribute
one cent for campaign purposes, and In
that Democratic city he was triumph
antly elected Mayor.
IT is said that straws show Wnlch
waV the wind blows, and 1t Will be
healthful for party leaders TO govern
themselves accordingly. The mass OF
the people, of all political parties, are
Syrayitating to the belief that there are
other qualifications for official positions
besides money. There are in all pollt-
zeal parties, poor men who are just as
well 0ualified-pOssibly better-bu1
whose pOcketbOOks are not so plethorlc
and who will not be ignored. These
men are scattered in every township Ii
the State, and Gney all nave Ineh lhlu
ence. Only when the votes are counted
ont. that influence is felt. Gently a.
the dew it falls, and just as gently
makes its mark.
Besides. it is demoralizing to pubic
and private morals, and prevents a free
unbought and unbiased expression, ant
if il becomes the rule that our election
are to be run with money, and, as II
England, none but the rich and well
born can afford to hold official positions
then the sooner we acknowledge ina
our system of government is failure
the better. 1t is but few years, slnc
the late Republican-nOw Repudiatlnl
party come into. power, that thls laV
Cish use of money has been brOugh
about, and the most of that has bee
stolen by them from the Natlona
Treasury. During thattime we hay
seen men openly purchase seats IN Tn
United States Senate, and when DrQugh
t0the. notice Of the Senate, passed
as being fair business TRANSACTION
Noticeably has this been the case 1
Nevada. Kansas, and South Carolina
The purchasers only qualification wa
his money. The amount that II cost