The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-08-12
Congressional Corruption Fund.


With the Hubben circulars, assessing
government employees, including scrub
women, errand boys and day laborers, whose
pay is less in proportion to work than
those of other government employees, the
public is quite familiar. The sum total of
the receipts of the Hubbell committee is
quite large, and where to place it to do the
most good is the question the committee Is
now considering. In order to do this,
Chairman Hubbell has issued another cir
eular. which is sent to leading Republicans
throughout the country This circular
propounds series of questions concerning
the congressional districts of each state,
The first question inquiries what districts
are safely and surely Republican, and the
third asks what districts are hopeteSsty
Democratic. To none of these viii any OF
the money squeezed from government en-
ployees go. Mr. Hubbell and his COM
mittee want to put it where it will do the
most good. In districts where either party
have large majorities no money will be
spent. To undertake, for instance, to buy
up votes enough to turn the scales in a
heavy Democratic district, or to otherwise
corrupt the people and secure Republican
triumph, would be too expensive, and it
would be useless to expend money to in
crease an already sufficient Republican ma
jOrity.
The second question inquiries what dis
tricts are doubtful, and the fourth inquiries
what doubtful districts can be carried by
an independent movement. The doubt
full districts are the ones Mr. Hubbell and
his committee are interested in. The re-
districting under the recent apportionment
and the change in public sentiment has
made so many districts doubtful that the
I Republicans cannot count up a majority in
the next House of Representatives. To
hold that branch of Congress Is why 50
much money has been levied from Office
/ holders. To make it tell in the fall con-
gressional districts is the object of the Hub
/ bell committee. In some doubtful districts
they are willing to get up an independent
n,oremeat Principle Is nothing othem
To beat the Democratic party and hold on
to the Offices. they are willing to throw
principle to the winds and 20 into an indie
pendent moyem snt. In doubtful districts
where an independent movement cannot be
inaugurated with hopes Of success, the
money collected from Federal ofieeholders
j. expected to turn the tide IN favor Of
Republicans
There are always legitimate expenses
connected with campaigns and elections
and for these purposes oiice-holders should
contribute. The contributions in all cases
should be rol,,Htary, and not raised BY q
uniform assessment Of a certain per cent
Of salary. Mr.. HubbeIIs circular called
/ uniformly for two per cent, Of the rcciI'
tents salary or wages. 1t also stated that
the amount should be considered roisa
tory subscription. As TO the roi'saiaf5
part, very many people Of prominence and
lesser lights believe the word compulsory
would have better expressed the meaning
/ Of the committee. To the people in gen
eral including many if not all those {,
/ whom the circulars we're addressed, il meant
4 pay up or gu out of Office.
The large amount Mr.. Hubbell has RAISED
cannot be intended for legitimate expenses,
Those expenses can easily be raised in shs
districts. The funds of his COMMITTEES
must be for corrupt purposes in a iarg'
measure, and the people in every district
where he and his committee operate shsalc
carefully watch their movements and bring
10 the attention Of the courts every viola
ton Of the law. In Maryland We woslt
sagsest to our friends in the 9th and sixth
districts to see that Mr., HubbcIl does not
undertake 20 corrupt the elertion BY BIZ
ill-eossen funds.