Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-30
OlIlr posI-IEIEllIcEncER'
111rc111TTFs At EEnCTIoxs.

Territory. To render impossible any
tampering with the exercise Of the high
ct privilege innriDg 70 the individaai
sitizsu In . government sassd npsn the
principle that ths fairly expressed VIZ
Of the majority shali rule, strsnesns en-.
ac<.nents are made. To vsss b . sacred
dutv. Il Is nons the les duty, wn'en
evsrv citizen owes 70 himself and MS
eoverumeut. 70 uss bis best efforts 70
s.cure for his fellow sIsctor absolute
yrsedom from nusnaee on the one hand
or oorrupt infIusnces upon tho other. a
nan vho viii ssll his vote h unit 70 %
free ~ who buys 10 b traitor 20 n's
country and en- enemy Of his fsiiovmen.
Thsrs IL In every community certain
slsmsnt--far Isss numerous, We are eisa
20 cay, than h often asssftsd-vhoss
sstimste Of their duties IS citizens y
very Low, who in very marked dskree
fan 70 apprsciats both the high pfiv'-
laos shsv enjoy as electors In . free 70
public. and the corresponding duties
and responsibilities attaching 70 an ex-
ayc;ae OF the elective franchise. They
vote ignorantiy, bIindIy, oftentines
oorruptly, always without due reflection
and honest motives. In the larger cit.
lee this class Of voters isproporsionatels
more numerous than in the country and
ANAL towns. They form a dangerous
factor in the practical workings OF re-
uublioan government an element that
although impossible TO eliminate may
be 70 some exsens prevented from doing
great harm by strict election laws and .
vigorous enforcement thereof.
There il another class OF electors.
whom il 10 the habit Of anshinkinR
Journalists and interruptions polisisisns
70 grossly Islander. These are those
portions Of the laborins people. Who ara
employed by railroad. mining and other
large corporations. OF these how often
do we hear 10 iippsntiy. but none ths
lass slanderousiy asserted, Aohl they
viii vote A they are told; Mr.. A., the
superintendsnt, or Mr. b., the contract
or. will see 10 that. He'll give them the
tickess, and they viii put them In the
boz. He'll vote his men, IL Is a dis
graceful fact that In many instances, %
great has been the pressure brought 70
bear upon laborinR men thus situated
that they have bean almost compelled
90 vote contrary 10 their honest senti-
ments. II Is not only disgraoefui, tuf
the exercise of such power by corpora
lions or their agents. Is Infamous. More
over n IL criminal. We do not appre-
hsnd that 10 this Territory. at the Inn
pending election, wholesale inlifnioa-
ton or wholesale bribery will bs resort
cd 10 by the agents OF the Northern
Pacific, or any railroad or other cor
poratioa. Wherever II Is attempted,
workingmen owe Il to themselves to
assert their absolute Independence at
the polls. No man employed by COR
poration is thereby bound TO vote as its
agents dictate. Railroad companies do
not and should NOT purchase mems votes
by giving them employment. They hire
labor. not political action; they pay for
physical exertion. not for the franchises
Of their employees. To assume other
wise Ia 10 declare that employees OF
corporations are serfs. that they are the
property of their employers.
The election laws OF this Territory
are ample, II properly enforced, 20 pro-
tect the laboring man and all others In
the full and free exercise OF choice In
casting vote. They prescribe severe
penalties against any and all who by
threats, bribery or other dishonest
methods attempt 10 interfere with the
honesty and purity of elections. The
contest this year In our Territory is ear
nest and exciting. An arrogant rail-
road corporation has seized control Of
the dominant party. and through its or
ganization seeks 10 fierce declaration
from the peosle. hostile TO their oonvic
tions and at war with their best inter.
esis. The people are aroused. In the
country especially, the feeling n intense.
The Northern Pacific does not expect TO
succeed next Tuesday because Of the
justice Of its cause. Il expects TO re-
ccive the vote Of every Republican who
rates party feaity above honest convic-
ton, and the vote Of every Democrat
who had rather serve railroad compa.
ny than be freeman. Ii also expects TO
secure by means that are well known. a
large portion Of the pnrchAsable floating
vote. Every citizen owes II to himself
to see that on election day no potss are
purchased by corporation agents OF With
corporation money. In his OF her cleo
ton. precinct. That this infamous
method CT multiplying the votes of hon
eat men and women will be resorted 10,
there Is little doubt. IL IL the usual,
the customary manner by which rail
road corporations carry elections. II Is
the method by which the Central Pacific
Railroad Company has elected ils tools
and defeated honest men for effice In
California and Nevada for score Of
years past. Every foe of corruption In
elections, every friend of political In.
tegrity-and what honest citizen Is no,
owes his government on election day,
the duty OF preventing. il possible, any
interference with full. free, and fair
expression Of the choice OF its eitiEess
by their ballots al the polls. Fer the in
formation Of snch. and in warning %
others, II such there be, the following
extracts from the Code Of this Terrific
~ regarding elections are published
Section soa. II any person shall uss
any threats, menaces, force, or any cor.
rupt means, AZ or previous to any cleo.
ton held pursuant 10 the laws OF this
Territory, toward sny eleetor, TO hinder
or deter such elecsor from voting Al
such election, or shall directly or insli.
rectly offer any hFibe or reward OF any
Mind 40 tNk4s.s~A an~ a4a.s.s. a.. -