The Labor enquirer., 1884-11-15
THROWING AWAY AEYOTE.

"zeno, Mingles With the Voting
Cattle, : and Draws Some
Conclusions.
For The Enquirer.
American suffrage is not what 1t should be.
know from experience. To stand in the
mud by the hour, in long line of American
freemen, whose freedom gives forth strong
odor of various delectable poisons TSt. John
came near getting my votel constitutes the
great American idea as at present practiced.
A drilling rain, and the discovery that only
fourteen other votes like your own were cast
in the whole ward, are exhilerating features
of the elevated and inspiring privilege of
voting.
The voting places were unduly crowded
l spent my dinner, hour standing in that at
tractive: line, but failed to come within a
block OF the ballot box. I obtained leave of
absence from my industrial king in the after
noon, but still the line extended several hum
dred yards from the polls. I finally voted
late in the evening by accident, as it were.
Much scheming was done to, keep out
votes. The men having charge would vote
their friends and leave the line standing,
Men would 60 down the line and pick out
those of the proper political color, take them
to the head and there cause all the delay pos
sible, so as to leave the line waiting until
time for the voting to close. aFr ...,..
i cast my vote for Butler, or 'threw it
away as an enlightened freeman told me.
I asked him if his vote would be cast for the
winner, but he was unable to say. If it be
cast for the defeated candidate, l said, it is
lost, and should he happen to vote for the
winner 1t is also lost, for his vote was not
needed None but ioffice-seekers, Butler
men and prohibitionist knew why they were
voting. All the others simply wanted to
vote for the lucky man. Some claimed to
know the object of voting, and were demo
Gratis because they ''wanted a change" but
what the change would bring they had nc
idea Others were republicans because they
or their fathers, uncles or bro theirs fought
rebels. They evidently loved war and brave
men so voted for man who senta substitute
to the army, so that he could occupy his time
in casting anchors to windward," Burn
this.
Men with tall hats and silk umbrellas stood
patiently in line. In less important elections
these men stay at home if it rains. This
time they came out to prove that the repub
lican party includes all the refinement, cul
ture and intelligence, while the democratic
party is made up of the--the other kind
| Suppose this be true, which is the better
choice, to elect refined, accomplished thief
or an ignorant, bungling thief? say let us
have the bunglers awhile, for we can expose
them more easily.
Much is said by both parties against the
plan of electing president by the electora
college. Blaine lacks about $50, 900 of ma
jority, yet few votes in New York would
have made him winner, When the figures
narrow down so as to slightly favor his op
ponent he becomes alarmed and cries fraud
which reminds us all of 1876. "Fraud'
means that we shall hear the final resul
about March s. We have several months O
terrible suspense, for on the fourth of Marcl
either Cleveland will close all the protected
manufactures and order reduction o
wages, or else Blaine will render further as
sistance to Hooking Valley, by means o
protection. How we tremble!
The Chicago Times truly says Blaine rep
resents the jobbing, schening, mercenar,
element in politics. His election would ap
pear like an endorsement of official corrup
ton. But does Cleveland represent purity
| He has opposed every measure that has come
before him for lessening the excessive toll o
ers submissive slaves. They have no rebuk,
for his hostility to their interests.
The only real issue in existence is the on,
that has ever been active since government
were invented: Shall thieves or producer
possess the earth? Both OF our old parte.
are on the side of the thieves, or rent, prof
and interest gatherers.
Butler and his platform seemed to stand
for the other side, but proved miserable
burlesque. 1t is possible that the charge
made by democrats that Butler sold out tt
Blaine is true. Butler left the field, at time
apparently consistent with such bargain, or
account of important legal engagements
Can anyone find out justwhat those engage,
ments were?
Butler may or may not be traitor; the
principles for which he stood are long way
in advance of the old parties, and should yet
be adopted by new Peoples party. have
a vote to throw away on those principles
whenever they come up. ZENo.
CHICAGO, November 10.