Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-05
Illegal Voting and Bribery.

To the Editor OF TIE GAZETTE.
While agitating the issue of ne COM
ing municipal election and the p 81.
ton of candidates with reference to
party affiliations and influences, it
would be both wise ard well for 1.-THE
press" and community at large to con.
slider closely, and set decidedly upon
the question Of illegal voting" and
bribery.
That there is a clique and class 10
this city who make business of i'm
porting and voting u gang of men
who had no right OF ballot or interest
here, il q well KIN ,wu fact, and tuBt
they have been encouraged In his
businesst by men who aspire to offices
OF the highest trust In qually true
IN TACT so reckless have these ballot
| brokers ard vendors be ONE that thew
| openly assert that without their in
nuence and support no candidate dare
nope for succt sand they unhlush-
lngiy state that money alone can re-
| cure their support AS to what effect
/ such prostitution has, or NAV have
upon our local admins ration there
can be little difference of opinion
among fair.minded ana honorable men
and 1t certainly behooves every honest
voter and citizen to see and know that
in casting his ballot he does not further
the designs and prolpng the power of
bad and dangerous men.
The plans have already been laid
| and wires pulledn with view to
n Icing candidates aud bartering otI
the "illegtl v'tesn 20 the highest or.
perhaps The last bidder, and that some
bids are alTeauy IN eau be voucht d for
by parties who are in a position to
know.
Now, that such state of affair.
should not exist is beyond dispute,
and that there are means Of 10 ief n
properly aud faithfully app led cannot
be denied; neither voters nor flee
8. ekers should be permitted to violate
the lava OF the laud and the rights of
their fellow citizens without merited
rebuke and legal ca tigstion.
! The question 10, Who will take the
inltiatlf IN move 20 secure fair
election, and what intlu, noes can be
brought u bear against the power OF
men who vauntingly declare their
own shame, and proclsim themselves
dictaiors in our municipal election. d?
Certaluly any candida Q who will
pandtr TO this elemt mt and seek 70 oh.
tain office through direct or lndirec,
Drloery, should not re ceive the support
OF honest men, and IL does seem that
among the candidates Themselves
there should and would be n oa-opera
i've move with view to protection
against impositinns aud frauds which
are certain TO be practiced Ia the com
ing election,
Now, IL IL the bounden duty "a wei
as the interest Of every candidate Uht
Is NOT q bidder for illegal t0tes, 4,
see that he ID not defr,ud d of his
rights and robb d of his prospects b,
any combinations which may b,
hrong : about by dishonesty o.
bribery
TO this end each candidate who con
templates making fair canvas
should use his utmost vigilance Ia de
tecting and reporting any party o.
parties v no are seeking or endeavor
ing To fill positions through fraud, ant
when such liz proven und0ubtedl,
true there should be u cO-operatioi
with view to the defeat Of such /
candidate and the prosecution of al
y rites conc rned in the fraud
Furthermore, 1t behooves every can
didate or his working friends TO b,
present at the op. ming and dosing o
the polls and to see that no "gangn o
illegal voters possess themselves OF tn,
Dallot-hox.
All men who are known to be ma
nipalators should be closely watched
and held responsible for any violation
OF the election laws Honest, wei
known, firm and fearless men shoult
be appointed as judges and clerks
and every effort should be made h,
the candidates aud citizens at large /,
prevent illegal voting and bribery. }
AN OLD VOTER.