Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-10-30
WHERE THE BULLDOZING rs
DONE.


An anonymous correspondent at Col
orado City writes TO THE GAZETTE m
iratc denial of the assertion recently
made in this paper, that more coercion is
pmcticed upon the voters of Massachu-
sets and other New England states by
their Republican employers to force them
to vote the Republican ticket than upon
the negroes of the South to drive them to
vote the Democratic ticket or compel
them to abstain from voting. Usually
TE GAZETTE takes no notice OF anony-
nous correspondence, but we depart
from IN established rule in this parlicu-
lar case to present facts bearing out the
assertion made by this paper
The Colorado City writer, who is evil
IDENTITY Republican from the East,
broadly travcrses THE GA2ETTE's allcgn-
tons, and implicitly alleges that there is
more political coercion in the South than
in the North. But he points to not Il
single instance OF compulsion or con.
straint exercised upon negroes In the
South TO cause them to vote the Demo-
cratic ticket or to rcprcss their votes,
Does he know OF single instance?
Very likely he was in Texas
last November, when the general
election was had. Thousands of
negroes voted for the Republican candi
dates without moestatlun. Does the
nUmclcsS gentleman from Colorado city
know of one case where negroes were eN-
cludcd from the ballot on account of their
color or Republican procliyities, or
forced TO vote the Democratic ticket
against their will? If the place, names
and circumstances are given, THE GA.
2ErrE viii impartally investigate the
matter and publish the facts as disclosed
The evidence in support of Tnr GA
2ErrG's assertion that bulldozing is
prevalent in the North, especially Ia the
manufacturing districts OF Massachusetts,,
is so abundant and complete as to admit
of no answer. The Boston Herald, pend
lug the campaign Of 1852, cditorlaly
acknowledged the existence OF such bull
doing and encouraged IL In the follow
ing languages
There WIN probably be good deal OF "bul.
doing" done la Massachusotts this year, OF q
civilized type. The laborcrs employed by Gen.
Butler In his various cnicrprlses--mllls, quar-.
rics, ctc.--will he expected to vote for him or
give up their situations. The same rule viii
hol6 good ON the othor side, There viii be no
shot guns or threats, Everything VIII be man
aged with dccorum, adorned by noble senti
mcnts. But the men who oppose hutor en-.
ploy three fourhs,i 81 not seven .eighths tho Ia
Dor of the state. They honestly believe that
liuuor's election would iujurc their property.
They know that idle hands are waiting 20 dc
their work, II Is not TO ho expected that thay
win look on indiAcrcntly and see their employees
vote for destructive Ike Butler. Human ma
turo "a much the same In Massachusetts, and
Mississippi. only methods arc different.
Brains, capital and enterprise win tell 10 any
community. II iaa worry improper, of course
To intimidatc voters, but there lisa way OF Civ
ing advice that is quito convincing
That the Herald WAS amply justified in
the use OF such language is well shown
ny the subsequent developments, After
the election the charges of bulldozing be-
came SO loud that congress appointed a
committee of investigation. Among 9TH
cr testimony taken by this committee was
the following, A witness testified;
stopped up to the little railing that they
had there 20 go around and up to the polls, and
l saw two men stationed at the entrance whore
the voters went in one was Mr.. Chase, the
other Mr.. Knox. saw that the help OF the
vintage dwas acquainted with great portion
of them came along In a sort OF rotation, Mr.,
Chase was on one side and this Mr. Knox on
the other, and as each man cane up they would
take hold of the ticket the man had and say
"That Is right pase on Another would como
up and they would say "That is right; pass
on" Another would come up and they would
cay Hold on that is not the vote yon want TO