Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-21
BRIBERY, Ell +!
If this is to be a Campaign of Mud
Singing, Bring on Your Dogs
of War.
If Afidavits are to be Produced. Wen
see Where Corruption Lies
Deepest.

SuhTp oliFis is 81 great III HUCh Isituu
county, and his election in consequence
having become thing inevitable, let the
party opposition be what it may, the re-
publican leaders have become desperate.
Having exhausted all legitimate resources
of attempting to impose the ex preacher
upon the people, they stoop to charging
Silvis with corruption, and to that end
they publish in the Moline Dispatch and
Republican of last evening-and to
which the Union of this morning briefly
alludeS-an affidavit, and that there may
be no grounds for misunderstanding, the
ARGUS gives it here;
As Swedish voter of this city want
to give you some light on a matter that
has been going the rounds of the shops
where work; that had sold my vote to
Sharp Silvis for sheriff. The facts are
these: That about a month ago | was in
VIM. Rehnbergs saloon and Mr.. Sllvis
came in, and in the course of converse,
ton he asked NE if | was voter. /
told him yes (but did not have my last
paper but would get it that week. He
then asked me if would vote for him,
and | told him l might do that, as at that
time did not know Mr.. Morgan who
was the rep blican candidate. Mr.. Silvis
then took me TO the back part of
the saloon and offered me SIS to support
him, but refused to take it as did not,
nor would not sell my vote. He then
said if would work at the polls on cleo
ton day, and if could carry the Second
warl he would give me $500. do not
believe that the Swedish votes can be
bought WAR ABRAHAasoN.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this Goth day of October, A. D. 1886.
S. B. OAKLEAF, Notary Public,
Consider that this affidavit is true,
that the conversation was just as it was
sworn TO have been, and there is nothing
in the entire transaction that is otherwise
than legitimate. There is not the least
essence of bribery in it. Silvis is said to
have offered the man IS for his support,
and there is a vast difference. politically
speaking, between a mans support ana
his vote. Silvis, even if the facts sworn
to are true, did not offer to pay S. fer
the mans vote. According to the wits
nesSeS own sworn statement, he had all
ready given Silyis TO understand that at
that time he was for him, and in the
name of common sense why should Silvis
offer to pay money for what he WAS al
ready assured of. Silvis, according TO
this affidavit, had offered IS 70: man
support, after he had been promised his
vote. Let this all be true, and there Is
nothing illegal on Silvis part in the whole
conversation, and Abrahsmson would
not have thought of charging him with
bribery month after the alleged CONVEX
sation took place, bad It not been that
afterwards he decided to vote for Morgan
in place of Silvis. So much for the
strength of the affidavit US sustaining a
charge of bribery, an attempt to corrupt
the purity of the ballot" etc.
As to MIR. Silvis. he says he has no re-
membrance of the conversation with this
i man Abrahamson. He is certain aud is
willing to state upon oath that he never
asked Mr.. Abrahamson, or any one else
| for q vote in consideration of money.
He has solicited votes in an honest way,
which every American citizen has a right
to do, and has also engaged poll workers
and others to work for his election, and
will pay them for their services, but
he has not offered to pay any man for his
vote.
But the republicans have brought this
campaign to level where affidavIts are
necessary, and US the initiative has been
taken, the ARGUS will produce an affida>
Wit from a well known, hard working rail
road man. which contains charges far
more within the laws Jurisdiction, than
those which have been made by the re-
pubicans in their attempt to defeat the
peoples candidate for sheriff Here is
the affidavit alluded to:
STATE OF ILLINOIS
Rock Island county
l, John McDarrah, being duly sworn
do depose and say that on Monday
evening, Oct. Is, 1885, was pproach
ed by Patrick OMsra and invited to TIT
saloon of Godlieb Hoch, on Second ave
nue. in the city of Rock Island. i'll which
place he offered to give me fifteen OF
twenty dollars to spend with my friend:
in the interest of A. X. Morgan, and
against Thomas Sharp Silvis. He alst
| 4 1 4 Il. l. !.