Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-16
GOV. WATERMAN TO THE FRONT.
a Reward Offered for Bailot-b0x suffers
AID Frands Generally.


Governor Waterman yesterday issued the fol-
lowing;
To all those tulo1l II B2Gg Concern: A rnpresent
ative body OF my fellow citizens residents of
san Francisco, in a letter addressed to me under
date, October D. 1888, requested me TO assist
them in securing. and maintaining in that
city the purity of the ballot-box, so that
the elective franchise might really represent
the great and inesyimabie value which free
expression of opinion, under such circum-
stances, should be VOuCnSafed every man who
has reached the period of lie when, under the
Constitution and laws of the country. he be-
comes a voter, and is endowed with ali the
power and validity which citizenship affords
him. The purity OF the ballot, and the safety of
| the ballot-boX, is the real found ton upon
which rests the progress prosperity and per-
petulty OF our common county; and to my
mind there is no crime named III the calendar
| more destructive to that foundation than the
prostitution OF the great privilege represented
| by the ballot.
| Men are arrested, tried, convicted and i'm
| prsoned for simple robbery of the property of
| those they have the power at the moment 10
| Subdue and overmateh, and in the subsequent
| punishment inflicted, the stern mandates of the
law are recognized, III their application, as be-
| ing eminently just and appropriale but in the
| robbery Of a man OF his conscience, his free
| agency and his opinion by the criminal in
| famous and depraved, there is no adequate re-
dress, in my judgment, save that which is
enumerated in the list of OfTenseS which, in
their retribution come under the head of capt
4
| The free and intelligent voter rs he ap-
pToaches the place where and wherein his opin-
| ions, as developed i'll the paper representative
held in his hand, should not only believe, as
the ballot leaves his 20 session and is dropped
| into the receptacle provided for its safety that
1t will be honestly received and fairlv counted
but, in addition, he should be fortified in the
| belief also, that every power would be brought
| to bear by the proper authorities to protecs him
| in his expression OF opinion at any hazard and
| without limitation as TO cost.
| When events subsequent to election go tC
prove to those who never violate. and who
| always hold themselves amenable 10 the powers
and the Laws provided for their care and govern
| ment, that they have been robbed and defrauded
of the deares5 privilege accorded thenl-the
right TO vote-by the vie, degraded and cor
rupt, they become disheartened: to q certain
| extent they l1se their own self respect, and
finally lose It al by refusing ever after to take
part i'll elections and leaving the voting privi
leye to the sc5uGGrNls who hare robbed them Of
| that right bY f4isiiying the record and render
ing dishonest ret1Tr; and the result is thai
! the government Of the country goes into the
| haucs OF those who, using 1t us q speculation
| would destroy it afler their owE ends art
served.
To prevent his as far as possible certain
| sum Of money has been pl;teei in my hands as
trust wherewith to Offer rewards for the purpose
above sugge, ted; and do now therefore offe
| a reward OF $3.50 for each person arrested anC
| convicted Of Illegal voting, bailot.box stufiing
or any crime against the ballot, within the cit!
| aud county OF san francisco curing the ensuin,
election. K. " HATER3IAS, Governor.