New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-22
TOSUPPRESS BRIBERY.
JUDGE ALTON B. PARKER FAvoRS A PLAN
DE1SED BY JUDGE EARLE.


BRIBE-fANY BILLS ON THE SUBJECT
EXPECTED IN THE LEGISLATURE
lBr rlKeRArH THE TnIDUNE.l
Albany. Dec 2l.-It is plain from the talk OF
members Of the Legislature who have been here
lately that whei that body meets in January
large number bills will be introduced to pre-
vent bribery at he polls. Nor is the interest In
this subject limited 10 members OF the Legis-
lature Alton b. Parker, of Kingston Demo
cratic judge of tn Supreme Court, who is now
holding court here said few days ago TO AT
torney General Tahr
Americans will have TO stop this buying OF
votes or their Government viii be destroyed.
1t is an evil which isgrowing at rapid pace, and
its worst feature is tat the number OF men who
desire TO sell their 'otes is increasing largely.
bin 10 prevent bribery when debated in the
Legislature should no, be treated q partisan
measure for it is clear that both political parties
bride voters Yet, in ny opinion, the leaders OF
both parties would prevent bribery if they could,
and are driven to bribery mainly BY the demands
Of voters that they shall be paid for their SUI
frages. large proportion OF the votes bought, 1
pm told by the politicians of either party. are
those Of men of their own party faith. These
Uessians demand pay for voting Their own party
dcket Otherwise they threaten 70 vote tho
pposition ticket.
THE increase in the numbers OF mercenary
sters. and the consequent increase OF party ex-
pnses, is surprising. Why, ten years ago il the
wrd in which l hive in Kingston the expenses oil
ether the Democratic or the Republican party did
amount 10 s25 an election. There was not
h,slightest bribery, Of course. with that small
amuut of money Last spring at an cleo
tioI for Alderman in that ward-tor
m lderman mark you, who was TO receive no
mony-I am told there were ninety-fve voters OUT
Of IL 400 or 500 who voted who were bribed-
At Site elections the expenses of the election in
that ard TO either party amount now TO sew
tral tpusand dollars.
THE must have been keen interest taken in
the clifton throughout Ulster County, for we
never uled such a large proportion of our vote.
There US ludicrous circumstance connected
with thelection in Rondout About midday one
Of the hpgston Democrats sent note TO Pres
ton the Democratic State Committeeman OF the
district, no was peddling ballots in one of the
wards of londout, and asked him how he was
getting ahd Preston replied;
L" How IN get ahead, when the members OF
the Young TENS Christian Association are pay
ing se5 vep'
What wnld you do to check this bribery ?"
inquired Attrney General Tabor.
al think "vephed Judge Parker, " that Judge
Earle, Of he court of Appeals, has good plan.
lie SUCCESS thu all the laws on bribery should
be repealed, ano that then an act be passed SIM
ply disfranthisin the man who takes the bride.
lie wonld piovid no other punishment, no fine
and no Imprisonment At present one OF the o.
stacles to convictiF man of accepting bride
is that he may be ned and imprisoned. jury
vrix~ Of
his vote. Then vol would also offer tempta-
ton to the man wh had bribed the voter to
punish him for demnding and accepting the
bride. AS sald, In host cases the man VINO IS
bribed demands the ribe. You can see such
neClecting to vote until they paid
10 do So In few yeal both parties would get
sick Of paying for the yoes Of such creatures and
would unite 10 disfranchie taem"
But Judge DO you mini that lures would
convict man for having ;cceded bride on the
testimony alone # the mn who said he had
bribed him. and wcud not such provision lead 10
malicious charges
No. | do not think it would to any serious
extent. and as for Juies. think hey would base
their decision. as they do in many cases, upon the
personal character of he complainant and the de-
PENDANT as il appearsin the courtroom II the
evidence was clear. / think they would convict the
bribe-taker Judge Eales interest in the matter
has arisen from the fac that he has been shocked
by the amount Of bribcy observable among the
farmers at the late election. In pst years, they.
as class, seemed supeiOr TO brbe-ta1ng, but
now many of them desfe TO be paid for their
votes Instances have been known OF
farmer coming y town week
before election and uniting about for
q purchaser of the votes of himslf and his
sons Oh, no! they don't AIT until eection-day
10 sell their vote, II is business transaction
that cannot wait for that day. AM their de-
mands grow higher and hiner Men that three
or four years ago. it is said thought one dollar
sufficient for their vote, nSv cOOly ask $50.
So. the expense Of elections mounts ~ 70 vast
proportions As / said botL parties will have
10 unite and put stop 10 thebnbery."
Judge Parker's views are OF special value, as
he win probably be a member of the Court Of
Appeals which will be organized in J,nuary,
court which may possibly pas upon tie Con
stitutionality Of the law passed by the coming
Legislature TO prevent bribery. Z is of decided
interest TO the public also; TIA so emimnt q
iurist as Judge Earle. of the Cort of Appeals
makes the suggestion he does. II regard Il an
anti-bribery law. 1t is & wellknwn fact that
Governor Hill will devote a large share Of his
annual message 10 the subject of ribery at the
polls 1t is announced that the Governor in
tends TO pass Christmas at his Id home in
Elmira, Chemung County. If he chooses, be
fore he returns to Albany, he can gaimn Chemurg
County some valuable points 10 that po.-
ton of his message which denounes bribery.
The county is VIGOROUSLY one of th worst in
the State for political corruption.