Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-19
ELECTION FRAUD CASES.
Necessity for Watchfulness and yigilanc
in Their Prosecution

Necessity for Watchfulness and Vigilance
in Their Prosecution
The San Francisco Bulletin remarks
Sacramento is supplementing the smash
ing of the machine by vigorous legal pro-
ceedings against imported voters and pur-
| chasers of their votes. If such political
virtue could become permanent and gen.
eral instead of being merely spasmodic
and local, what nice country this would
be-"
1t is to hoped that the present spell of
virtue in Sacramento upon this subject will
not be relaxed, for there is nothing that
will so effectively put stop to the nefari-
GUS practice of the bosses importing and vot-
ing this class of cattle as to make
the punishment for their crimes as certain
as their commission. The practice hereto
fore in vogue of dismissing any charges
against illegal voters, about TWO DAYS after
election, was as reprehensible and criminal
on the part of those who di it as were the
crimes committed by the imported thugs
and DULLES. But this was one of the bene-
fits and immunities attached to the rule of
the bosses, for if the bosses, at their bid
ding made the city officials, did they not
see to it that the very tools, by whose
should not be condemned and punished by
the other tools in office?
The people are now, however, aroused.
and it will not be healthy for any boss
head to rise up against them. although the
finger of the powers tina: be" can even
now be seen sufficiently to demand the ut
most watchfulness. The parties who fIy
to the relief of thugs and ballot box cheat
ers by putting up deposits or going as bail,
do not, as rule, do so from patriotic mo-
tives, but fellow feeling makes them
wondrous kind
The determination of the loyal portion of
the people of Sacramento to stamp out the
infamous gang that has been wont to com.
nit ballot-box crimes in this city, at the
dictation and procurement of local bosses,
and in which the latter made themselves
participators in these crimes, is one of the
most assuring features of the present revolt
against election crimes and criminals of all
kinds. 1t is to be hoped that those who
participate in these crimes by importing
the criminals and aiding and abetting
in the frauds committed, will next be
reached and made to suffer the full penalty
OF the law. There must not be an enforce
ment of penalty against the agent, and the
principals be allowed to go free. The prison
bars fit principals and their tools alike, and
the people should see that they alike are
made to view the sunshine of the outside
world through them.
OF the persons arrested last week the
cases of some have already been disposed
OF, but there is decidedly too great a ten
dency on the part of those who administer
the law to permit mitigating circum-
stances " to reduce the Nervousness of the
crimes committed, or attempted. Let it be
remembered that the fact was advertised
and stated in bold language in print.
that every attempt to violate the
election laws would be punished
to the extent of the law. Rewards for de-
lection OF crimes against ihe election laws
were offered and published openly for sew
eral days. 1t is therefore not in the mouth
OF Judge, jury or prosecuting officers to
paliiate by one word the offenses of these
scoundrels, who, despite of such warning,
dehantly sought to cheat the people of Sac
ramento of their choice at the polls. The
RECORD UNION proposes to see TO it that
justice is done the people in these cases.
and every effort to defeat it is exposed and
punished.