The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-11-29
NOT speak as hoy pans BY,
ron A puHua nALLoq,

The Knights OF Labor assembled Nv
indianapolis made q move on Saturday
for a purer ballot in the United states
They recommended the Australian
system, UnQuestionably q movement
of this kind il demanded by the crisis,
We have touched a point Of yenallty IN
politics that enables only the rich TO
become candidates for high aud impor-
rant Offices, In the recent November
election more money was doubtless
used In tho purchase OF votes than ever
before known in the history OF yenal
aud corrupt methods,
Another feature Ia also TO BIO noted'
Nearly every Congressman who
made a fight against monopoly has been
defeated for denominations aud 30 far
as heard from, all have been defeated
by the corrupt use OF money, The not
able eaaea are that Of Gen, Weaver OF
the 9th Iowa districts llayner OF the
baltimore diAtflet, and Ford of the
Grand Rapids, Michigan, district,
The Australian system endorsed by
the Knights OF Labor was recently dis
eussed by Prof, Bemia, In one OF his 10
cent lectures In Canton, IL has been
adopted In England with marked sue
Cess,
Prior 10 1879 an English election, II
| pogslble, was more corrupt than the
American voting Of today but In that
year an effort was made toward reform,
md the Australian system went into
effect, by this system all tickets are
! printed NJ public expense by sworn Of
| icers Of the law, the names Of the can
| dldatea for tho same ollce being print
I'd on the same slip, one under the
other, Sworn officers dollyer the bal
lots 10 the voters, and they Che voters
check of the nume Of the candidate for
whom they wish TO vote, aud deposit
| their ballots, by this means the "heel'
ora" ana "Wlre pullera" ana other dis
reputable persons are shut out from the
practice OF their nofarlOus business
about the polls,
The present English system, however,
Ia u improvement upon the Austral'
ian syatem. IL imposes additional safe
guards against vote buying, II reQuirea
every candidate for ohlee 10 keep
an account, IN detail, OF all his
campaign expenses, 10 whom paid and
for what purpose, and this statement
must be verified by O0idayit and filed
in q public Office, available for examln'
alton, and any ollolal elected by the
improper use OF money 10 deprived Of
his Office, and forever afterwards dis
! qualified from voting,
Since the adoption Of these vigorous
laws the Engliah elections have been
comparatively pure, A good authority
estimates the cost Of u parliamentary
election under the old system at %, 1855,
900, II Chairman Quay, Of the National
Executive Committee, and the Con
] gressional Committee we're required 10
publish the expenses Of the recent Pres
identiOl and Congressional campaigns,
wo have no doubt the figures would
mount TO many millions, we win not
undertake to say how many,
We have reached q point now where
| 4 poor man, however meritorious, has
no show whatever for official recognl'
ton, unless some rich men viii whaok
up money to aid In his election, The sys'
tenn has become 80 vicious and all
%peryadlng that II costs money
even In little petty local offices,
Both the House and Senate Of the
United States, once representing the
intellect, the culture aud the patriotism
Of this country are now lined with men
who, In nine cases out Of ten, Won their
way TO favor by the use Of money both
In the Cauouses and NJ the polls. There
are over twenty men In the Omitted
States Senate to-day, worth from Ave
TO fifty millions Of dollars, and all got
there by methods thoroughly selfish
and yenal,
The worst feature Of the whole bust.
ness is the prevailing indifference
among the people 10 this great crime
against humanity and popular govern.
ment.
The Knights of Labor have spoken
on the subject, but they are powerleBo
TO stay or even check the evil.
The masses Of men Of both parties
must unite In u movement 10 stop II,
1hepulpit, the press and they rostrum
must mitedly rail against II,
We must commence 10 deprive some
high officials of their high offices, who
have been elected by brlbed votes, aud
we must send u few Of the most con.
spicuous brlbers TO the %ponitentiary,
and keep them there,
Vote buying Is a crime. Public sen.
timent must demand that vote buying
be disgracod aud punished.