The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-19
The Bribing of Voters.


Judge Adams has called the attention Of
the grand jury to the reports Of the bribing
of voters in the recent county and munich
pal elections, and directed an investigation
Of them This is a step in the right direc-
ton The corruption of voters in this
county, if the statements about the matter
are to be credited, has reached point that
is alarming Hundreds of voters, who have
no preferences in an election and who do
not interest themselves in the issues involved
in it, register for the purpose of selling
their votes. No man now can get an cleo
tive office in this city or county. to which
an inviting salary is attached, with
out spending in the purchase of
votes almost as much as the
income from it, for several years,
amounts to. 1t is reported that one Of the
recently elected officials stated that 1t cost
him more to get elected than he would re-
ceive from his Office in the next two years
In about every election, not only the can
didates but their friends are expected to
contribute literally to the campaign cor
ruption fund, and, as a rule the candidate
who has the larger amount Of money is the
successful one.
Hundreds of the better class of people
those whose votes are not for sale--do not
register. Their Indifference makes it easier
TO control an election by money. Although
neither the county nor the city may have
suffered severely as yet from the corrupt
Use Of money III elections, the time may rot
be distant when so large part Of tho vote
VIII he purchasabie that corrupt and ire
spousbie men win get into the places
Of power aud manage the affairs of the
county and city in their own interests.
The longer the brbing of votes continues
the larger the purchasable vote win be-
come. The remark was made several times
during the municipal election that men who
we're thought to be above accepting a small
bride sold their votes.
The time may come when men who now
talk lightly, and even nippantly, Of bribmg
voters will regret that they did not make
their iLfluence felt in favor Of honest cleo
tious. Thinking citizens are now asking
themselves how long 1t will be before any
man. who has a sufficient amount Of money,
and is willing to use it in buying votes, can
get any Office he wants; aud when such a
man gets into power will he not put into
the minor places within his gift men who
will do his bldding2 The wholesale corrup-
ton of voters makes possible a condition of
affairs that, to self-respecting and law-abid-
ing citizens, would be almost intolerable.
Now is the time to put a stop to bribery
in elections The law is sufficient for that
purpose. 1t is as follows: "If any person
shall buy, or offer to buy, or sell a vote, or
shall in any way be connected or concerned
in buying or selling a vote at any election
in this state, he shall be indicted for a INSIDE
meanor." If it is found impossible to secure
the evidence necessary to convict the VIC
lators Of this law without making a special
effort to do SO an association should be
formed Of leading citizens who would make
it their business to get evidence against
those who bride voters and those who ac-
cent brides