Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-05-31
Corrup, Political Mc,hod-.

An article on this subject from the pen
Of Senator Edmunds occupies the place of
honor in the June number of the Forum
The article opens with the trenchant and
suggestive questions, ITO what extent is it
wise and proper to reward political work
ers - and "How can the use of money in
elections be suppressed - In discussing the
first question Mr.. Edmunds aludes to the
political methods ordinarily in vogue, by
which in close states and districts the re
suit is often decided by the efforts of those
whose ends are purely personal and who
hope for lucrative office as a reward for
their party services. In other cases, where
a few votes could easily turn the scale, the
temptation to corrupt methods is strong
and it is undoubtedly true that both parties
have yielded to this temptation. In other
cases the will of the people is thwarted with
no less sure and deadly effect by illegal reg
istration and by the action of the elections
officials in deliberately tampering with the
returns. Mr.. Edmunds estimates, contin-
uing in this line of thought, that in the
last election more than 81, 200, 600 was rails
ed and expended ''for what are called polit-
zeal purposes :" but, after making a liberal
allowance for expenditures which are real
ly legitimate, there must have been a very
large sum remaining that was spent for
purposes that both the laws and the general
moral sense of the nation condemn" The
Senator's effort, in short is to look an un-
pleasant situation squarely in the face, that
We may see just what the occasion requires.
That he does not believe that political
workers ought to have the offices given
them as rewards for political services rem
dered, regardless of other considerations,
is shown by his declaration that it is diff
cult to see why the great bulk of admins
trative emplOvments, which involve no pol
icy of government should he treated on
different principles from those which rule
in the ordinary business employments of
the country. By way of illustration he
says:
1T would be an astonishing spectacle,
and one everybody would condemn, if at
every change of directors in great rail
road or manufacturing corporation, all the
station agents, engineers, linemen and OPP
eratives should he dismissed, in order to
make places for successors whose political
or other opinions were supposed to be like
those of the new board of directors The
business of the government is of common
interest to every one of its citizens, and to
he successful it must be conducted upon the
same principles and 10y the same general
methods that are found TO he wise and ad-
equate in private affairs and in these the
man would he thought demented who should
maintain that the views of the station
agents, or engineers, or factory workmen
on the subject of protection, or woman suf-
frage, or any other of the questions of pub
lie consideration, make them any more or
less fitted for or entitled to employment
All political parties, Mr.. Edmunds says
have made loud and brave declarations of
their good intentions in the matter of civil
service reform, but the performance has
fallen shamefully short of such professions
In the situation as it exists today there is
much 10 condemn, much to cause sober.
minded citizens to reflect with serious
ness which may sometimes be tinged with
foreboding, but
In all these evils, manifest ar they are,
there is no reason for despair or discour-
agement in the hearts of those who believe
that truth and Justice and virtue are as es
sential in social and political affairs as they
are everywhere agreed TO be in the person
al intercourse of men. There should be
rather hope and confidence inspired by
the knowledge that these degrading and
destructive practices can be brought TO
light, and that it is within the power of
brave, unselfsh and persistent patriotism
TO make them odious and proftless, and to
reduce them 70 the smallest proportions.
The answer 10 Mr. Edmundss second
question, with regard to the suppression of
the use of money in elections, is contained
in the summary, with which he closes his
article, Of the general means by which our
republican system may he defended against
the poisons and evils which threaten it.
These means as he enumerates them are
ten in number
!. Improved registration laws
>. a secret ballot, with elections con
Quoted by officials Of the highest character
aud ability.
3. A public canvass Of votes, aud the
publication Of election expenses.
I. a public canvass Of the final returns
.. The prompt hearing and decision Of
disputed questions
q. The punishment Of illegal regisira-
ton, voting and bribery
More stringent qualifications for voters
: An oath for every voter that he has
not been guilty Of bribery or any corrupt
election practice.