The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-04-24
80 REElECTloM-
Csaarges 81 Conception In the Ezx-Csarss
Return 20 C0nEress-


Return 20 Congress
Hon ThOnaas 3. Reed viii doubtless
be the leader OF his party On the fioor
OF the house during the sessions OF the
Ei4ty-seeOnd congress HIS seat can
not be contested. but jt does not follow
that his place VIII be a bed OF roses.
There are indications already OF a dis
position to inquire INTO the means en-
PlOyed to compass his reelection
Hon Barnes Compton was elected to
the Eifty-hrst congress from the Fifth
district OF Maryland over Sidney E.
MUdd, republican His plurality was
not large, being only Isl, bat il ought
70 have been sufficient But Mr.. Reed
wished a working majority to back up
his schemes and the mere fact that q
democrat had been elected was re
gar6ed as ridiculOusly inadequate rea-
son for allowing him to retain his seat
So Mr.. Compton had to go, and Mr.
Mudd filed ont the term for which Mr..
Compton had been chosen
Now, such is the perversity of human
nature, Mr. Compton was not able to
view this transaction with the serenity
with which Mr.. Reed had regarded it.
He appealed TO the people OF the Fifth
Maryland district last year. and they
reelected him over Mudd by a plural
ty of 1919 He is sure OF his seat this
time, and he is penetrated with de-
sire to know more OF the means by
which the mighty man from Maine OBJ
tains his majOrities every two years,
and particularly how he contrived, last
year, to exceed his usual majority.
Last year was not a republican year to
a noticeable extent Yet Mr.. Reed
carried the First district of Maine by
plurality of 4, S27, against ,, ass in 1SSS.
| Mr.. Compton would like to know how
| this was accomplished.
! There have been rumors that very
Reeds district last fall. 1t has been
/ perfectly well known for years that a
/ liberal percentage of the voters of the
/ district entertain conscientious scrUples
/ against casting vote without receiv-
/ ing a pecuniary consideration. 1t is
also known that the republicans habit
/ ually employ large sums of money for
/ the purpose of making clear TO this
/ element the beauties of the republican
/ policy 1t may, of course, be urged that
| the Maine democrats are also willing
! to compensate voters for adherence to
| the true faith in cases of emergency.
| However this may be, it is certain that
! the parties in Maine occupy very differ
| ent attitudes inthis respect. The dem
! Ocrats are strenuous in favor of ballot
| reform, in order to take the control of
! elections out of the hands of the vote
! sellers and vOte-buyers; while the re-
| publicans, with some honorable eXcep-
I LlOnSg insist LntlE the sale OutceS SEltll
continue. This single fact shows with
| sufficient clearness who are the bene-
| ficiaries of corruption
Mr.. Compton, therefore, declares him
! self in favor of sending a congressional
! committee to Maine to investigate the
| frauds perpetrated in the First district.
! The purchase of votes Is not the only
/ subject of complaint; but, of course, if
an investigation were ordered it would
| receive attention along with other mat
/ ters. Mr.. Compton believes that such
an inquiry would show greater cOrruP-
ton in Mr.. Reeds district than has ever
| occurred in the southern districts con-
| corning which the republicans have
made so much complaint Mr.. Reed him
self has been a very OutspOzen advO-
/ cate OF reform in southern districts, and
! it is believed that the people of the
country would be greatly interested in
an official report of the methods by
which so distinguished reformer is in
the habit of retaining the confidence of
his constituents The presentation of
the facts of the case in an authentic
form would unquestiOnably add largely
to our stock of political knowledge. -
Louisville COURIER Ournal.