The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-05-06
REED ARRAiGNED.
Charges of Corruption in the Ex-Czars 8
Return to Congress.

! Return to Congress.
Hon. Thomas B. Reed will doubtless
be the leader of his party on the floor
| Of the house during the sessions of the
Fifty-second congress. His seat can
not be contested, but it does not follow
that his place will be bed of roses.
There are indications already of dis
position to inquire into the means en-
ployed to compass his reelection.
Hon. Barnes Compton was elected tn
the Fifty first congress from the Fifth
| district of Maryland over Sidney e.
Mudd, republican. His plurality was
not large, being only ISL, but it ought
to have been sufficient. But Mr.. Reed
wished a working majority to back up
his schemes and the mere fact that a
democrat had been elected was re-
garded as ridiculously inadequate rea-
son for allowing him to retain his seat.
So Mr.. Compton had to go, and Mr..
Mudd filled out the term for which Mr..
Compton had been chosen.
Now, such is the perversity of human
HdLuIc, NIL Aolu pun w do NV ppiN ~
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 plural
ity of 1919. He is sure of his seat this
time, and he is penetrated with a 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 republican year to
noticeable extent. Yet Mr.. Reed
carried the First district of Maine by q
plurality of 4,S27, against 2, ,453 in 1888.
Mr.. Compton would like to know how
this was accomplished.
There have been rumors that very
great frauds were perpetrated in Mr..
Reeds district last fall. 1t has been
perfectly well known for years that 4
liberal percentage Of the voters of the
district entertain conscientious scruples
against casting a vote without receiv-
ing 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 in this 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-
tions, insist that the sale of offices shall
continue. This single fact shows with
sufficient clearness who are the bene-
fciaries 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 thst 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 very outspoken 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 a 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 af political knowledge. =
Louisville Courier-J ournal.