Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-12-18
THE VALUE OF A VOTE.


ALBANY, Nov. q. The examlna-
tion ofGeo. g. Cotton, County Clerk
Of Onondaga, before Governor Hin Is
important as a precedent as we'll as in
its bearings on the complexion OF the
Senate and Assembly. Ballots were
SO distributed by this officer that
every voter 10 certain towns in Onon-
daga At the late election was under
espionage. " this was done careless
lly, Mr. Cotton deserves severe CEN
sure for negligence in complying with
the law. Ifit was done Intentionally,
as circumstantlal evidence now in
dicates, the removal OF Mr.. Cotton
from ONCE will be only partial punish
ment for his offense. The infictlon
OF the full penalty OF the law is nee
essary as an example for the future.
The Official ballot gives County Clerks
tremendous power to cheat at cleo
tious, and the first attempt to abuse
that power ought to be punished as to
be waning. Unless stopped at the
start, such an abuse is bound to-. grow
until the whole new electoral system
Is impaired.
The very close vote by which the
Senate is probably Republican and the
Assembly Democratic emphasizes the
Importance OF a siugle ballot. There
are many curious instances in the
political history of the country where
the value Uf one vote has been shown.
Marcus Morton was elected Governor
OF Massachusetts, by one vote in 1880,
and David B. Hill was elected United
States Senator by two votes in the
Legislature Of 1891. In 1886 there was
tie in the Third District Of Passaic
County, New Jersey, between the Re-
publican and Democratic candidates.
A recount OF the vote elected the
Democratic nominee by one majority,
and gave that party just that majority
on joint ballot in the Legislature.
This carried with 1t the election Of a
Democratic Senator Rufus Blodgett,
In place Of W. S. Jewell Republican.
This Is what to most Of the readers
Of the daily press:that one vote s.was
responsible, for both the Mexican war
and the war Of 1912. JusGss..beforeG the
Mexican war, 1874, Hugh c. Flame
gan was elected representative in St.
Joseph County, Indiana, by one mai
ority. He went to the Legislature
and his vote elected a United Stat es
Senator by one majority. This Unit
ed States. Senator's one vote brought
on the Mexican war, so st. Joseph
County has had an experience that no
other county, perhaps, in the United
States has had with single vote
four men elected to important local
Offices by single votes, and the MeKI-
can War brought on by a single vote!
In the spring of 1911 at the annual
election in Rhode Island, In one OF the
towns or precincts the voting between
the Federal and Republican, or De-
mOcratic, peace or war, parties had
been for years very close, not more
than majority of one or two votes.
The polls closed at o'clock, and
Federal farmer living mile OF so
distant from the voting-place, having
been busy all day, allowed, himself
just barely time to reach the polls in
the evening. He hurriedly crossed
his fields on foot and reaching his
last or division fence, found one of his
valuable pigs fast between tho .planks
and stopped to get it out, which he
found more difficult than he expected,
But he worked with all his strength to
pull the pig out, and failing in that,
tried to pry of plank from the fence,
which, after some time. succeeded in
doing, and then started on a run for
the voting place. Just as he was
within 100 feet Of it the town clock
struck and the polls closed without
his vote. The result was that Dem
ocratic, OF war representative, from
that town was elected by one vote.
When the General Assembly met
few weeks ofterward Democratic, or
war, United States Senator was
chosen on joint ballot by one majority,
In 1912 the declaration Of was with
England was carried in the United
States Senate by one vote. General
Jackson was nominated as a Major
General and confirmed by one vote.
On January 8, 17l5, he commanded the
army at the battle OF New Orleans,
gained a great victory, became a pop
ular military hero and as his reward
was elected and reelected President
OF the United States; turned all the
Wings out of office, removed the de-
posits, vetoed the notional bank bill
and played the devil generally and all
because that pig away up in Rhode
IHlnad got fast in a piah> fence.
Did you ever buy a horse and not
have some misgivinga as TO his points
till they were fully tested9 Not 90
with Ayers Sarsaparil Ia; you may be
a,,,a - , a. - ~. cto n Tt nn,tor dfaan-