Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-23
REED ARRAiGNEp.
. Charges of Corruption I'm the Ex-Czar's
Return to Congress.


Charges of Corruption I'm the Ex-Czar's
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 to
the Fifty first congress from the Fifth
district of Maryland over Sidney E.
Mudd, republican. His plurality was
not large, being only 1s1, but it ought
to have been sufficient But Mr.. Reed
wished 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 filed out 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 plural
ity of 1,619. 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 republican year to
| a noticeable extent. Yet Mr.. Reed
carried the First district of Maine by a
| plurality of 4,S27, against 2.433 in 1883.
Mr.. Compton would like to know how
this was accomplished
| There have been runners that very
| great frauds were perpetrated in Mr..
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 a vote without receiv
| ing a pecuniary consideration. 1t is
also known that the republicans habit
ually employ large sums of money fol
the purpose of making clear to this
element the beauties of the republican
| policy. It may, of course, be urged thai
the Maine democrats are also willing
to compensate voters for adherence tt
the true faith in cases of emergency
However this may be, it is certain tina
the parties in Maine occupy very differ
ent attitudes in this respect. The dem
| ocratS are strenuous in favor of ballO
reform, in order to take the control O
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 will
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 tn
frauds perpetrated in the First district
The purchase of votes is not the onl,
subject of complaint; but, of course, i
an investigation were ordered it woul,
receive attention along with other mat
tiers. Mr.. Compton believes that sucl
an inquiry would show greater corrur
ton in MIR. Reeds district than has eve
occurred in the southern districts, con
corning which the republicans hav
made so much complaint. Mr.. Reed him
self has been a very Outspo1en advo
cate of reform in southern districts, an
it is believed that the people of tn
country would be greatly interested i
an official report of the methods b.
, which so distinguished a reformer is i
the habit of retaining the confidence O
his constituents. The presentation Q
the facts of the case in an authenti
form would unquestionably add largel
to our stock of political knowledge
Louisville Courier-J ournal.
pEEn,c COMCDECC CCopEn