Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-10-27
The Political Cesspool.

w . iOiOi INV hOt particularly W thS
various outrages committed by the Dem
ocratic party in the South against the
purity of the ballot, which the Force
Bill is designed to prevent, but to many
of the political methods of both par
ties, falsely called legitimate. Few
people have any idea as to the extent
of bribery at election times, and OF the
enormous number of men who are will
ing to sell that priceless possession, the
ballot. to the highest bidder. Statistics
complied upon the number and charac-
ter of the purchasable or venal voters,
by Prof. j. ]. McCook, show the facts
for certain Connecticut towns, which
will do, perhaps, as well for others.
The Connecticut laws are as strin-
gent as any, but even under Connecti-
cut laws, in a voting population of one
hundred and sixty-six thousand, from
seventeen to twenty-five thousand are
bought and sold at every election.
Bribery is carried on Systematically.
| The state and other committees have
every part of the territory thoroughly
in hand, divided into "blocks of five, y
and all the supervisors have carefully
prepared lists, either in books or in
their minds, of the venal voters, and
know just what sum will purchase
each man. 1t is needless to say that
the large proportion of venal voters are
to some extent Incorporate. What
some men will do for drink is not to
be measured. In such cases the bribe
is as apt to be drink ticket as money.
Then there is class of shiftless ne'er-
do-weels, half yagrants, with no set
tied occupation, ready to pick up few
dollars in almost any way offered. But
drink is the great cause of venality, the
stumbling block to the feet of reform
in this direction, as it is in every other.
The negroes, French Canadians and
Irish show the highest percentage of
venality.
"Where does the money come from y
That is the question soonest asked. A
large share of it comes out of the pock-
ct of the candidate. II is becoming
more impossible every day for a poor
man TO attempt to gain or hold office.
Fortunately the cost and the annoy
ance holds back some rich ones also,
else we should indeed be governed by
a plutoeracy, as the Democrats try to
make us think we are. Then the en-
thusiasts in both parties are heavily as
sessed. Voluntary contributions also
swell the fund. OF course there are
many legitimate expenses to be pro-
vided for, especially printing of cam
paign documents. tickets, etc, the hire
and expenses OF campaign speakers and
various other things but it is hardly
necessary to remark that "A large. pro-
portion of the roney goes, directly or
indirectly, to the purchase OF votes.
Many remedies have been suggested,
but none as yet have availed. Some
think that the Australian Ballot system
has etecinally put an end to corrup-
ton. but, although it has bad a
good effect, ways and means have been
devised to evade it. When all other
methods fail, they can still pay voters
Of the opposite party to stay at home.
The English Corrupt Practices Act is
said to have put an end TO bribery in
that country. 1t is long and cumbrous,
but what is that compared with the
glorious possibility of having pure elec-
tions! An educational qualification
would go tar to accomplish the desired
end. But, after all, at the root Of the
whole matter lies the lack of moral
sense, the ''cllssedness" which is at the
bottom of all our political problems.
Legislation can do much, but individ.
ual example and labor can do more.
In the hands of the teachers Of our
common schools lie powerful weapons
for the reform and purity Of the ballot.
Let them teach the children SO that
when they come to vote, they viii be
filed with a sense of sacred response
bility OF their high privilege.
Small Farm Wanted.