The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-11-19
The Election in Connecticut.

from a subscriber at Hartford, Connect
cut. gives some idea of how elections sre
conducted in the State Of wooden nut
megs and hams. He writes
1T was hot fight among the makers
of wooden hams and nutmegs, but the
old chick pulled through. | have heard
of the votes Of some debauched persons
in old Westminster being influenced by
liquor or a small amount of money, but
never before did hear of men Of sup
posed responsibility accepting for their
votes public bids Of from S100 to $500.
1t was common here to hear men of intel
ligence name their price and then howl
about the political sins Of the South. Even
the self-assumed- Governor, Buckley got
down to the level of ward politician,
and held tickets. Surely the secret ballot
law made them desperate. Since my re-
sidence here, of less than two years, have
learned of more political corruption than
in ten years l spent in Maryland. We
are all waiting eagerly to see the ADvo-
CATE 5 roosters."
The writer enclosed the following clip
ping from the Hartford Times, Nov. 10,
on the desperate attempts of the Repub-
licans to buy the election in Connecticut
The Fifth Ward voting place is in the
old City Hall building ON Market street.
The Republican ward committee room
was located in the first floor of building
on Kinley street. 1t was corner front
room. next to the Police Headquarters,
having windows ON the side towards the
police department, and door leading into
it from the street pavement. At once,
upon the close of the polls, there was a
wild rush on the part of a large crowd
of voters for this committee room. The
attention of people in the vicinity was at
tracted by this sudden massing in the
room and the surging about the door, fill
ing the room, blocking up the sidewalk,
and much of the street. The door was
wide open and the windows towards the
police room wholly unobstructed. There
was hot pressure of the crowd towards
the northwest corner of the room. III pom
inspection by whoever cared to mix in the
lam or from the windows without, soon
revealed the cause of the rush. At a table
running across the west end of the room
sat Mr.. Dairy, Commissioner Gideon W.
Winslow, with biz stack Of 81 bills on
the table in front of him with long
memorandum book and pencil in hand.
Mr. Henry Ellsworth, grocer on Front
street. sat beside him with another long
book and pencil Just back of him, on a
higher seat. sat Mr.. James GOyau, sa-
loon keeper in the ward with a book and
pencil BY his side, at the same elevation
sat Il young colored fellow, who seemed
to be an accountant, although there were
but few colorcd people in the throng, and
his work was lighter, apparently. At the
other end of the table sat Mr.. John Ehrct,
also with long book and pencil y
policeman stood beside Winslow and put
in some vigorous work to preserve order.
"IIc sweat like Il butcher
1t would certainly seem that fully 200
men, one after another, stepped up before
the Commissioner Each in turn an
nounced his name The official of the
staunch old Commonwealth of Connecticut,
the State founded by Hooker and his con-
freres. consulted his book, looked either to
Govan, to the colored man, or to Erhret,
and, upon Il nod from them, handed out
the man a 50 dollar note Then Ems
worth made a minute in his book.
OnlookerS who Were used to Spectacles
Of unblushing bribery Of voters in this
ward for years were perfectly amazed at
the scene right before their eyes this time
The show lasted about an an hour and
a half, with sharp work in dealing out the
fives to certified claimants all the while
Occasional young Republicans going the
rounds of the wards, refused to believe the
outside explanation Of the great rush for
the committee room. Some went in, got
a near view of the table, and gazed at the
layout on it as if it was some monstrosity.
On coming out, they said IN is sol He's
got pile Of s. bills in front of him; a
man gives his name, street and number
and when the others say it is right, Win
slow gives him So bill; but it lisa disgrace
to any party which allows it.
Plenty of men watched the wretched
business.
Many man, after coming from the
public functionary, came right around to
the windows and said to some of the peo-
pie outside, 1--WE got the five, but | voted
the Democratic ticket just the same, and
more than half of the others did, too -
The belief of the knowing ones was that
not 80 per cent. of the men who got the
money fulfilled their contracts. The Dairy
Commissioner afterward exclaimed, Fifty
per cent of these fellows have gone back
on us :" INDIGNANT REPUBLICAN.
NorenlJer .. 1892.
DANBuRY, Nov. IA sensation has
been caused in political circles in this city
by the charge of bribery brought against
Granville O. Holmes, one of the best
known Republicans in the city.
The charge is brought by John j..
Quinn, and the Democratic town commit
tee is taking steps to have Holmes arrest
ed. On election day Quinn informed the
members of the town committee that he
had been given an official envelope contain
inc the Republican ballot, which he was
to deposit at the polls, in consideration of
which he was to receive S.. To prove
that he had deposited the Republican
ticket. he was to return the official envel-
ope which he would receive at the booth,
Quinn says the envelope was given him
by Holmes, who promised him the So. 1t
seems that Quinn was ''spotter in the
employ of the Democrats, election day,
although this fact was not generally known
and as soon as the attempt to bride him
was made he went to the town committee
and laid the facts before them.
Yesterday, Prosecuting Attorney Averill
was asked to issue Il warrant, but declined
To do so, without giving any reasons. Po-
lice Judge Hough, also refused TO take any
action in the matter Both arc Republicans.
.