The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-01
YANKEE tENALIIY AGAIN.

The New York Sun furnishes us still
further evidence of the venalIty Of the
Yankee voter. We take from it the fol-
lowing:
II Will be hard In tho coming election
for the Republicans TO use at the polls
the enormous campaign fund they are
now collecting. 1t is understood that the
| Republican committees have accumulated
so far $4,000 for use in New York
State, and that the greater part of this
sum will be held for distribution on cleo
tioa day. This amounts TO over a dollar
a head for all the voters OF the State,
or over two dollars for every Republi-
can vote. IT means that II the money Is
handled without leakages the amount at
the polling places on the morning OF cleo
ton day will be enough, II 1t can be cf-
fectively used, TO reverse any majority
the State has given for a candidate since
the election Of 1889.
People In New York city do not realize
the open and great use OF money at the
polls in the rural districts, where vote
buying is as well recognized a dealing
in cattle or sheep The Hudson river
counties are the most demoralized, and
the decentralization extends TO counties
like Washington, Saratoga and Clinton,
where in some election districts half the
voters are for sale II the prices run high
enough. Almost always the vote buying
Is done by the Republicans, because they
have the money. and II is greatly by these
means that the hold of their party is
maintained on number OF the farming
counties.
II is not mechanics and wOrkmen, as
rule, who sell Their votes, but farmers
and their hired men and sons. II takes
a great deal more money and effort 10
influence the voting OF rural carpenter
who is paid SIS in cash at the end Of
week for his work than 10 gain the vote
of farmer whose income is really larger
than the mechanics, but who is not ac-
customed to receive it weekly in cash.
There is much more money for use at
the polls at country election district
than in a New York city district 1t is
not rare for the Republican in charge OF
a rural election district to use $1,000 or
81, 200 at the polls on election day, out
side Of the money which may cling TO his
own pockets in the distribution Of the
campaign funds.
Twenty dollars is not a high price to
pay for a vote in these localities. and
the money is paid as openly as II the
buyers were engaged In legitimate COM
merce. Personal feeling and neighbor-
with swelling the local campaign fund.
besides the money which II receives from
the national and State committees. At
an election in Albany In the spring Of
this year the candidates for alderman
stood on the sidewalk by the polls and
openly bought votes. There were three
candidates. one of whom expended about
81 600, another about 5000 and third
about $1,000. The price Of votes on this
occasion ran as high as $50 apiece. though
the only fight TO amount to anything was
on the ward offices. The candidates had
no more reluctance I'm telling the price
OF votes TO reporters than a broker would
have in giving the market quotations on
stocks in which he deals.
Astounding as Professor McCook's reve-
lations were. they fail to equal these. 1t
Is absolutely incomprehensible to us in
the South that farmers can be thus
bought and sold at the polls.
To what are our elections coming? Is
there no limit to the Yankees love OF
money!
Is not this intolerable? Is 1t to be en-
dured that our elections are TO become
the playthings OF those who have money
to spend?