Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
The Longest Purse Wins in Mary
land.
SUFFRAGES PUT UP At AUCTION.
Close Counties Where the Price Is
High.
ARE ALARMED.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 4.-The local politi-
cal campaign closed last night with
blaze of literal and oratorical fireworks in
all parts of the town and state. Meetings
were held by all the different parties last
night, and the final arguments were SUBJ
mitted to the people to prepare them for
the final action at the polls on Tuesday
next While all the surface indications
point to the selection of Mayor Latrobe by
a good majority, 1t would not be at all sur
prising if it should turn out otherwise, and
VIM. L. Master, the republican nominee.
either secure the election by a small plural
ity or greatly reduce Gen. Latrobes ex-
pected majority. There is no doubt that
the democratic leaders are alarmed at The
apathy manifested by the rank and file Of
their party and in these last days of the
contest every effort is being put forth to
bring the disaffected into line and create
enthusiasm in the party ranks. 1t is ad-
mitted on all sides that the republicans
would be successful and Mr.. Master Sc
cure the election if all the voters Of that
party would support their ticket on cleo
ton day. But unfortunately for the repub-
lican organization 1t is more violently torn
with fractional dissensions than the opposi-
ton, and the supporters of the regular
democratic nominees confidently expect to
poll for their candidates large number Of
republican votes, and thus counterfeit the
loss of voters of their own party, Money,
which always plays important part in
the city elections, is unusually plenty at
democratic headquarters while the repub-
hcans have had hard time to secure
enough to pay the legitimate expenses Of
the campaign, and will have none to buy
noaters on election day. The democrats
are prepared to pay a good price to every
voter who Is for SALE and no doubt thou
sands of ballots will be cast for Gen. La
trObe for n Si1era
is made in this city and state of the fact
that votes are bought on election day
While a majority of the purchaseable vot-
ers are colored men, those of the African
race by no means monopolize the business
for large numbers of white men annually
sell their right of franchise to the highest
bidder.
Both the great parties are guilty of this
disgrace to the state and the only reason
the republicans do not engage in 1t to a
greater extent this year is because they are
unable to raise the cash. If the republi-
cans are ever able to raise a campaign fund
equal to that raised annually by the demo-
Gratis they will make things lively here,
and Maryland will be a doubtful state.
The price of votes this year In the city
will be from 81 to s5. while in the doubtful
known instances in the eastern shore coun-
ties where as high $50 has been paid
for single vote in closely contested cleo
ton, and on one occasion / was present and
saw old white man and his two sons
auction off their votes to the highest bid
der. the republican worker and the demo-
cratic worker bidding against each other
until the price was run up to $35 a vote
when the republican ceased bidding and
the democrat secured the three votes, which
were duly cast for democratic candidates,
after which the men were paid the money.
Such performances are usual in all the
close counties in Maryland every year. and
are looked upon a matter of course. The
contests are not based on principle-they
are merely matters of cold cash, and the
longest purse wins. In the close counties
If the republicans have plenty of money,
they will win, that is unless the democrats
have a greater plenty of money. OF course
in counties where the majorities either way
are large very little cash Is used, except
in factional contests at primary elections