Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-03-16

Ten Per Cent. Of the Electors Open
to the Advances Of the Tempter-
Enough Perhaps to Control the Sit
uatiOn-The Laws Seem to be lneth-
Gent to Prevent Crime.
j. i. Harrison, OF Franklin Falls. |
n. H.. is an enthusiastic advocate |
OF a chaste ballot and has recently |
issued in Interesting address on the
subject OF the sale OF votes III his |
native state. The Century Magazine
Of late date published it, and the
essence Oh it is here given for the bene-
tit OF western readers.
The number OF yOIeS i'll New Hamp-
shire which are purchasilble, he says,
and are sometimes purchased, is prob
ably about IL per cent. Of the whole
number of votes in the state. The
men who have most acquaintance with
the facts think this estimate too low.
1t appears to be certain that the mum
Der is increasing. Some of the pur-
chasslble voters are young French
Canadians who have been here only Il
short time. They think it a sort Of
lark when they find they are to be
paid something for their votes, and are
apparently not aware of any serious
Wrong-dolng III the transaction.
Many of them afterward become good
citizens and do not continue to sell
their votes. Very few of the votes
I,.c,l Iaiti aha,Ss IA
A large proportion Of the whole num-
Der OF purchasable votes i'll the state
are those OF native New Englanders
who, for any reason, have reached
rundown" and 'played-out' condi-
ton, have lost their grip and their
haye wounded and bruised their self
respect so often and in so many
ways, that it has lost most OF its
SenSibility.
| When votes are sold they are, OF
course, also bought. The buyers Of
votes are the managers OF the prin-
cipal political parties. The actual
processes of buying and Laying for
the votes are usually assigned to
agents who are not candidates for Of
flee These agents are well acqualnt-
ed with the voters, have good memories,
and some capacity for organizing and
directing men.
Both the great political parties are
engaged in the purchase OF votes. 1t
would not be much OF business II
only one party enaged in it. Its very
essence is the competition between the
stimulates the sellers to vigorous effort
to make the best possible bargain.
The number of votes which are pur-
chasable. and are purchased. would Of
ten decide our elections if all or nearly
all of them could be secured for either
Of the two principal political parties;
but these votes are usually so divided
between the parties that the result is
uncertain until the votes are all count
ed and the returns all i'll. Any con
siderable preponderance Of the pur-
chaSable vote in favor of either party
depends upon superior management
and superior contributions OF money
for the purchase OF votes. When
either party has more money avail
able for this purpose than usual. gooG
generalship consists in concealing this
fact from the other party. and in be
ing Of election day, to handle the pur
chaSable vote promptly and effectively
before the leaders on the other side
find out what is going on. When the
business actually begins at any poll
ing4place, the local managers on the
other side are of course soon aware OF
the fact; but it is then too late
usually, to overcome the advantage
possessed by the party having the mos
money.
, Contempt for those who sell votes
is common; but public sentiment
which is always, without Wayering, ol
compromise, opposed to the purchase
of votes, and which with prompt anC
unalteraDie decision rejects ali paru
san advantage which might be gained
siderable influence in this state. Suct
, Il public sentiment is not, L think, pre-
dominant or very vigorous in q major
! ity Of the citizens OF any state of oul
country. L aln obliged to admit thL
conclusion after considerable observa
Iion in nearly all the states.
l can not see how selling votes l:
worse than buying them; but this /:
not the common OF popular way Of
looking at the matter.
, The men who buy votes In this state
are for the most part not impelleC
, to the practice by attachment to the
principal or policy of the party. The
main inspiring and controlling feeling
of the purchasers OF votes here is the
spirit Of the game, the same feelin:
that it will not do to be beaten which
actuates those who engage In race
or any similar contest. The leaders OF
both parties in this state say thai
they regret that vote buying is feat
ure of political contests here, and
would be glad to see 1t laid aside OF
abolished. But neither side can stoI
while the other goes on, and there il
no means Or agency to bring about
the effective cooperation of the two
parties for the suppression of the evil
Although New Hampshire has a law
against the evil, Mr.. Harrison mourn
fully confesses that it Is not likely
that the evil will come to an end OF