Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20
sta1corro,pondonco Of Evory Evening.

voters is nothing new in Sussex county.
1t has been followed for years, and the
minds of the people have become so
dulled to this yenal practice that it is
only on rare occasions that it raises a
ripple Of excitement or furnishes sub
ject of unusual comment.
This YEARS. election proved one of the
rarest occasions. While the corruption
fund was no larger than it has been
many time Qf as large) the work
was more openly and brazenly done,
and the corruptible voters were more
bold in demanding and receiving price
for their suffragcs, These circumstances,
coupled with published reports of the
amount of money raised and sent to
Sussex for the purpose of buying votes,
attracted general attention to this grave
evil, and now Sussex citizens are dis.
cussing how best to effectually put a
stop to the detestable and illegal prac-
tice.
Where the corruption funds came
from this year, is one of the things "no
fellow can find out" The Republican
corruption found forlnstance, is placed
as high as 100000 by Democratic csti-
mates, while no Republican will admit
that it was even half of this sum. Ed.
Bacon of this town, who was as close to
the Republican campaign management
as any other man insists that it amounted
to only $4,000, and that all Of this sum
was raised in Sussex county save tine
$1,000 that Horace Greeley Knowles
brought down from Philadelphia. He
also insists that the Democrats had as
much money as the Republicans.
Whatever may have been the amount
used, the fact remains that there were
corruption funds in both parties, and
the burden of proof is to the effect that
the Republican purse was larger, deeper
and more plethoric than the receptacle
in which the Demoratic cash was stored.
This, however, was not due to any pre-.
pondcrance Of political virtue on the
Democratic side, but solely to the fact
that the Democrats this year were un.
able to equal their opponents in raising
money for use on election day. This
is all.
HOW VOTES ARE BOUGHT.
The modus operandi in buying votes
in Georgetown hundred was fully eX-
planned to me, and the system pursued
here is the one adopted throughout the
county. 1t is plain, simple and ctfcc-
tive. There are over 200 purchasable
voters in Georgetown hundred, out of u
total vote Of less than 500. Here is the
scheme of purchaser
The corruption fund having been
raised, q treasurer is appointed. With
the fund in his possession, the treasurer
sits in some quiet office or back room
adjacent to the polls. The active party
workers constitute themselves commit.
tees to attend to the purchase of votes.
Most of the constituencies wretches who
have their suffrages for sale are known,
and the buyers watch for them. They
are Il curious set, for, strange us it may
appear4 they have political convictions
and pfefcr to vote their party senti.
ments. Say that the "tlOater" is Demo
crat He wants to vote the Democratic
ticket, but he wants So, SO or SO fol
voting it, and will hold out for his pay
An offer of IS, or even SO, to vote the
Republican ticket would be rejected
with scorn, and his rock-bottom price
would have to be increased three o1
four fold before he would consent tt
vote for the opposition ticket. But hC
can be bought by an extraordinary in
ducement, and here is where the Ion!
purse gets in its work. 1t is the sam,
way with the Republican "hoater." III
wants pay for voting his party ticket
but big sum will buy him over A
high as $40 and $50 have been paid fo
single votes when contests were though
to be close ald excitement ran high.
Here, then, is the market for the vote
buyers. After the voter is approache,
his price obtained, the bargain com
pleted and the ballot deposited, tn
purchaser conducts his purchased electo
TO the .r.Iaurer of the fund, who pay
him the price agreed upon. The treas
urer, as voucher of his accounts an
as "a directory for the party in futur
contests, keeps an accurate list of th
purchased voters, the persons by whor
they were bought, and the amount Z
money paid in each case. This list
meth0dically made Out in the followin
form:
Voter By whom voted Pal
!. John Blank, George Buyer, Sl5.t
.. William SELL John Dealer. 10.(
And SO on. The Democratic list
purchased voters in Georgetown hur
}red, it is said, contains about 80 name
the Republican list about 125 name
The Democrats, from the best inform.
ton that | can obtain, used abou
300. The Republican fund amountc
10 about 200 and was not all e.
pended. Inc lists are carefully pr
served for future use, but there is
complaint among the "tioatcrs" that Il
Republicans are not so careful in keel
Ing the lists secret as the Democrat
and allow too many outsiders to sea
the names and learn who are ven
enough to sell their votes for none
consideration.
now THEY ARE REGARDED.
1t is hard TO say how these degrade
sellers of their suffrages are rcgardC
BY the community in which they liy
Naturally, they are not looked upon
eading and respected citizens, but mo
If them hold as high head as any
heir neighbors. The evil has increas,
until men who own their farms are II
ashamed to ask pay for their vote
Most of this class simply ask their par
o pay their real estate aud poll take
Tut this is none the less a price for the
Totes. Some have the hardihood to a
or S5 or $40 bill in addition to Il
payment of their taxes. The seller, ho'
Ner, is tolerated, and his offence
lever cast in his face. feeling
lis moro honest neighbors is seldo
eard. except when his character al