Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20

oil If II was stopped"
And so the drift of talk went. The
same story comes from every hundred
in the county of the open and deliberate
purchase of votes at the polls on election
day.
HOW IT rs WORKED IN KENT.
In Kent county the same open traffic
in votes prevails, but the financial part
of the transaction is not reduced to the
same metbodical basis as in Sussex.
Generally the party workers handle the
funds and pay the venal voter the cash
as soon as his ballot is deposited. In
East Dover hundred, however, at the
recent election the Democrats used pay
checks, three of which were shown me.
They are small pieces of pink, yellow
and blue paste board, having printed
ON their face the figures 3, 5 and 10,
valued at So, So and $40, re-
spectively. After voting, the purchased
voter was given enough of these checks
to amount 10 tho price agreed upon for
his vote. He then took the checks to
the treasurer, endorsed his name upon
the back of them, and received the
money. 1t is said that at least $50 votes
were bought by both parties in East
| Dover hundred alone on election day.
For the entire county the number of
votes that were bought for cash is esti-
mated at 1900.
HOW TO SUPPRESS THE EVIL.
This is a question that finds serious
lodgment in the minds of leading citi-
zens of both political parties, but they
are puzzled as to the best plan to adopt.
If one party refrains from buying votes,
The other party will profit by the prac-
tice, and it is too much to hope that
both parties will voluntarily abandon
the business. 1t will have to be stopped
by legislation. Edward Ridgely, Esq,
of Dover favors the re-enactmont of the
anti-bribery law Of 1853, which was as
follows:
Every person elected or appointed to any
public office of trust or profit in this State,
before entering upon the duties of such
office shall, in addition to the qualitica-
tions prescribed by the Constitutions of
of the United States and of this State, take
and subscribe the following oath or attir-
mation
|, do solemnly swear Tor
ailirm) that have not since the first day
of July, 1852, given, offered or promised
any money, goods, chattels or other valu
able thing or matter, or released or offered
to release any debt or obligation by way
of bribc, gift, benefit or reward. for the
purpose, or with the object of influencing
any elector in giving his vote, or in refus
ing to vote. or in absenting himself from
the polls at any election. SO help me Goo
(or so aiiirm).
This law was passed when the Revised
Code of 1852 was enacted. Ii was tht
first section of bill prescribing tht
qualification of number of local Off
| "A n
section should 90 into effect on the 4tl
day Of July, 1852. The State campaign
of that year was conducted with thii
law in force, but it did not prove salts
factory for some reason or other, as i
was repealed at the ensuing session o
the Legislature. The repeating act sim
ply wiped out the section OF the bill
above quoted, and was passed on Marcl
Sd, 1858. Mr.. Ridgely's recollection il
that it effectually stopped the corrup
: use of money during that campaign
Candidates for Office could avoid it
provisions by getting their friends t.
| attend to the vote-buying, but the fac
that man who bribed a voter etfeccu
| ally debarred himself from acceptin!
any office while the law was in forc
} made everybody very chary about doln!
/ any business iu the vote-buying line. Ih
, repeal of this enactment was FOLLOWED
: by the re-enactment OF the old Anti
0 bribery law, which was original!
passed ON January 2Sth, 1925, and Is IL
l force to-day. 1t provides penalty o
+ 5000 fine, (one.half of which goes to an.
person VINO will sue for iD, imprison
ment of from one to nine months, dis
: franchisement for two years and for
/, fciture of the Office to which the persol
proved guilty oil bribery shall have beel
elected. This law is severe enough, bu
@ the great difficulty is in its prope
d enforcement. But few persons care :
a incur the odium Of insttuting suit. A.
a organization of determined citizen
4 might be formed for the purpose @
purifying elections by vigorously ell
d forcing the provisions Of the oXistin
n statute. Such an organization coul
i make it very unhealthy for bribers an
" doubtless deter them from plying thei
l. vocation with the unblushing etfronter
J. that marked the conduct of the recer
4 election in the two lower counties. Th
4 admirable feature of the law OF 1856.
/ however, was thatit practically enforce
l. itself.
N The conditions that led to the passag
/. of the act of 1859 are not known, but
d was presumed that the extent to whic
IS bribery and Votebuying had reached
i. disguised public sentiment and d.
Is manded change. The newspapers
d the day make no special reference I
/. the act beyond brief mention of i
G. passage, in the detailed proceeding
m Constitutional convention and lcgisl,
IS ton with respect to lotteries and raj
is roads were then absorbing issues. n,
II is any special reference made to I'll
rs repeal OF tho act. The report of ii
le Senate proceedings Of March Sd, 1876
simply says that "on motion of NJ
Of Goodng the bill to amend chapter :
Iy was passed." 1t is said that some
If the public officers of that time we
ic very dubious about taking the oal
IS required by the enactment of th
le previous year, But the fact remaIi
ry that after the experience of sing
n campaign, the Anti-bribery act Of is!
IS was quietly, and, as far us can
le learned from the records, unanimous
W repealed.
Of PUBLIC SENTIMENT TAvoRs A CHANG
er There arc good grounds for believir
that the subject will receive the seriO
st attention of the next General Assembl
IN and that steps will be taken to break l
We vicious system that has at last come
be regarded as a public disgrace.
s. stringent Anti-bribcry law is one of Il
rs possibilities Ot the session. But even
It's there should be no legislation, there a
81 hopeful evidences of II public sentime
Id that may check the Hood of cOrruptiC
ne that enrulfs elections in this State. II