The herald., 1896-09-07
THE METHODS OF "DE PUSH"
Downright Trickery Practiced in .
Shameless Manner
Shocked at the Barefaced Manipulations of
the Political Ringsters
He Thinks That the People Should Be Warned
and Put on Their 0usrd-A Straight
Plain Talk-Services at the
Other Churches

At Simpson tabernacle yesterday
morning the pastor Rev. Mr.. Mclean,
preached to large congregation, TAX
ing as his text words found in ST. Luke
XII; 50: 'Woe unto you, lawyers; for We
have taken away the key of knowledge;
We entered not in yourselves, and them
that were entering in We hindered"
DR.. McLean's discourse was some
what out Of the ordinary being in the
main an honest mans exposition of the
trickery, dishonesty and deception
practiced by politicians at the Republi-
can primary election which he attended
Saturday in the Twenty-ninth precinct
of the Fourth ward. The speaker eX-
planned that he was then acting in the
capacity of an American citizen: he
believed in honest government, clean
of corruption and political rottenness,
and thought that every Christian ought
to take an interest in the primary cleo
tions and assert his right of franchise
there as well as at the polls on elec-
tion day.
1t was his first experience at a pri-
mary election, and he gave fearless ac-
count of the proceedings there as he
saw them. In the words of the Dutch
man who had just visited a large city,
he said "he knew some things before,
but he knew some many things now"
He referred to Christ's rebuke of the
scribes and Pharisees, and in so doing
gave trite illustration of the hypoc-
risy and iniquity of the average political
boss of the day. Outwardly they appear
pure and holy, but within they are
filled with rottenness To cleanse the
body polite and wrest from the control
of these men the power of shaping civic
government, he believed it was the duty
of all Christian people to take a hand
in the placing of good men on the party
tickets. 1t was at the primaries that the
corrupt tactics were practiced, and to
prevent this it is there that the reform
must begin.
Mr.. Mclean explained that he was
made member of the executive COM
mittee of the non-partisan good govern
ment party, organized some few weeks
ago, and a member Of such party was
nominated at the Twenty ninth precinct
primary as delegate to the county con-
vention. When his name was proposed
he strenuously objected to going on
the ticket IL the name of another person
then member Of the good government
party) was placed thereon. His obiec-
tion was considered and the name of the
person was accordingly dropped from the
ticket. When Mr. Mclean appeared at
the polling place Saturday morning he
was not surprised to find that the per-
son to whom he had objected was leader
of de push" element, having Topped
completely over, and was acting as judge
of the election. This was bis first eve
opener. This same person, this Judge
of the election and leader of the push"
had stated in his hearing when he was
protesting friendship for the good gov
ernment side, that the push had Of
fered him $3.50 if he would leave the re-
formers and throw his influence to the
other side. This he would take oath
to if necessary.
Mr.. Mclean stated that while he was
keeping tab on the ballot box to see that
there Was no repeating, he was ac-
costed by another professed friend of
the good government movement who
asked him for a supply of the reform
ticket. He was supplied, and to the
Rev. Mr.. McLean's horror, instead of
giving the tickets out. this professed
friend, who proved to be a member Of
the push" element, put them in his
pocket and handed out the push" tick
cts to reformers. This trick was accom-
plished by placing a reform ticket on
top of handful of the ring tickets and
showing the top ticket to voters apply
ing for reform tickets. In handing the
voter the ticket, the push" trickster
would draw 1t from the bottom and neat tly
fold it, with the explanation that it
had to be folded so and so etc. This was
the reverend gentleman's second les
son in the elementary school of politics
by 'de push"
Every known voter of the good gov
ernment side was challenged by the
judge. Mr.. Mclean said, and If he failed
to give an affirmative answer to the
question, "Will you vote the Republican
ticket straight, from top to bottom q"
his vote was rejected. At last Mr.. Nc
Lean tired of this high handed proceed
| ure and demanded to know of the judge
what authority he had to ask such a
question. He was informed that the
judge could ask any question he saw
| fit. But even this information was de-
| MED him until he threatened to take the
matter into court. Members Of the
push" were not interrogated as were
those of the reform element, until parties
looking out for the interests of the
latter challenged them one by one, and
even then the Judge frequently de-
posted the ticket in the box before the
challenger was satisfied.
About this time, the reverened gentle
| man stated, he began to under
stand something about corrupt
politics but he was further shocked
| by being shown tickets given out by the
push" men whereon his name was asso-
ciated with those Of the push" candi-
dates. If a good government voter OBJ
jected to voting this ticket he was in
formed that he ought not to vote for
Rev. Mclean because he was in the same
boat with the other fellows.
After this exposition by Rev. Mclean
he eloquently pleaded with Christian
voters to be broad in their political as
well as their religious views and to rally
| to the support Of what was honest and
pure in American politics. 1t was his
| opinion that the voters of America
| must arise in their might, cut loose
from bossism and strike for the true
American principle Of good government
| He wished 1t to be distinctly under
stood that he was not desirous Of dis.
cussingx party politics from his pulpit