Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-29
,ribsry ana corrup,ion a inc Election.

Bribery ana Corruption Mt tho Election.
No matter how guilty Democrats may |
have been in the past in the matter
of buying votes at elections in Kent and
Sussex counties, it is well understood
that they will not engage in the villain
GUS traffic this year. The main reason
is that they cannot obtain the money |
necessary for the business, and are
therefore compelled to DO virtuous. But
no matter what the incentive. the result
will be hailed with satisfaction by all
reputable citizens throughout the
State.
The yote-bnying business, therefore,
will be monopolized by tho Union
Republicans, and it will be we'll for
the Democrats, SO long as they cannot
compete in the market, to devote their
energies to preventing the Republican
corruption fund from becoming
effective. That the purchase Of votes
will be attempted, there is no doubt.
This Milford News and Advertiser, a
Republican paper though not of the
Addicks stripe, charges the Addicks
Republicans with openly hoasting that
their patron saint has already set
| apart 800, 600 for Kent county and like
sum for Sussex, to be used in the pur-
| chase OF votes. 1t calls upon good
| citizens to unite and invoke the law in
preventing the use OF this enormous
corruption fund, and says:
The law is ample, and the only
obstacle in the way Of its enforcement
is the lack of will to enforce it. Instead
Of prating about the evils of vote buy
ing, let those who disapproye of the
wrong combine and enforce the law.
Let Republicans and Democrats firmly
agree on this point and make their
agreement SO effective that the man
who offers another money for his vote
will speedily find himself in Jail and
his property, through the fines imposed
by the court, confiscated to the use of
the State.
The Lewes Pilot also calls attention
to the threatened crusade of bribery
and corruption, in the following warn
ing editorial:
The entire disregard of the plain
provisions of the election law as mani
tested in the election of 1894 must not
be attempted this year. The inspectors
and judges must see that no persons
are allowed in the voting room but the
proper number of voters. The per-
mitting of others than those legally
allowed inside the room or watching
at the windows or doors TO zee il the
voter delivers the goods is contrary
I | -, ho Ia,,, ,,ffa will ba,
cuted and tho hundred allowing such
) infractons OF the law will be thrown
! out by the board of canvass. The sys
sem under which we are now voting il
to secure the purity of the ballot ant
. the freedom Of the voter. The las
9 election was a disgrace to the STATE
Q and concerted plan to nullify the laws
$ OF course, in the acceptance of thest
t charges some deduction must be mad
d for the natural exaggeration due t
It partisan prejudice, but with the mos
u liberal allowance on this score there i
reason to apprehend an attempt on tn
II part of the Union Republicans to cor:
1t rupt the ballot to an extent hitherto
IT unknown in Delaware. Against sucl
!. miserable political debauGhery tn
n good citizens of Kent and SUISSE
" counties should make the most strenu
a Gus opposition. They have the law o
1t their side, as well as decency an
70 morality. The law, which comprise
D. Section II of Chatper l6, Revise
Id Code, reads as follows
es If any person shall give, offer c
| fthufrnln r
is other thing or matter, or release. c
va offer or release any debt, or obligation
,a by way of bride, gift benefit, or re
40 ward, for the purpose, or with til
81 object, of influencing any elector
or giving his vote, or in refusing to vote
or or IN absenting himself from the pol
or at any election; or If any candidat
- for office at an election, shall at sue
election, influence or attempt TO il
's' tluence, any elector, in giving or will
It, holding his vote, or in absenting hin
y, self from the polls by any of the meal
by aforesaid, Or by offering to serve
g. such office for nothing, or for lei
~ allowance than that prescribed by Law
an every such person or candidate, shal
for every such offence, forfeit and PIT
nd the sum of TWO HUNDRED Do
mt LARS, one.half thereof to be for Il
10 use of the State, and tho other hi
M thereof for the person who will sue T
'ry the said penalty; and further, any pit
aat son or candidate SO offending, shall
he deemed guilty of misdemsanor, al
by upon conviction thereof by indictmer
its shall be imprisoned in the public il
- of the county wherein such often
eae may be committed for term of r.
IN, less than one nor more than nj
Dry months; and for the term of two YET
der next after said conviction, such pers
shall forfeit the right OF an electc
and if any candidate for office,
WI offending as aforesaid, shall be electt
OF his office shall, upon his conviction
er, such offence as aforesaid, be vacatt
it'll and he be rendered incapable of servi
of therein for this term for which he sh
a. have been elected.
nov And if any person shall accept
receive anything SO given, offered
promised as above, with the inte
live purpose and object in thi$ sect
specified, such persons shall also
!. deemed guilty of misdemeanor, 6
upon conviction thereof shall for
period of four years from such C
ma, viction, forfeit all the rights and pri
tba leges of an elector. and in case of
inv second or any subsequent convict
,gie for like offence, shall forfeit all
sae rights and privileges of an elertor
ella the period of eight years from tine d
OF any such conviction, and shall al