New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-17
WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION.

The almost unbrOken silence Of the rural ma
chnsts Of both parties in the face of the de-
mand for the extension Of a pure primary law
to the country districts is most conclusive testi-
mony TO the need Of such legislation. 1t IS not
for moment to be imagined that they would
allow the political methods Of which they arc
the beneiciares to be denounced as corrupt
without making indignant denial and defence
If they were not convinced not only that brib-
cry and fraudulent voting were common in
country primaries but also that the facts were
so generally understood as to make any dis
cussOn Of the sources of their power fatal to
its continuance. Ordinarily the machine news
papers are quick to denounce all critics Of their
system as dsruptionists. libelers and mischief
makers. But it is now many days since The
Tribune pokte ont that any primary reform
to be effective must be Of general application
and began TO quote various Instances of rural
corruption, yet scarcely a word OF protest Is
uttered by the country journals, and no poll
tlcian feels moved to dcfrNd his county against
the charge that It Is dishonesty controlled
The arralgnment Of the political practices
current in Gcnesec County by Judge North. Of
Batavia. has been widely commented on since
its publication in these columns but we have
not heard anybody say that Judge North did
not tell the truth when he declared that dis.
trbuting agents in the towns commonly paid
81, or 50, or even 81, apiece for votes and that
in nearly or quite every town in the county n
barroom-and-fr ce-whskey campaign was car
ried on which was disgrace to civilization and
4 reproach to decency. Yesterday we published
n letter from eX-Congressman Burlegh. saving
that Judge North's speech was "a moderate
statement OF what occurs in almost every
county in this State" To this he added the
specific charge that az the caucus held on Febr1l
airy 10 last in Whitehall there were SIS votes
least, which was sXty-threc more votes than
Mckinley had, and there we're ut least seventy.
five Democrats who voted for Mckinley tho
same proportion as he received all over the
"State.' Montgomery County correspondent
writes that AT the Republican caucus few
days ago in the Third Ward OF Amsterdam
more votes cast than the tota! Repuhlicon
vote of the ward. An ex-ASsemblyman Is an
thory for the statement that in tho rocont
contest in the XXlIId Congress District 81 600
was spent 10 carry the caucus of one town
A visitor TO the Adirondacks this winter found
his way TO the polls in Franklin County with
The aid Of The empty whlskoy bottles strcwn he
sue the Iodu ny INT IHHDrHnt IlnbernpD. who
were supplied with liquor ny the political boss
ms the price of their journey TO the voting Mace
and. once there declined to vote excent for =
further money consideration. II Is said that
money was openly used in Wayne County n
few weeks ago, and the election in LYONS has
been thus described
Vote-buying is conducted openly and above
board, the best class Of citizens being engaged
in IQs Ia
Of pasteboard tickets bearing the familiar face
OF the late Patrick S. Gilmore. These ticket,
represented 81 each, and each "heeler" wos
well supplied on the Republican side with these
tickets. The Democrats had similar tickets
bearing cut of the works Of the Elgln watch
me Republicans Mt the close Of the day "cash.d
up al business place on Broad-st while the
democratic cashier was located a little further
down the street. The "noaters' walked nm m
hole In the wall. passed in their pastoboards
received their money and walked out The noIt
tlclans here have lists OF 'noaters" and the
price or each Is known. Farmers worth 81 0o0
appear on these lists. II being known that they
rhtuse 10 vote even their own ticket unless paid