Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-11-23

The election seems to be forgotten by
nearly every body except few notable
politicians who are said to possess some
substantial reminders of it in the shape
of unpaid paper promises that were
issued on or about election day, as argu-
ments to induce unbiased citizens to vote
right. These little slips of paper, am
told, have already caused much crimina-
tion and recrimination and threatens to
disrupt some political friendships of long
standing. The solem truth about the
marter is that the "Ring" politicians
were badly frightened at noon on election
day, and it was found necessary to raise
an extra sum of money to aid the mis-
sionary cause, and pull through an un-
popular candidate.
am told that a wealthy man was
found to cash the numerous L. 0. us,
and now it remains for the generous
donors toward campaign fund to
make good their promises.
A little bird whispers to me that there
are curses, both loud and deep, over the
stupid political blunddring, that made
such heavy assessments necessary, 6nd |
doubt if it will soon be repeated 1t GER
tainly will not, if some of those who had
to go down into the sub-cellar of their
pocket-books can prevent it
What is this hear about there being
some 'monkeying" with the count OF
votes on election day, in towns west of
the drawbridge? | make no charges
but it comes pretty straight to me that
there is quiet investigation being made
that may mean somebody's presence in
court before the end is reached. I know
who is said to be ''looking up'' the mat
ter" and he is no novice in politics, and
he is also several removes from a fool.
If there is word of truth in these wisp-
cred charges, of official tampering with
the election count, l hope it may be
brought out and the guilty ones punish
ed. The situation has been growing
worse and worse, year by year, in this
County, so far as corruption aud bribery
are concerned. 1t is truly shameful
and disgraceful condition of affairs when
a man can be elected or defeated for
office solely because lot of voters can be
bought, like a flock of sheep, to vote for,
or against him. No one party is to blame
for such condition, for both are equal
ly guilty, but if, in addition to this, we
are to be at the mercy of corrupt election
boards, who Will, for a stated sum,
falsify the count, then, indesd we have
reached a depth of degradation that
makes our elections worse than q farce.
So, repeate hope that whoever may
be conducting any kind of an investiga-
tion, will go to the bottom of the whole
matter, and if anything is wrong, let the
guilty parties be exposed and punished,
without fear or favor. No punishment
ia too severe for man who will peJjure
himself aad dis-franchise his fellow
citizens by q false count of votes. No
matter what his politics may be, or who
he is, or who he helped to elect or defeat.
If there is one such man in any Town.
ship. Borough or City in the Coun Y, let
him be ferreted out and dealt with &C.
cOrding to law.
1t is announced that our citizens will
soon be in possession of some informa-
tion concerning new City Hall, just az
soon as the Supreme Court gets ready to
divulge it, which is expected to be with
in the next three months. | suppose
there has not been an hour. during the
last ten years, or more, when big ma
iority of our voters were not ready, and
anxious to go ahead and build a new
City Hall but, they have been as power
less to put their wishes into effect, as if
they had been natives of the interior of
darkest Africa. A few men have kicked
the project about a. 3if it was a football,
and nothing has been done,
In the meantime, it is encouraging to
know that the subject is not wholly for
gotten, and that we may, at intervals,
be allowed to mention it with bated
breath.
| see that our distinguished fellow-citi-
zen and member of the County Board of
Freeholders, Mr.. Stewart Shinn, has
come to the front with proposition to
have the County purchase the Turnpike
between this City and Pleasantville, and
that he heads the committee appointed
by the Board of Freebolders to consider
and report on the subject. As an alb
stract proposition the project seems feasi-
bic. and free road always seems to be
preferred to a toll road by the average
traveller who has to be halted at toll
gate and "stood up" for trifiing sum.
When the traveller happens to be
woman, the matter is infinitely worse,
and when she remounts her wheel she
looks as if there was going to be trouble
for somebody right away. The people
who are hit the hardest, and oftenest by
the Turnpike tolls, are the off-shore
farmers and truckers, who come here to
bring supplies, and come nearly every
day. They pay the highest rate of tolls
for their heavy teams and the tax is