Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-05-24
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
ACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
rHE USE oE MONEY lNElEoTloNs.

THE USE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
The people of Ogdensburg, n. Y,
held a municipal election a few days
ago, which resulted in pronounced
victory for the Democratic ticket. a
citizen now sends to the journal of that
pity communication concerning the use
bf money at the polls, which has fami
lar sound. lie says among other
Things
For several years it has been generally
belieTed that more or less money has been
torruptly used to carry our elections. 1t is a
well known fact that il such things are al
owed, free institutions are in danger and
elections become farce The very men
who sell their votes, besides the moral
torruption to which they reduce them
selves, are helping to bind themselves
with political chains which nothing but a
revolution can sever. Those who purchase
are helping to foster and encourage a dan
5erouS class of people, men who regard the
rich as their lawful prey and are of those
who form MODS to wreck the homes of the
rich. SucL conduct, buying votes, is like the
LANCER of allowing child to play with fire
The correspondent adds that Repub-
leans refused to accept nominations eX-
tept with the understanding that no
money should be used for the purchase
hdopt similar course and that the cleo
ion was held with this fact before the
people.
While there are legitimate expenses
Attending elections, including the cost
Of printing, headquarters and canvassing,
he fact remains that in too many cases
he bulk of the money raised by sub
criptiou among budness men and
others in both parties goes to influence
FOters. This is so well known that not
few men refuse to contribute funds
kept for the legitimate expenses at
ending campaign.
At the end of a municipal election the
pest men in both parties, disguested with
he eliminating development of the
ontest, solemnly aver that they will
ever help TO promote another struggle
that character, only ID forget the for
idding features of the political conflict
nd to repeat their experiences in the
ext city election.
When the certainty thata candidate uses
honey to promote his cause leads think
hg people ID vote against him, then
eruption at the polls will begin to dis
ppear; but so long as bribery and cor
upton are winked at by men who
you'd scorn dishonesty in ordinary
business transactions, the evil will con-
(nue to flourish. There are encourage
pc signs, however, that people are
eginning to realize the significance of
be purchase of votes, and the time will
pom come when the better elements OF
xxyi1l ho
hormity of the Icorrupting influences
lat are thus weakening the public con-
tience and corrupting public morals !;
nd will combine their efforts for the pur-
ose of preventing the use &c money at
be polls.-BurlIngton Free Press.
900
RUSSIAN LIQUOR REFORM.
People who are interested in the Nor
egian system, the South Carolina dis
ensary system and other plans for the
ate regulation of the liquor traffic will
gratified to learn that In Russia,
trough the benevolent despotism of the
pvernment, the drinking saloon has been
holly abolished, and the public con-
imption of alcoholic beverages alto
ether prohibited.
~ 10 Wituih comparatively SNORT time
lat these reforms have been accom-
ished. In fact, it is only with the be-
enning of the present year that the law
hs taken effect In Moscow, and in Siberia
does not become operative until 1908.
he system is gigantic government mo-
opoly. No man has right to sell
pirituous liquors on his own account in
ussia. The government controls the
ptire business. The spirits are taken
ON the distilleres to the government
ores, are refined In the governme mt
ills and delivered to the consumers