The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-11-18
BRIBERY OF TWO SORTS-AT AND
BEFORE ELECTIONS.

RE ELECi1UN >.
One of the most gratifying of the after
maths of the election is the aroused pub
lie sentiment against bribery. 1t is a
crime that has not flourished greatly in
North Carolina, though it has lonG de-
bauchcd the politics of certain counties
corrupting influences in most close coun-
ties. In the recent election, in the State
at large, there is cause for congratula-
ton because in at least two-thirds of the
counties the election was conducted in
a manner to reflect credit upon the in
teerity and honor Of the people of the
State. In every county the election was
fair and stained by no crookedness or
p~artisanship. But in certain close coun-
tics in the State, in Central North Caro-
lima, and in nearly all tine counties in
the Kluttz-Blackburn district and the
Moody district bribery by money
OR whiskey, or both, ran riot, and voters
were purchased like sheep and debauched
like savages. OF course bribery and
corruption could not and did not directly
affect the great bulk of the people who
compose the electorate of those counties,
but as it had full play with the meaner
portion of the population it put a stain
upon the good name of those counties
where it was employed. In addition to
buying votes with money, nearly every
annex to the Republican party and maud
lin drunken men were hauled to the polls
to be voted by paid hirelings. Bribery
! was not confined to one party, but the
scandal Of the corruption by distilleries
is chargeable solely to the Republican
party. The distilleries, the agencies OF
corruption wherever located, must be
destroyed, root and branch, as a first
step to secure decent communities and to
| stopping bribery and corruption in poll
tics.
In the matter of bribery, the sin lies
at the door Of both political parties. In
a sermon at brownsville, Davidson
ty, the venerable Paul J. Caraway on
Sunday night preached a vigorous ScTmon
in the Methodist church against the crime
Of votc-buying and vote-seliinS. He said
that Davidson county is distinguished
above all other counties in the State for
this evil Writing Of the sermon,
Charity and Children says: He de-
ounce the corruption of the suffrage
in unmeasurcd terms and plainly init
mated that the buyer is every whit as
mean as the seller. 1t was a courageous
sermon and we hope will result in good.
There is need for moro Paul J.. Cara
ways in the pulpit, in the press, in the
political wcrld-men who so at the root
of the evil without vain and peeyish and
unwarrantcd SANDER of good men. This
crime can be stopped in North Carolina.
The goOd men of the State now that the
horrors OF Radicalism no longer engross
attention, will put an end to bribery. And,
while Davidson county is not a sinner
above all other counties, it is one of tbs
places where the most strenuous efforts
must be employed 10 prevent the wide
spread vice of vote buying and vote
selling-a vice in that county which at
taches to men of both political parties.
The laws against bribery should be en-
forced, and righteous public sentiment
created that Will remove this blight
from the otherwise perfectly clean cleo
ton which was held this year.
There is another phase of bribery in
condemned by patriotic men. 1t has
flourishcd to some extent in a few coun.
ties in North Carolina and it has touch.
ed the whole State in its balefuI influ-
ence. Early in the administration it was
set on foot in South Carolina, under the
supervision of Senator McLaurin, and,
to a lesser extent, in North Carolina by
Senator Pritchard. We refer to The
policy of buying influence with Offices
Mr.. McLaurin expected to reVolutioniZe
South Carolina by bribing editors and
other influential persons with Fedora,
ure of success until an offer of the Col