The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-12
BUYING AND SELLING VOTES.


In a recent issue OF the Cherokee
Scout, ]. E. Graham writes a communica-
tion against buying and selling votes
which is timely.
Mr.. Graham touches upon question OF
supreme Importance. II the ballot be-
comes an article of merchandise free
government will perish from the earth
There is no doubt that while there has
always been more or less corruption in
politics, the corrupt use of money in cleo
lions has increased ten fold within the
past eight or ten years. Worse than the
growth OF the use of the money is the
widespread sentiment that approves or
condones it If it helps my party to win
among men who stand high in church and
State. When Mr.. Wanamaker, better
man than most Of those who manage poll
ties, was asked what was done with the
million dollars raised in 1883 to help elect
Harrison he said: II do not know. / did
become SO common as to make many peo-
pie lose the sense of it's iniquity. 1t is
said that in portions OF Ohio the practise
of paying for votes has become so gem
eral that not a few fairly well to do men
make it practice not to vote unless paid
10 do so. II the man is Republican he
Il hc
but he lets the political leaders of his
party know that IL they wish his vote
it will be necessary to pay him to take
the trouble to cast it. That practise IS
said to be on the increase. No civic viz
tue can be long found in community
that tolerates such shameless and dis
graceful betrayal Of the duties Of citizen
ship.
The day of large campaign funds is
comparatively new. More money was
spent in the national campaign OF 1883.
1892, 1896 and 1900 than In every previous
national election in the history of the
Republic. 1t is difficult to check expeh-
been begun. 1t would be hard for per-
fectly honest men to run the next cam
paign successfully without a barrel. SO
prevalent has the notion become that
money talks" that sporting men in doubt
full or close election put their money on
the candidate who has the largest barrel.
ion z
penditures must be reduced, or there is no
hope OF success for any party not sup
ported by the gigantic trusts.
Mr.. Graham calls attention to the in
dvidual vice of vote selling and vote
buying That practice is encouraged if 1T
has not beer produced largely by the cor
rupt use of money in the great elections.
1t has siftcd from the top to the bottom,
and threatens to poison the fount at the
spring. The indictment Mr.. Graham
brings against hiseeounty many voting
places are made market places to buy and
sell votes and barter on the sovereign
rights of citizens OF our county" is one
that might WIN CQudl lIuIH NC OiouSh'
in other counties. For twenty years IT
is notorious that a certain county in
North Carolina was carried by the party
that spent the most money, and as re-
suit in national elections the Republicans
generally carried it, while in State elec-
tons it usually went Democratic In
other counties, in the primaries az well
as in the elections. the use of money
has come to be a crying evil. There is
need OF strong public sentiment that
will frown down upon this growing evil
and organize to defeat the men who seek
to win by the use of money. Mr.. Graham
has spoken a timely word. Others ought
to take the matter up now and the
coming election ought to be marked by
freedom from the corrupt use Of money.