Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-11-13
FLOOD TIDE or CORRUPTION
The Recent Election Was the
Most Disgraceful Ever
Known in Delaware.
THOUSANDS OF VOTES BOUGHT
Prices Ranged as High as Fifty
Dollars for a Vote.
1t is Conceded That the Depth of Political
Degradation and Debauchery WAS Reach
ed--Thc Reports of Corruption are Gen
erai and Touch All Parts of the state.
Local in Sunday star.

Local in Sunday star.
Little by little the aftermath Of The cleo
tion on Tuesday is coming in and the
gossip and reports make unpleasant reading
for those who have had some pride In their
state. From reports from the lower eoun-
ties II seems to be admitted that the cleo
tion on Tuesday touched the climax OF
political degradation and debauchery, and
that, in fact, it vas not an election In the
true sense of the word but wholesale auc-
tion of votes. In conversation with many
persons familiar with tha political condi-
tions in the lower counties, gathered by a
reporter of the Star from all of them, the
known for vo.ei and the wholesale selling
out of men presumed to be respectable
citizens. The Democrats who have observed
the situation declare that the defeat of the
party was due to the enormous corruption
fond, the selling ont OF the Democratic
leaders, and trading by othors and the knit
ing OF tho tickets by the Biggs anti -Sauis.
burg element of the party who evidently
regarded the triumph of Addicks as minor
consideration.
8 1t Is intimated that fully two.thirds of the
voters in Sussex county received rnoney.
In Dng4boro hundred, the home OF Con
gresham Henry A. Houston, the vote
sellers ara said TO ba more tina. rs per cent
OF the entire population. In one district of
Northwest Fork hundred. The Star re-
porter wa5 informed yesterday, on resronsi-
bic authority, that there we've only Is men
who did not cell out. In many other dis
tricts tbe percentage doubtless was MS large.
1t Is said that the Addieks Republicans had
to ray nearly all of their negroes lor voting.
In Kent county the conditions were almost
as had. In all the legislative districts
Democrats cut their ticket, In some they
openly so,d out. 1t Is stated that in, the
leirsic hundied district which vas so close,
in Kent, ,one Democrat auc,ioned off 40 votes
which he controlled.
SHAMEFUL SPECTACLE.
Editorial in Sunday star.
Now that the election is ever and penple
have tine to talk of such things, We hear
all sorts of stories about the purchase of
VOTES In the two lower counties, and the
same thing is charged in new Castle
county, though to a lesser degree. The
crime of e.buying, if We are to credit
the stories from Dover, GeoIgstown and
other do n country places. was very fragrant
all over the lower part of the State. hitn
prominent In both parties arc accused of
standing upon the open street in the neigh
borhood of the polling places and boldly
Offering TO purchase the votes of the citizens
as they came up 10 deposit their ballots.
In one case ii IL declared that one of the
most brazen or the AddicRs henchmen, who
was candidate for the State senate, bid
was his fear of defeat and no desperate his
strait for votes that this offer was made for
yotes olly for himgef, the purchased Demo-
crat being allowed 10 vote the remainder OF
his own party ticket. And what adds to the
gravity OF the situation is that in many
cases the offer was accepted and the vote.
buyer was successful in thus forcing his
eorrupting presence into the body of the
highest law-InaKing power of tire State
where the same tactics that brought about
his own election will no doubt he used in
securing the passage of luws, and for the
advancement in other ways OF his political
masters interests. There is no pre.ence
that this corruption was confined to Gne
political party, the only difference being
the extent and openness with which 1t was
practiced OH the one side ms against the
other. The party that had tho most money
got there, y and Delaware hangs her head
in shame as she contefnplates the spectacle.
Is there any remedy for this deplorable state
OF nftGirS! This ia n question that grows
more serious at every recurring election
and calls aloud for some action that will
lead to an affirmative answer. If the
wholesale bribery charged was done. as is
claimed, without any attcmpt ut conceal
ment, 1t ought TO be easy of proof and
punishment swift and sure should he neted
out to the guilty parties. The law itself is
sufficiently stringent to meet the require.
ments of Justice, and It only remains for
those charged with its enforcement to arrest
the offenders and prosecute them to the
fullest extent. But will they do its That is
the point at which we have now arrived,
HOW lar i justice paralyze1 by The sym
pathy OF Its agents with the law bren kers?
And then, too, il iray be asked, how Is it
possible to get evidence against those who
purchase votes in open daylight ON the pub
lie streets whom the only available witnesses
are also guilty of tho same offence!
An answer must be found to these questions,
IL Delaware is to remain even a tolernblo
place in which to live. Corruptora Of the
ballot must be rencked. But how 10 do it Is
the problem that should be grappled with
now by the executive arm Of the law.
oS or THE Mos SHAMELESS.
Eelaware remocrat Of Georgetown
The election in this State last Tuesday will
pass into history Is one OF ne most sngme-
Jess ones ever held here. The Addicks forces
have by the Gse of money attempted TO
buy up orr people like cattle ever si1,co he
caing across cur border from Pennsylvania
nearly 10 rears ago, bat the Democrats and
Regular Republicans have always succeeded
IN Keeping him out OF an oisction 10 the
Senaie. Tho honest men OF the
State have again baked his ambition, and
should he boHst that he will stay in the fight
until 1870, every one knows that the feeling
OF our phcp.e will remain unchanged and ha
will never reach the goal by any honest en-
preston of their wishes. ANY exultation We
may feel at his failure Is saddened hy the
thought TINT each election shows greater
GENERALIZATION of OR people by the increase
in number OF pnrchaseabe voters. There
wRs time when the number was few com.
pared to the whole number cast ind the
purchased were locked upon bys,heir fellows
as criminals unworthy OF notice. The cor
rBption has been increasing within the
last few years until II has reached an esetent
that is enormous and IL carried on boldly
i'll the face of the severe inws made Ia
prevent 1t. Formerly man who sold his
vote was marked man in the community.
Now tcere are 60 nnny that 1t scurccy
clauses comment. and men hoast of the
price received for their suffrage. If roi
stopped soon there Is no telling where ii
will end. There will bo no way of getting
at the sanse of The people If money ia al
lowed to warp thsir opinions and wholesale
and open corruption permitted to sway theii
votes.
The iime has come 10 put stop TO al
this, or IL will bacome so fastened upon the
commonwealth that it win be impossible
to get rid of 1t. How 1t shall be done il
the next question. There will be Senator,
to elect two years to come and four yearI
TO come. Aodicks has been defeated oncf
more, but not eliminated. He will tr,
again at succeeding elections and be agair
n great disturbing cause in the future
hhlero Me fuhhb SURE InHI Two years nenet
there shall bs return to honest methods
and he shall be entirely eliminated from
the contest. The people should cause him
and his followers to know that moneyed nd
venturers who seek office solely by corrup
means cannot gain their ambition In thi
way, and that there is n majority of homes
and law-abiding citizens in this State whC
will take care that there shall be return
to the teachings of our fathers, that III,
ballot-b shall no longer be polluted as i
tas been BY the Union Republicans.
Footbali Player Injured.