The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-14
Grafters' Busy Days

stamping ground of this growing evil,
for like his fellow man the political
CRATER likes companiOnship and is not
averse to a community of interests,
when candidates are many and money
is plenty. In the basement is generally
+ to be found those whom a dime will
satisfy. They are a hungry lot, always
watching, and the candidate who slips
through their fingers and escapes the
badgering of their leaders is an old and
a time tried campaigner indeed.
They generally play in pairs, either
tracking the candidate to some I'M
frequented spot or casually humping
into him in the hallway, where greeting
is given, a whispered conversation fol-
lows and an exchange is made. 1t is
not invariably dime; luck sometimes
brings more, but it all goes to fill the
common pot below, later to be convert
ed into numerous cans Of beer. These
grafters haunt every doorway, watch
every avenue leading to the big build
ing and make life anything but rosy
hued for those whom they hope to
pluck.
"Graftdom," however, like society,
has it's grades and one sees them in the
better dressed, confident kind that
haunt the corridors above where the
majority of the candidates for re-elec-
ton have their offices.
srsT say, Mike" cried one Of those fell
lows, leaning on radiator and search
ing the crowd as it GIBBS and surges
through the hall.
"Can't see you now, Jack" is the an
swer and the wideawalke candidate
quickly fits by, only to be landed
somewhere else down the hail. 1t is rs
cents this time, possibly whole dollar
for a "keg for de gang" but he digs
up just the same time and quickly
disappears into the safety OF his priv
ate office where he counts his cash and
Eliminates over the trials and troubles
of Office holding.
But the worst Of them all and the
kind that disdains the cold touch Is
the vendor Of tickets and the solicitor
for subscriptions for some charity.
Both sexes find employment here and
two elections in less than a month
means much for their occupation. True,
they ply their trade the year around,
but now it is the hey-day of their
prosperity. From so cents to dollar
is their size and they generally get 1t,
giving a ticket for some dance or al
legged charity in return. Their style Is
breezy, no place is sacred from their
intrusion and they seldom take no for
ran answer.
g. During Mayor Smiths first term he
spent So, 900 in one year for tickets, be-
cause he didn't have the heart to re-
fuse.
Then there are the ward clubs, the
grooters and lastly the boss. These are
step above the other fellows, in fact
they represent the top notch of graft
DOM Their period of life is brief, but
they must be treated handsomely.
Every time they gather to sound the
praises of their favorite, the can
didate must settle and it is not a dime
either. Not only his money, but his
pesence is necessary when they get
busy. One candidate of past expert
ence says this line of the business gen.
orally represents an expenditure of not
less, than 5000 for the campaign.
Despite the passage of laws and the
mandates of society that the CRATER
must be suppressed the business has
grown of late years. The time honored
practice of buying the voter direct, OF
fixing price per head is thing OF the
past. Laws have made the practice
anything but safe occupation, but
they have in no wise diminished the
tendency to graft. Those who live on
the candidate refuse to recognize their