Evening journal., 1902-10-13
DO WE HoLp ELEorIoNs2


tributed to but one cause; there has
grown up feeling ON the part OF
numerous persons in the last dozen
years that individual amid party sue
cess could be won only by a game Of
manipulation embracing whatever ras-
cality that at the moment seemed
necessary. II has been put on a plane
of a poker game where certain gentle
men sat at a table and by deception and
\ their opponents II objections are
raised by those who are not altogether
in sympathy with the game. there IL
the ever ready answer that the object
ors are hypocrites who refuse to play
because they are afraid OF losing.
There is very little feeling that the
ballot box is really a sacred institution.
There is manipulation TO set It filled
in a certain way, and when possible,
manipulation In emptying it. And yet
the ballot box is the source OF our gov
ernment. II Is the medium through
which the people select men 70 make
the fundamental law Of the State
Through which we select our legislat-
OTIS. and all those who are 20 admin
lister the law And yet In framing pro-
Visions TO guard the ballot box the
chief idea seems 10 be partisan advan-
tage. and when the law is administered
the same motive Is apparent
There are laws and constitutional
provisions which were undoubtedly
formulated with proper intsnt, which
are nevertheless violated with i'm
punity, and men OF all parties seem to
regard this state OF things as unavoid-
able Beginning with registration, the
leaders Of each party speak OF the mat
ter as Though it involved the raising OF
SO much money TO get the men quail
fed, which Is only the recognition OF a
fact. We hear openly every day that
the result in certain district depends
upOA whether this party or that party
gets its men registered. Nobody is
deceived; it means putting money in
their hands, which is In violation Of
a solemn provision OF the Constitution.
When candidates come to be nomi-
mated, one Of the most important ques-
tions is how much they propose To,
contribute TO the campaign fund. THERE
is no pnetenl5e that this is to be spent
In literature. brass bands and oratory.
i The district boss has his roll OF doubt
ful voters and has figured out to a dol
lar how much money is required TO
carry that district for his party. At
least one-half OF the legislative dis
tricts in Delaware are doubtful, which
means that the party which Is able to
control the most venal voters will win.
Thus It is possible to have Legislature
composed largely OF men whose seats
are purchased, wIaich, of course, means
that il will be subservient 10 the per-
sem who puts up the cash.
In Sussex county. for instance there
are districts where the purchasable
vote, counting all voters, is in the ma
iority. and Of course. under these cir
cumstances, elections are auctions.
The practical politician asks; what
are you going to do? Shall we not
meet conditions as we find them? These
questions, we admit, are troublesome,
but what shall we say OF those who
have helped TO make this condition?
What shall we say OF Those who have
encouraged men to sell their votes, and
,o bring about a condition Of general
debauchery under which the vote-sel-
Ter, regards his conduct as normal and
respectable.
To get an idea Of the extent OF We
rality, look at the returns of the last
election in Sussex county. See the
vast propondsranco OF Union Republi,
chm votes over Regular Republicans
and thm put against that fact the othel
proposition that there are more un
purchasable Regular Republican vote
in Sussex county than there are Unioi
e Republican votes Of the same kind
This is mot a more guess, but is base
a upon actual count
The true citizen Of Delaware want
8 to think of these things occasionally
y laying aside for the moment his polit,
4 cal prejudice, for conditions are fas
II becoming intolerable. We have wha
n is termed a secret ballot, and yet whe
e the polls are closed, the election oi
"a ncers cam tell you how each man votes
T. To make this doubly certain, unde
X the sanction CT the law. men will I
D. plscsd in the booths. Qstensibly TO a
OF sist voters in marking their ballot
IT. but In reality to see that no blac
IS fhsc2 goes astray. The worst has bee
&c prevented from happening ny a res
ne luts minority; should this give wa
OF there would be a saturnalia Of debauol
ny cry.
ng Under the old Democratic regin
~ the franchise was limited. By Gu
er- ningly devised laws. men were pr
1et vented from qualifying This depriv