The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-17

I II there Is any danger OF enforcement of
the law. not TO pass the money in the
presence of third parties. yet ordinarily he
makes no denial Of what he has done. nor
seems TO realize the enormity, or even the
nature, of his offence. Oftentimes his
whole attention is given to the higgline
Of the vote market; ne bids against an
opponent as he would at an auction--a
species OF competition which has n Won
dcgful fascination for some PEOPLE.
Readiness To buy votes is almost al
ways accompanied by a readiness 10
change the result OF an election by other
means. From corrupting the voter there
is but one step. and that easily taken, to
inducing an election officer to cheat the
people by a mscount Bosses and sub
bosses make this a part OF their regular
business, although It may he that the
estimable gentlemen who supply the cleo
tion funds, and no questions asked do not
really mean 20 go To the extent of fraud
ITO CHEAT THE OTHER SIDE"
Year after year the state boss I'm
Rhode Island publicly exhorts the city
and town committeeman of his party. by
whom supervisors and other election Of
hcers are nominated. to select their
smartest young men for those positions
the purpose evidently being TO cheat the
other side IN either the casting or the
counting Of the ballots.
y
when they do not furnish the money
themselves. deteriorate In character.
"A few years ago In the city Of Paw
tucket, II. l., strong ground existed for
believing that by the suppression of a
package OF 100 ballots the result in an
election OF members of the legislature
was reversed
But. when partisan board OF alder
men. who were TO count the ballots and
TO declare the result. refused TO find out
the truth Of the seven candidates on the
~ af h0ir all 49, fra,, a
not one came forward TO demand an in
vestigation."
In another place he states; "A few
years ago one of the judges OF an nfe-
rior court In Rhode Island. who was serv-
ing I'm the legislature. became unpopular
IN his town which. by the way. was no.
tortouslv corrupt. However hy manipu-
lating the caucus. he succeeded. against
the Will of a majority Of his own party
In the town. IN securing the nomination.
The other roitica rartiee In tho town
together with the dissatisfied wing Of his
own party. united forces In support or
m opposing candidate. and felt confident
OF success Mt the polls.
PAID IT PERSONALLY.
"on election day. however. the Judge
having obtained n sufficient corruption
fund (said TO hove been s7Aon actually rsif
II out personally. n few dollars 70 neariv
every eieotor who voted for him This
"ccurred in his own judicial district and
" chNr~e Of bribery had been brought
~ 'N1l llWns ne would nave neen the
Judge before whom the cause would have
FIRST been tr'ed
III is needless 10 saw that this judicial
LEGISLATOR proved on oil occasions 10 be
the s@rvile tool of tho nolitical boss who
surnlied the funds. without which his de-
ieHt Yves assured TIe const an'ly advo-
cHfed ard voted for special lo-'slH 'ion %
The rnoat unpo~uiar and objection bio
cNs-"cfer but dcsir~d ~ Tho clierts ot
TO ho~s ~ doubt tho eelf sa-.> resoect-
aNN citizens vho contributed the money
wN'0N hourht tho election
'Wh@n members 90 any lepisiatv ve
BODY. he In r'ur' ipnl. state. or national.
-rNure the'- electors not nv - e~ea vote
ft' through purchased -,aicrItiee ani
rfen suoh rrcmhc~r. either hocau-e ~ /
'heir numfNrs or ~ srccessfrl leader
'hip. con shane legislation. as "a con
stantlv occurring. n government hv tho 4
oeop'e has. IN that locality already 4
'oasef to- he Indeed. n contnual inter /
'crcrce with home ru'n md con,inuous
,rantirc " spec'al privileges 20 Tho few
nj ornlrst the viii OF tho peonle. are onlv
, part of the proofs that government hv
he consent OF the governed is in many
states no longer p reality"
THE REMEDY SUGGESTED.
IN closing Gov Garvin saws:
This resume of the evils OF bribery
you'd he incomplete. were no reference
rsde 10 the prevention OF br berv
Elsewhere A have set forth the radical