New-York tribune., 1903-04-05


gets his he is compelled to ask super
visor to assist" him to vote in his booth. The |
supervisor of the party which the voter IS 10
support watches the man make his mark ana DO II
right and then by scratching his ear or blow
ing his by other apparently lnVoi-
untary act notifies the with ''the iron. as
they say in Warren that the voter is 'all right
The voter then goes out with a worker and gets
his in nearby saloon, or as often rlghe In
the street.
In another township which borders on Nara
gansett Bay there many famous resorts where
regular Rhode Island chowder" can be had. here
on several elections tickets are issued on elecuon
morning to voters which read. Good for one
chowder at $50 ard so)" One party will use the
name of one chowder resort, and the opposing
party will issue tickets to another place On the
day after election the party that wins VIII cash
IN the tickets at the stipulated price
There are MANY instances where money has been
lacking and consequently the voters Will not cast
a ballot. In town some time ago the report
went out that neither party had cent to speho,
that each was depending other towns ana h1o
sronl, nassed this one by. The chagrned citizens
hung around the polls until within an hour OF the
time for closing, when, in disgust 'ney luiieu
around and elected the Prohibition candldate 10 'e
legislature "as a rebuke to the closehsted party
managers"
In another town there was campaign marching
club organized in a Presidential elecuoh seai,
which held enthusiastic meetings ana then palaueu
up and down the village behind ME anu ui -
h, marching and speechmakng. but by shootins
off fireworks. On Election Day IL was olsoo'eieo
that the party managers had no money " pon
In great disgust the club disbanded, turned the
nict11res of their candidates TO the wall anu II ID
said that not of them went near inc poi'S oii
Election Day.
Tho hone of those who are trying to reform the
rotten borough system by which hhooe lSiaio 10
controlled by the few votes or corrupt couny
towns is in educating UP the youth to regard
bribery as criminal. That this task VIII De d
herculean one is acknowledged, lor the feo'oii -
bribery has been practsed in the state 10 d q ehl
or less extent since the middle of the last ceh'us
.Rrberv began in this State even peioio 'iio
war" said Governor Garvin recently i am toio
by an eyewitness that as early as looi al al eie
| ton held in South Kingstown' one Oh tio pa
workers stood at the door of the poling place WIN
| q big cornucopia made of brown paper, II we"
fad 10 the brm with gold pieces. and hterally IL
| was a horn of plenty. AS each voter went ~ 'Ao
ous +o him was offered gold piece and pailot
| and if he accepted them he was accompanied 10
| the ballot box see that he voted rleh. 1, nc
VOC not thought less by his neighhors 1or taxing
| the money That is the sort OF moral piiioi400
| that must be overcome" ,
Altbough Governor Garvn is Democrat the
| aeht is not being made party lines. Governor
| carv,n ;s supported in his crusade py as ihdily
| Republican as Democratic citizens, VINO nave a
| last become alarmed at the wholesale extent oi
political corruption In their state
The man whom Governor Garvin says must fali
,fore there can be pure politics IN Rhode Island Is
| General Charles Ray Brayton The influence whlch
General Brayton though now blind. exerts over the
legislature tremendous. Though not puoilc ol-
Ger he has desk in the Sherfs office to the rght
| e .bo north entrance of the new marble Capitol,
| and seated in the deep leather upholstery of his
chair, he issues his orders to the country iehoeiS
General Brayton throws the blame for the present
| corruption on the shoulders of the Democrats.
| m1,ha blind Ross" as General Brayton is called
~, his foes was sitting his office in the Banigan
building two after the session of the legisa-
t,,re the other day when Tribune man called TO
see him. The attendant who guides the general ana
answers his every beck and call then closed the
I two doors of the inner office. Tall of powerful
| phvsiuue with iron gray hair and tawny mus
tache the general despite his sixty-three yeaIs ana
his blindness showed much of the vigor of early
manhood as ne rose from HIS e'' anu ~
| his hand
! II don't deny that money is spent in elections in
This State" he said. out we don't call II bribery
here We pay for the voters time. Often it takes
a farmer the most of the day to hitch up and drive
to 4be nolls and he expects something for his time
! The Democrats DO just the same thing' ana IL s
| only when they haven't as much money as the
other side that they up such howl as now over
| bribery Then they yell about rotten boroughs ana
! oil mat WHY we are no worse off than other
| States The township system should continue to
| exist TO protect towns from the city. Money Is
used certainly. Both sides have been fed SO long
with a spoon that they expect it.
In the same building with General Brayton is
man high in the circles of the Democratic party
who would have great influence in the state should
| the Democrats come into power He talked In the
same vein as General Brayton, and said, among
other things:
.sIts not the money that bothers us so much
| We've got used to spending that in getting votes.
| We Democrats are against the present system or
representation by which the country, which is nat
| urally Republican, dominates the city, which has
| large Democratic vote. But as for money; why,
| have used money myself and paid as high as 500
| when necessary to the influence OF a man.
| Perhaps YOU can stop bribery by education; but 1
| have INV doubts. They have had the sugar too
long"
| Sbould Governor Garvin win the battle his
| cess viii be the result OF his personal efforts.
! hacked by the power of the pulpit and the press,
| both of which, with only few exceptions. ra
| pardess OF party affiliations. have championed his
| cause AS Governor. Lucius F. c. Garvin can do
| little In his handsome suite of rooms in the new
n o,o 900 marble Capitol the Chief Executive is
| almost as helpless his doorkeeper. Under the
laws OF Rhode Island he signs no bills He makes
| no appointments except that or his private secre-
tary Should he send in a name to the Senate that
| hodv will table it for three days and then make an
| is controlled by the voters Of the rotten bor-
ouehs" lies all the power to make laws. to ap-
point high executive officials and even to elect
| Judges -,
| fight almost singehanded. Though the men he is
sntagonizing say his crusade is for political effect
| snd have done what they could to render his
| efforts futile by blocking him in the legislature.
Governor Garvn is finding many In both parties
| who coming TO his support
THE NAvlEs OF THE WORLD.
laya1