Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-18
THE STORY OF A BRIBE.
How a Senator's Vote Was Sold
Without His KNOWLEDGE.

How a Senator's Vote Was Sold
Without His knowledge.
A former distinguished senator, and
a man who died poor although he spent
his entire life in public affairs, once
told a very interesting story Of how
his vote was sold without his knowl
edge. Possibly other senatorial votes
have been sold in a like manner.
In a Pullman car one day the SEN
ator renewed the acquaintance Of a
prominent railroad man he had met in
Washington and who, he knew, was in
terested in land grant bill which had
become a law and had rec we'd the
senator's support.
well. your bill got through all
right" remarked the senator, though
you were so very uneasy about it,
I'VE had a right to be uneasy" re-
sponded the railroad man. I'm these
times of antirailroad sentiment many
public men fear. to vote for railroad
bill"
We'll, 1 voted for 1t because it was
a Just measure. and no amount of pref
udice would have scared me-" remark
e1 the senator.
"Oh, yes, we knew we had your
vote" the railroad man remarked. with
a peculiar look.
How did you know it?" asked the
senator sharply.
Because we paid $4,000 for It," an
swered the railroad man firmly.
The senator gasped, got his breath,
demanded an explanation and the par
ticulars of the affair then came out.
1t developed that when this bill was
pending the railroad man received In
formation that there was danger Of its
being defeated and came to Washing
ton to see about it. Soon after his ar
rival he met a man whom he knew
slightly as a legislative promoter, and
a number of senators said to be doubt
full were named; but, added the pro-
moter, their votes could be had for a
consideration. The price Of this par
ticular senator was fixed at $4,000.
Now, he is a little peculiar about
these things" said the promoter, land
you had better let me see him first.
Then later in the day you can call on
him and see IL he promises his vote"
It seems that this promoter did call
on the senator and mentioned the rail-
road bill and said that there was a
man in the city who would be glad to
know that the senator would support
the bill and might call later and hear
him say so.
"Oh, yes" said the senator, "it Is
good bill, and I'll vote for it. but have
no time to bother with this man,
Nevertheless, in the afternoon the
railroad man and his friend were ush-
cred into the senator's committee room,
and the promoter said:
Senator, this Is the gentleman
spoke to you about this morning In
terested in that land grant bill. He
will be glad to know it is all right"
Yes, it's all right" said the senator.
1.-The bill ought to pass. and, as said
this morning, am going to support
it,"
The incident apparently closed until
renewed afterward upon the train.
Upon the strength of that inter-
view," said the railroad man, I'VE paid
that promoter $4,000 for your vote"
well, it's needless for me to say /
never knew anything about it. But
tell me. why did you go about any
thing of that kind? Why didn't you
come to me first. without negotiation,
and find out how I stood and what
would do?"
well, we were so scared we didn't
take any chances on anything" was
he reply
Telling the story afterward. the sem
ator said: Il had often looked at some
of my colleagues whose regulations had
been impugned and asked myself, Are
they knaves or fools?' but after this
incident. when | felt like criticising
fellow member for being a knave and
taking money for his vote, or placed
I'm a position where he was suspected
of it. and therefore a fool. l would
check myself, as some one might be
asking. ITO which class do you be-
long? "-Washington Post.