The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-25
DOODLE AND BOOZE.

tention to the manner in which
politics is conducted in this county,
on several previous occasions. For
years the free use of money, and
supplying liquor for voters, has
been going on in every campaign,
commonly known and talked of as
openly as though it were perfectly
Legitimate, until it has come to be
expected Of every candidate for
every Office and the man who does
not come up to those requirements
stands but little show for success.
The seeker for public office who is
not willing to risk the penalty of a
thousand dollars fine, and a year in
Jail, is not in it, so to speak. Such
a condition of things is most de-
plorable, and is an alarming menace
to our American system of govern
ment by the people.
There is gang of "bums" in
Bloomsbury who foi the past month
have made business of standing
on the street corners and around
the saloons every dav from six
O'Clock in the morning until all
hopes OF meeting candidate have
faded, or until they have succeeded
so we'll that they can no longer
stand. They "go a.fshin' for
suckers" and frequently catch
them. These men are poor, their
families are needy, perhaps hungry,
but they will not work when it is
offered them at good wages One of
them recently told the writer that
he couldn't afford to work now,
as he might miss a candidate"
Strange as it may seem, this class
of men, to be found in every town,
succeed in getting both Doodle and
booze from many men, some of
whom would never stoop to such
thing except for the fact that he is
a candidate, and is afraid to refuse
for fear he will lose some votes.
The political influence of these
buns is nothing, and purchase of
their votes never holds over night.
We are credibly informed of one
man in Bloomsbury who boasts that
he has received ten dollars from
each of two candidates for the same
office, and intends to work third
one for the same amount, but will
vote and use his influence on the
day of primary election for the
fourth.
The Doodle system of canvassing
is ruinous to candidates financially,
and utterly demoralizing to the
voters and to the party. Some
years ago there were men interested
in politics from patriotic motives.
There were statesmen who were
actuated in all their endcavors by a
love of country and a desire to
benefit their fellow men. Now such
man is rare bird. There are
some such, but they are few and
far between. Now you can't get a
man to act as primary election
officer without paying him, nor to
do any other political service until
he knows how much there is in it
for him. For this condition of
things the Doodle system is direct
ly responsible. And what we mean
by the Doodle system is Just this
1t is the giving of money ostensibly
for services to be rendered in get
ting voters to the polls, while in
fact the money is given only as the
price of vote. A candidate goes
through township, handing out
money in sums ranging from one to
ten dollars, and sometimes more,
according to the supposed influence
OF the recipient. This is unlawful
and may be punished with heavy
penalty. The Act of Assembly on
the subject is as follows:
AN ACT.
10 ae/ine Me necessary ana br0ber er-
PenSeS WciaeRf To Me n0minanon ana
ehrfti0n Of senator's, representatives.
STATE JHatefaI, mnnicibaI anu county
eD7fers, anu 10 authorize Me bay-
menf thereof.
SEcTIoN I. BE ii enacted, sc.
That no person who shall hereafter
be candidate for the nomination or
Tor election to the Senate or House
OF Representatives, or to any Office
OF the Judiciary, or to any state,
municipal or county office in this
commonwealth, shall pay or con-
tribute. either directly or indirectly,