Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-04-27
A BOLD STROKE AT ELECTION
BRIBERY.

Tor preventing the corrupt use OF
money in elections, now pending in
the legislature of New York, has an
admirable basis for probable effec-
tiveness in the appeal it makes to
the self-interest of candidates and
parties. Patriotism, honor, pride of
citizenship these afford excellent
motives for probity in politics. But
unfortunately the state has to deal
in this matter, with large numbers
of men with whom these motives
weigh little in comparison with their
assumed self-interest. Let a candi-
date, or any set of party managers,
know that he, or their party, is
doomed to lose the offices at stake if
il can be shown that money has been
paid, or other corrupt methods used
to carry an election and this, no
matter by what majority the election
many have been won-and it at once
becomes the interest of every man
ON the ticket, and of the whole party
organization, to see that no faint of
corruption attaches to the ballot.
And, drastic though it may seem,
this is the idea embodied in a bill
which has already passed the senate,
and is expected to pass the the other
branch of the New York Legislature.
The approval of Gov. Higgits is
assured. The act is summarized in
a New York contemporary as fol-
lows:
This act provides that any quail
lied voter may petition justice of
the supreme court or a county Judge
alleging upon information and belief
corrupt practices in any election
district of the county in which he
resides, depcsitiing $3.50 as an evi-
dence of his good faith, The Judge
so petitioned is required to issue
summons to the chairman Of the
county committees of the several
parties and to the candidates
involved, directing them to appear
and take part in the investigation of
the charges. Meantime the canvass
ing boards are to be- restrained from
counting and returning the vote in
the effected district. No one is
excused from testifying.
Should the Judge find that corrupt !
practices were employed by one of
the political parties the votes cast
for the candidates of that party for
county and local offices are to be
thrown out. If candidate is shown
to be personally guilty of corruption
or had knowledge thereof, all votes
cast for him are to be thrown out
and he is TO be disqualified for pub
lie Office for five years. If both
parties are guilty all the votes are
to be rejected. In case the chargesl
affect elections to the Legislature the
charges are to be transmitted to the
presiding officer Of the branch con-
cerned. Should the charges not be
substantiated the cost of the proceed
ing is tc fall upon the petitioner,
but not to exceed the amount Of his
deposit.
Corrupt practices are defined by
the act are substantially the same as
the laws Of this state declare to be
bribery and corruption at primary
and general elections, the use Of
money on promise Of any valuable
thing to- influence voters. Sucn
practices are to be deemed TO be
prevalent when instances occur in
different election districts similar in
character aud sufficient in number
to reasonably indicate that they are
general on commca, or are pursuant
TO general schesae or plan.
Not the lesst interesting fact in
with the bill is that il
was drawn by Judge Herrick, the |
defeated democratic candidate for
governor AZ the last election, and for
years the democratic boss ID one al