The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

won him a seat in Congress, that the
amount he spent is nobody's business,
and that he is not going to lose any sleep
over the matter, are statements credited
TO Congressman-elect William H. Jack
son. Republican, which startled Maryland
this week.
He IS quoted as justifying himself by
saying that his opponent. Thomas A.
Smith, Democrat, spent all he could get,
and that he crippled himself financially.
After the reported admissions of Mr..
Jackson had echoed through the length
and breadth of Maryland unchallenged.
and. in fact, confirmed and reiterated by
the Congressman-elect. according to sub
sequent interviews, Mr. Jackson. over his
signature, and in his newspaper at Sails
bury. denies that he admitted that he
bought votes or was cognizant OF this
form Of corruption.
Conditions IN the East Shore country, as
portrayed in the interviews with Jackson.
were not slow to stir the leading men of
the State to expressions of Indignation.
Secretary Of the Navy Charles J. Bona
parte says the Illegal users Of money
should be brought to justice.
Gov. Edwin Warfeld says the condi-
tions in Congressman Jackson's district
are a shame. adding that he hopes the law
officers OF the section will act
Gen. Joseph B. Seth, president OF the
Maryland senate, declares the conditions
are deploTable, but true. Former candi-
date for Congress James z. EIlegOOd says
Jackson has reduced craftsmanship to
modern trade ethics.
T-Ifrofrafa +ha uaoro qavs former Cov,-
gresham Joshua ", Miles. DepIorable is
the word used by Congressman Frank c.
Wachter And when Judge Henry Lloyd's
court convened this week he directed the
grand jury 10 take up the matter.
William H. jackson is brusque, vigorous,
and outspoken. He goes into an election
with the same vim that has made him the
leading business man CT the Eastern
Shore.
He has built a hospital and a church for
the section, of which he is the guiding
star, with the same spirit that he con-
structed the largest planning mill in his
section of the State. He manufactures
50,O00,O00 feet of lumber each year, and
employees 800 men, with a weekly pay roll
of $3.50.
Jackson started in life as a poor farm
ers boy, without the advantage Of the
schools of the day. He fought his way
upward, and to-day owns 530-acre farm
in Wicomico County and a fine residence
in the city of Salisbury.
He had ambitions 10 be returned to Con-
gress, where he once held a seat, but
was defeated by Thomas A. Smith. who
sat IN the last session OF the House Of
Representatives. Jackson said he was de-
feated by trick ballots, and contested
the seat but the decision went 10 Smith. /
During the last campaign Jackson and
Smith were again opponents. with Jack
son sunarting under the previous defeat.
He now says it was a contest of money. /
and he has won because he spent more
than did Smith
Elections for Congress come in Mary
land when the farmer is getting in his
harvest and the oystermen on the East
ern Shore are at the opening Of the sea-
son and making from SO to SIS a day
What is STYLED the venal vote will not
leave their work 10 vote unless they are
paid for it.
It has been a custom, for years back, /
for both parties TO spend money TO get
this vote TO the polls They vote their
Affiliations. but they viii not cast their
ballots unless they get the usual 3 and
slug Of whisky. It is this class of voters
that Jackson rounded up. and wAich has
given him a seat among the mighty.
The air is full of talk of prosecution for
bribery and Of unseating Jackson. James
E. ElIegood, whose sOn-in-law is in the
business office of Jackson, has been ap-
pointed chairman of a meeting Of citizens
70 gv,z-o mat
ters
Jackson would be a hard man for the
citizens Of Salisbury 10 censure. To their
mind Jackson is a mixture Of the good
and the bad, good as a friend and neigh
Dor, and bad In politics. Many do not ap-
prove Of his methods in politics, and
others fear him, for, as he says, he is
fighter 10 the last ditch.
One of his Democratic opponents said
of him: He Is liberal in building
churches. hospitals. or buying votes The
only silent voice in the turmoil that Jack
son has stirred is that Of former Gov. Z.
T. Jackson, the brother Of the Republican
Congressman-elect, and who is a Demo-
crat and chairman of the Democratic
county campaign committee.
According to the interview, which so
Of the State. Mr.. Jackson frankly admit
ted that his friends had spent money, /
"and a good deal OF IT," for him: but he
would not confne himself to the exact
fund. and laughed at and Tidiculed the
statement that SiGO, ,090 had been expended. |
He said it was useless to pretend that
elections could be carried on the Eastern
Shore without the use Of money.
They are out for the DOODLE" he de-
clared. meaning the voters; and they
must get it. or they don't vote.
IF you buy a man you buy him; It
matters not whether you give him whis-
ky or q five-dollar note. No whisky was
given any man to cast his ballot for me
with my knowledge or consent. The
Democrats used whisky as vote-getter.
I did not see it myself, but I am told
they had jugs and bottles at many Of the
polling places.
''The Democrats got beat at their own
game. I am one of those fellows who
fight to the last ditch. but I don't squeaI
If I get licked. The Democrats are
squealing My opponent spent all he
could get. and I am sorry to hear the re-
ports that he crippled himself, financial
". in his campaign. He ought to have
known better than TO go against me
that way. I didn't spend all I had; no.
sT.
Let some OF those people in Baltimore
who are so shocked at the expenditure
Of money on the Eastern Shore come
down here and run for Office. Then they'll
know whether or not they could be elect
Of