Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-11-24
THE WORCESTER ANTI BRIBERY
AGREEMENT.

The papers OF the state have made II
so disagreeable for the Hon. Bill Jack
son Stree the election that he has found
to prepare statement for him in which
he denies that he said certain indiscreet
things about using lots of money to Sc
cure his election.
When Uncle William made his last
statement he evidently forgot all about
Worcester County and the things he
had said and done regarding an agree
ment not to use any money here, and
how such an agreement might affect
him in case his election was investigated
by Congress. On Sunday the Sun pub
lished pretty accurate statement of
the conditions in Worcester County,
but 1t evidently was not informed that
Mr.. jackson 'phoned over TO Worcester
on the day of election and insisted that
his money be spent. and guaranteed If
more was needed that he was ready to
supply it. The knowledge Of this re-
port is not confined to few people.
but every man in Berlin seems to be
conversan' with the report and several
claim that their information came from
the man to whom the message was
sent. and who refused to comply with
Mr.. Jackson S demands because he was
too honorable a man to break the
agreement even if Mr.. Jackson did de-
mand it,
The statement in the >,o of Sunday
was as follows
Revelations made yesterday concern
ing the nature and circumstances sur
rounding the agreement entered into
between the Democrats and Republicans
IN Worcester county in reference To the
use Of money at the last election tended
TO still further substantiate the alega-
tions that Mr.. William Fl. Jackson fur
nished his campaign managers large
sums Of money for the purpose OF in
tiuenclng voters in his behalf
The Worcester agreement. which is
signed by Edward s. Furbush. chair
man Of the Republican committe in
Worcester county, and John ?. Moore
chairman ofthe Democratic committee.
admits IN so many words that there had
been provided Republican campaign
corruption fund for that county
Ii seems that the agreement in Wor-
cester between the two parties was not
made until Sunday before the election
At that time, II Is stated on unGuestion-
ed authority, Mr.. Furbush admitted
that the Republican money provided by
Mr. jackson had already been dis
trlhuted IN the different county districts.
When the joint conference of Demo /
cratic and Republican leaders was held /
al which II was determined not to use
money either IN paying voters to vote
or 70 refrain from voting the fact than
the Republican money had already gone
out made the situation hard to meet.
Ine jackson supporters in Worcester.
II is said. were willing to cut out money I
IN that county in order that Mr.. Jack /
son might have more in the Others.
The Democrats were glad 10 do il. as
they realized they were up against a
hopeless fight in the district and had no
money 10 throw away.
After considerable discussion the I
agreement was drawn 10 and was sign
ed by both chairmen. The first part of T
the agreement merely pledged both par |
ties to refrain from the use Of money |
in influencing voters.
The second part is. however. the vital
and significant part Il provided that
the agreement be signed in duplicate
and that il should only be binding if by /
Monday November 5, at noon, the Re I
publican chairman, Mr. Furbush, should I
satisfy the Democratic committee that
The Republican campaign corruption
fund, which had already been distribu- I
ted should be again in the possession or
under the control of Mr.. Furbush.
II is thus stated in plain English and
signed by Mr.. Furbush as the Republi- /.
can chairman that there was Repub- /
lcan campaign corruption fund, and
that at the time he signed the agree.
ment it had already gone out.
On the Monday before the election.
at about II o'clock Mr.. Furbush. it is
stated, did notify the Democratic lead
ers that so far as possible the money
put out by him had been recalled. ne
having obtained Mr. Jackson's consent
to this change, and that instructions
had been sent to the districts which
could not be personally reached not 70
use Il. On this basis. il is said. both
parties stood on election day. and while
there was some money used il was but
a small amount there and the agree
ment was fairly well kept.
The astonishing part Of the bargain
is. however. that Mr. Furbush as a Re
publican chairman should have affixed
his name to paper which amounts TO
q confession that there was in existence
Republican campaign fund for the
purpose Of paying voters to vote or 10
stay at home The Democrats saw
that when Mr. Furbush signed the agree
ment there had already been put out in
the different districts of Worcester
county in the neighborhood of So. 900.
Most Of this was recalled. il was stated,
by Mr.. Furhush early Monday. There
were two copies of the agreement. one
Of which is in the possession of Mr..
Moore and the other of Mr.. Furbush.
The belated denial of Mr.. Jackson of
the interviews published from him last
week is not seriously saken by the pol
iticians of either party. The state
ments made in the interviews and the
language Their used sound much more