The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
BUYING VOTES IN CLINTON co.
JOHN r. O'BRIEN'S BiILIWICk
DESCRIBED AZ CORR PIED.
IN Fact the Secretary Of state and His LOud
Voice Figure IN \ nidaNtts In a Corrupt
Practices Proceeding Republican Boss
or BeekmantOwD Accused by Name.

'
One OF the actions which have been begun
under the direction Of the Corrupt Prac-
tices Association is against the members
oi the Republican county committee Of
Clinton. John T. O'Brien's bailiwick has
long had the reput alton OF being one Of the
most corrupt in the State, and allegations
contained in the moving papers in this
Ease don't improve its repute.
1t is alleged that I he statement Of cam
pdi1n expenses which the county COM
mittee flei with the Secretary OF State
does not show all of the money received.
The petition to the Supreme Court for an
order TO compel the fling OF new state
ments is made by Edward j. Lance, the
defeat Ell Democratic and Independence
League candidate for Assembly. The
county committee statement, as filed at
Albany by Treasurer W. r. Weaver, shows
receipts amounting to $3,O2S and expendi-
lures asgregating s 2,3Ss.
The petitioner alleges on information
Bni belief that several members Of the
county committee expended money to
influence the election, and that these sums
have not been accounted for. This allega-
ton i based ON evidence obtained from
Vhc county committees own statement,
Which shows that certain sums were paid
10 the individual committeeman.
The petitioner on information and belief
charges Alonson I. Dominy, the Republic
can candidate for Assembly and one of the
committeeman with buying votes in Beck
mantown, his home. Dominy is the Repub-
licsn boss of Beekmantown. An affidavit
lv VILLAIN J.. Lougham, a Democratic
light, sets forth the conditions there.
B~eekmantown, he says. contains $50 voters,
I25 Democrats and Independence Leaguers,
$50 Republicans and pa ~fioaters. By
foaters Lougham means persons who sell
their votes.
For the past twenty years. he says,
1T has been the custom 10 buy votes on u
large scale by both parties until this year
The exception this year lay in the fact
that the Democrats didn't shell out. Here
IL Lougham's description of what takes
place in BeekmaDtown on election day:
1T is the practice for the loaters (al-
most half the voters in town. to gather in
small groups at or near the polls and await
the action of the managers Of either side.
This practice continued this year, and when
II was found that no money was being paid
by the Democrats, after waiting II while
they would vote the Republican ticket.
Several foaters spoke 10 me and told me
they understood the Democrats were pay
ing nothing and that they ad voted for
shat they could get, saying that they
we're only getting a dollar"
according to Loughsm, there was a good
deal Of grimbling about the price. A
party Of a dozen came with teams away
down from Rand Hill and were mad all
The way through. Some Of the business
~as do ne in the meeting house shed"
LOu1han alleges that after election day
he bad several conversations with Dominy,
ana tina On ore occasion Dominy admitted
ihat money had been paid by the Repub-
hcan organization for votes. Lou2ham
-ays he had a talk with Dominy "A short
time before election and warned him that
he Republican county COMMITTEES had
entered into an agreem ent not 10 buy votes.
Dominy's reply, according 10 Lougham,
was that votes would be- bought as long
y ss grass grows OF water runs.
The petitioner says hat George II. Malby
mentions In his report Of election expenses
IN his campaign for Congress q 500 con-