The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-22
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER "a, 1906.
CHEAP BRIBERY EXPOSED.

No candidate for public office who is worthy
the confidence and support of his fellow citizen
will make any other promise before election than
that he will discharge his duties faithfully and
honestly and to the best OF his ability. fhe candi-
date who seeks votes by promising places in the
public service is not only unfit for preferment but
is nothing more than briber and corruptionst.
The man who offers in return for support at
the polls 10 secure places in the police fire public
works department for those who sell their ballots
is Just as much debaucher of the electorate and
quite as dangerous an enemy of political purity and
honesty as the criminal who doles out cash to the
venal voter.
Yet in the present campaign, bribery by prom
ises of place has become open and shameless. Men
who during their service in public Office have made
plain their unftness and who by surrendering
TO corrupt ring influences have aroused the anger
of the citizens who elected them, are seeking re-
nomination and reelection by resort to this scan
dalous method of polluting the electorate
The wonder is that they are able to find men
fatuous enough to put faith in their false and crmi
nal promises. Doubtless the few who are thus per-
suaded are of class that is as ignorant it is
corrupt and that lacks both the intelligence to dis
cover the mendacity OF the offer and the conscience
This class is small. 1t can have no appreciable
effect upon any election result, but that does not
lessen the nquity of the practice the cupability
of those who engage in it.
Any citizen whose vote is sought on the basis
OF pledge of future employment in any OF the
three large municipal departments should not only
reject the proposal with scorn but pillory the one
who makes it as deliberate and wilful falsher
The News-Democrat a result OF information
from trustworthy sources, that certain candidates
seeking reelection to the city council are offering
in :1vment OF votes places in the police fire
and pubic works departments, has made inquiry
for the purpose of ascertanng whether not there
is any understanding that the heads of those depart
ments shall provide the places promised by the
candidates.
The result of that investigation has been
given to the public, and it shows that the political
fugers simply lying. Commissioner Gross OF
the police department, Commissioner Winsor OF the
fire department and Commissioner Slade of the
public works department, not only declare with
emphasis that no has the right to promise
position in their departments, but that the man
who does so ialsfes and will never be able to
deliver the goods"
Frank and straightforward statements OF this
sort ought to put an end to the campaign of false
promises and pretences certain scared and unscru-
puous candidates are waging; but they probably
will not have any such effect.
Men who do not balk at such contemplate
bribery are not likely 10 be deferred from contnu
ing their evil work, when the falsty OF their
pretensons to the possession OF powerful pulls has
been exposed.
However, exposure cannot fail of some good
result, for it must give the voters clearer view Of
the real character OF the who seek continuance
in public office the basis of attempted debauchery
OF the citizenship
1t can hardly fail to increase their resentment
against log-rong tricksters who seek Office at the
city hall, not for the purpose OF serving the people
honestly and efficiently, but in order TO advance
their own selfish interests at the expense of the
public and 70 do which they become the plant
puppets OF mschievous and mercenary ring.
Nor can il have any other effect than TO make
still stronger the determination OF honest citizens
OF all political faiths TO rid themselves of such con-
scenceless and unworthy misrepresentation.