The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-21
'Alf-and-Alf Played Big
Part in Election.
TRICKS OF GOOD OLD DAYS
Corruption Ran Riot and Richard Ark
wright for Ballot Got His Money
to Start Invention.
BY LADY HENRY SOMERSET.

Even now we are still disguised TO know
that by a subterfuge free drinks can be
given In the saloon bars and that votes
can thus be bought.
We detest the idea that the rich can
send a motor car 10 carry the voters,
while the poorer candidate can only ask
them TO walk TO the polls on shanks'
pony; but. nevertheless when we look
back to what used TO be. We must be
thankful for the immunity which now
exists from bribery and corruption.
The laws which govern the conduct of
an election are now extreme,v strict, and
all the tricks and stratagems formerly
INDUCED in have been practically knock
ed on the head.
In the days when candidates were at
liberty 70 spend untold thousands in Sc
curing votes, and when il was not con,
sidered at all out of the way To kidnap a
voter and hold him prisoner, if he could
not be persuaded TO vote according TO
the politics OF the candidate. the politi-
cal conscience was very dead; but the
very utmost that can now be spent by
any canoi late is 81, 430, and when the
electorate does not number more than
1000 the candidate is not allowed 10 let
his personal expenses exceed $3.50.
At the beginning OF this century Sir
Richard Hill spent over elo,e00 in Sc
curing an election 10 parliament, anc
much later I can remember that one OF
my cousins spent over $1,000.
In one contest each candidate spent
over 81, coo a day for more than month.
and one member from the west or Eng
land spent ali his ready money pAWned
his family jewels, and disposed or MS
wife's best clothes &c raise sufncient cash
10 bride his way into Westminster. Many
and various were the tricks which those
IL Hrw11 Of Ea
resorted to in order 10 obtain their votes
IL is recorded Of Mr.. Lascelles. after
ward Earl of Hardwood. that he coulo
not make sure of the vote or DarDef
who lived in the place for when ne
stood This man lived in cellar anc
charged a penny for shave. Mr.. Las
eeIles was determined TO conquer the ob-
durate voter. He went hlmselI, ana
after being shaved, he told the barber
has name and presented him with
ten-pound note The barber at once
took the hint. and with ready wit turn
ed TO Mr.. Lascelles and said; Sir
Thomas mentioning the other candi-
date) has been shaved twice this morn
ing"
Mr. LascelIes passed his hand over
his chin. and discovered that it was
not as smooth as it might have been,
seated himself in the chair and said:
II will have "a little more or" The
barber shaved him again, and received
two more ten-pOund notes, and as he
stood with the money in his hand he
admitted that he had a sore need OF
fifty pounds. and thanks to the two
candidates he had made just that sum,
for with 1t he intended TO make his
fortune.
The BARRIERS name was Richard Ark
wright and ne was the inventor Of the
celebrated spinning jenny, and it was
with this money that he brought out
that invention, which resulted in the
acquisition of an enormous fortune II
is stated that Mr.. L.aseelles spent
100000 on this election.
The election stories are, however,
without end. Everybody knows the his
tory Of the famous Duchess Of Devon
shire who. when she was canvassing,
could not secure a vote Of butcher,
and finally asked him what he required
In order TO give his adhesion TO the
cause she represented. The butcher
promptly responded "A kiss" and the
duchess. without hesitation, held out
her fair cheek.
One of the most remarkable cases Of
Interference with the liberty OF the
subject as to the vote occurred in 1910
when a certain Mr. BOWes was stand
ing in the division Of Newcastle-On-
Tyne. He learned that a cargo OF New
castle freemen were TO be shipped from
London TO vote for his opponent. He
promptly called on the captain OF the
ship and paid him heavy bride to per-
suade him TO be blown out OF his
course. and TO be obliged TO put in to
Ostend. The captain readily acquies-
ced. and the unfortunate voters re-
manned there till the poll was over.
In Pocket Boroughs.
The little town of Reigate from which |
write was in old days what is called
a pocket borough. that is 10 say, that
as the property belonged TO one man |
and the town was very small. the seat
was virtually the property Of the own
err But so great did the corruption be- /
come that the borough was at last dis
franchised.
/ remember hearing that the local inn I
possessed tiny cannon which had been /
placed as an ornament in the garden. |
The then candidate for parliament /
bought this little cannon and paid the |
sum Of ESQ for a thing which was prob |
ably worth five shilings.
This money was freely distributed |
throughout the district, and bought |
many votes Of those who stroIled into |
the bar Of the inn for drink.
The neighbOring borough of Cation in /
Surrey earned the unenviable reputation /
of being the most corrupt In England. /
The place had been bought by a gentle |
man called Sir Mark Wood for the sum |
of over 100000 The entire borough con- |
sisted of six houses. Sir Mark occu- |
pied one and let the others out TO week |
~ tenants. paying ali the taxes. OF /
which he was the collector
He was the overseer. the surveyor. the !
borough magistrate. and appointer of /
the local constable who was the return |
ing officer. Sir Mark Wood nominated |
himself candidate. approved himself. de- |
manded poll for himself, and AT the |
close of the election. he. as the eIector,
invited himself as the successful candi- |
date &C a dinner to celebrate the ocea-
sion. and he probably congratulated the
people In Cation on having secured such
an excellent member of parliament. But
1.-THE good old days" as they are called.
are now no more.
Burns Unaffected.
The other day / had occasion to visit
Igl.s I