Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-24
OLD-TIME ELECTIONS
Scenes in 1917 Described by
an English Visitor.
VOTING IN PHILADELPHIA
Sample Political Circular and Partisan
Address.
AROUND THE OLD sTATEHoUsE
Excitement Was Great, but There
Comparison With the English.
BY WILLIAM E C1IRTIS

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Several weeks ago l published an account
of the proceedings in the House of Repre-
sentatives at Washington, written by an
English gentleman who was visiting in this
country in 1917. His name was Henry Brad
shaw Fearon, and he came over from Eng
land on behalf of thirty-nine English FAM
lies by whom the author was deputed to
ascertain whether any and what part of the
United States would be suitable for their
residence. During his tour Mr.. Fearon
wrote very interesting accounts of his ad-
ventures and observations for the benefit
of his friends at home, and in 1918, they
were published in book form under the
title Sketches of America" The volume
is full of entertaining descriptions of Amer
lean cities along the Atlantic coast at that
time.
am tempted to give his account of an
election that he witnessed in Philadelphia.
He came from England, you remember full
of curiosity to see how a free government
worked. Neither he nor the people to whom
ne wrote mad ever witnessed a popular cleo
ton. In those days the United States was
about the only place where such elections
We're held. and Philadelphia then, as now
was good place to see the real thing
MI L cal oH CeiUS from New YORK TO Phil
adelphia in the steamboat Olive Branch
and leaving New York in the morning, ar
rived at Trenton in the evening The next
morning, he says, we recommended our
Journey to Philadelphia. joseph Bona
parties house is situated on the Jersey bank
OF the River Delaware; in appearance it is
equal to a moderate English country seat
lie is said to have bought it for $4,000 and
to have laid out $4,000 more in having it
completed in splendid style At present he
IS from nome, having gone to view Niagara
rams his asso cfates are French gentle
men, but he Is easy of access and appears
10 participate in the interests of the coun-
try-oWns steamboat and would be popll-
lar, If 1t were only on account of his riches
When he arrived in New York from Eu-
rope an anecdote is currently related of the
American porter who was removing his
baggage from the vessel. 1t was heavy
King Joseph was standing the wharf.
The honest republican called to him:
come. Boney, lend hand
Favorable Impression of PHILADELPHIA
AT 10 O'Clock we arrived at Market street
wharf, Philadelphia. My first impressions
of this city were decidedly favorable
it gave me ideas of a substantial cast.
In the possession of character es-
sentially different from New York-it has
not so much Business not so much gayety
not so much life; but there is in Phila-
deiphla a freedom from mere display, a re-
lief from gaudy trappings, an evidence of
solidity, OF which its more commercial rival
is nearly destitute.
The present population of Philadelphia Is
estimated at 10000. many of whom live in
houses which would adorn any city in the
world. Rents are about Is per cent lower
than In New York: this, | should apprehend
does not proceed either from a comparative
want of prosperity. from cheaper materials
or lower-priced labor; but from a more
general equality of desirable situations COM
bined with the existence of more real though
perhaps less apparent capital 1t may be
also that rents are influenced by the cal
culating habits of the Society of Friends
who reside here In great numbers.
The present Is a most busy time at this
place, tomorrow being the day of election
for the governor of the state of PennsyI-
yania. / have been fortunate on having
letters of introduction to the leading man
of one of the great political parties which
divide this state: inasmuch as by that
means 1 have witnessed all the novel ma
chinery which Is now in such active opera
ton.
The governor has the gift of from forty
to fifty offices. among which are those of
recorder. alderman and, indeed, every minor
well important civil occupation Auc-
tioneers also receive their authority to sell
from the governor, and, their numbers
being small, the profession becomes a most
valuable monopoly. BY means of this state
ment you will see the value and Importance
of the office of governor and will not be
surprised that It's obtainment should be
tiAc OUItCt "a u scfSic CohlcSt
The Election.
October 10. The election being now
closed can sit down and review 1t calmly
a whole. 1t has been TO me a highly
interesting scene. The political parties at
present range as follows:
list. The violent democrats, denominated
patent democrats
I'D. The<moderate democrats called by
the several names of independent republi-
cans democrats of the revolution and old
schoolmen.'
''3rd. Federalists. denominated also
tories. Hartford conventionalists' and
blue light men,.
''4th. No party men, called guilds
"All that are citizens, whether native or
and upward and who have paid their taxes,
have the right of voting. 1t is not neces-
sary that man should be a householder
in order to pay taxes. there being here
direct or poll tax of 8s. per annum, which
alone. when paid by men possessed of the
previous qualifications of citizenship, estab-
fishes the right to vote.
II witnessed the mode of voting: The
persons choosing inspectors attend at
stated place In their own ward and deliver
in their ballot through a window. The
number assembled at any one time did not
exceed twenty. There was no noise, no
confusion. In fact. not even conversation.
II should have explained that elections
are managed and even governed, by
something Ia species of meetirgl. which. /
confess, do not yet perfectly understand;
1t IL called a caucus Candidates do not
personally appear. Those who wish to be
chosen obtain. as preliminary step. what
is termed the appointment This said to
secure them the support OF the whole of
that party from which the appointment
emanates. An announcement, called the
ticket issues from this caucus a few days
before the election; in this case there were
three OF these tickets, severaliy headed
federal. republican and democratic"
Mr.. Fearon gives us a sample of the po-
litical literature of the day. as follows:
Sample Political Appeal.
Citizens. democrats Americans. This
Is the day Of the general eieetioni II you
value your own right, your own happiness.
your political characters. your liberties or
your republican institutions. every man to
the POLL and vote the democratic ticket: it