The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-19
COUNTY VOTE BUYING
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS To BE
SUBSTITUTED FOR THE INQUEST.
Gov. Hughes's Attitude Leads the AssociA-
ton to Prevent Corrupt Practices at
Elections to Look for Results-New
Law Controls Future campaigning.

WV s~HtNN = NNto - WV
ton to Prevent Corrupt Practices at
Elections TO Look for Results
law Controls Future Campaigning.
Now that Gov. Hughes has signed the bill
amending and making far stronger the law
against corrupt practices at elections IL is
said by those who are close to the assooia n
ton to prevent these corrupt practices. Of
which association ex-Mayor Low is presl-
dent. that there will soon he something
doing in the matter of vote buying and the
like in Clinton county at the election last
fall.
The association Immediately after the
election began proceedings before Justice
Spencer Of Gloversville, then sitting in
Brooklyn. to have an inquest under The
original law into the methods employed at
the polls in Plattsburg and other COM
munities in Clinton county. Many aff-
dsvits were presented showing that the
Republican organization bought votes
Wholesale for 81 zach and hat Of the 1900
voters in the county at least 1000 had sold
their votes. II was alleged that the county
committee, Of which former Gas Commits
sioner l.. s. Shedden is chairman and nearly
all the prominent Republican oficeholders
are members, had made a false statemsnt
in the matter Of campaign expenses. One
charge that was proved by documentary
evidence was that the contribution to the
committee by George X. Malby. who was
running for Congress, was not accounted
for in any manner.
The inquest was granted, but just as IL
was about to begin Justice Spencer re-
versed himself and threw out the petition
on the ground that IL was not properly
drawn.
Gov. Hughes. il is said. ia deeply in
crested in the case, and it is likely that all
proceedings looking to an inquest will be
withdrawn and hat criminal prosecutions
against the accused men will. be begun:
O Hughes's disposition is 80 appreciated
In the county that at Plattsburgh recently
the keeper Of the most notorious disorderly
house IN northern New York. who for years
had defied all efforts to dislodge her from
her business. was actually indicted, con-
victed and sentenced TO the p~enitentiary
for a long term. This, the members Of the
association say. is but a straw to show the
way the wind is blowing In the county.
Among those h have figured promi-
nently in the proceedings is ex-Secretary
Of State John F: O'Brien, one OF the recog-
nized leaders Of the political combination
Of Democrats and Republicans who con-
troll the politics Of Clinton county. He
made a scene in the police court on election
day when several cases of vote buying
were on and when ne was served with a
subpoena in the inquest proceedings he is
said TO have threatened the process server
with physical violence.
In an interview last night ex-Mayor
Low said:
Il think that the amended law gives to
the State OF New York the best corrupt
practices act in the Union. beca. se the law
now provides for the most thorough legal
inquiry az to the use that has been made
of money spent by candidates or by politi-
cal committees or by citizens in campaigns.
In Massachusetts, there is a provision for
such an inquiry. but IL has never been re-
sorted TO, for the reason that the initiative
must he taken by some public official,
either the Attorney-General OF the State
or the corresponding local Official. The
New York law. on the other hand, permits
the proceeding TO be initiated by private
citizens and enables them to he represented
in the action by counsel Of their own ohoos-
ing. am greatly in hopes. therefore. that
many of the scandals which have attached
TO the use Of money in this State in the last
election will be set at an end. 1t is very
certain hat If n one wishes to indulge
in corrupt practices at elections he will have
TO face the consequences of a judicial in
quiry carried on with all the thoroughness
possible"