The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-12-24

prevention of the use of money to buy
votes at elections are much more
needed than for the suppression OF
any other evil
That money is used to buy votes at
elections by both Republicans and
Democrats is common knowledge
1t is not confined to one section of
the country but is prevalent In a III
sections of the country and endeavors
are made to purchase every office
from President of the United States
to Constable, The people who sell
their votes are no longer confined to
the very poor and ignorant. Many
who have fairly good educations and
are we'll to do demanding and accept
ing their 81 TO $50, depending on the
community and the size of the Doodle
fund, before they will cast their vote
There is no use for US to try tn de-
ceive ourselves by saying such condi-
tiOn does not exist. Only one, who
wishes to brand himself either as a
fool or a liar, can deny that through
out the United States at each election
hundreds of thousands of dollars are
spent to buy votes. Goon the streets
any election day and you can almost
see the actual exchange of the money
Men who sell their right of franchise
just as they would horse or a COW
Many who have the voting privilege
no more exercise it than If they we're
dumb animals and are often taken to
the poll in droves as cattle are driven
to the pens.
Our government Is based and
builded upon the principal that the
majority sail rule as the voice of
the ajorlty is nearly always right.
AS conditions now exist 1t is not what
the man stands for or what he Is but
how much money he is willing to pay
for votes that frequently determines
his election or defeat. Can govern
ment founded upon the will of the
ma jority stand when corruption deter
mines what is the will?
What makes this coddition most
discouraPlng is that citizens of high
standing will stand by and see such a
condition and take no steps to stop
1t and even at times be party to II
The defense always made by those
who take part in such work is that
the other side is going to use money
and If we don't we are sure to be de-
feated, that you must fight the devil
with hre." This is too true for there
is almost never an election but that
If only one side used money but that
that side would be successful. But
what we do claim is that the use of
money for the purchase of votes must
be done away with or the future of
this nation is imperiled.
Many men of high character, clean,
honest and on the square in every
way, will when candidates for Office
use money to secure their election,
Men who In their private and
business life are never guilty of a
small, mean or dishonest act. It ID
this that makes the danger the
greater. We have seen ministers OF
the gospel stand by and hear stories
of how votes we're bought without
saying a word against 1t.
Corruption in elections is blow al
the foundation of our government
Is there a man In Highland county
who has the nerve, back bone and
ability to stop 1t.
Will not the people awake to the
fact that buying votes is worse thar
either gambling or drinking and that
an Anti Boodling League is much
more of necessity than any Other
organization in this country.
This editorial 10 written at thil
time to prevent all claims that Il
arises from any effort or desire Il
make political capital We do not
think that one party is worse thar
another, both do 1t and denial from
either Is farcical.
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