The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-28
TRAFFIC IN VOTES RAMPANT
FOR THE PAST 80 YEARS
(coatiaued from page ~.

en- Democrats. and one Prohibitionist.
Judge Blair has received several
anonymous threatening letters. One
man who openly made threats was
arrested.
But, for the most part. they take
their medicine good-naturedly, even
gladly. for the community seems glad
TO unload Its weight OF shame.
II has been no disgrace In Adams
county TO sell votes. A choir singer
In the Methodist church displayed a
subpoena. The women do not stop
holding sewing bees at the homes OF
confessed -barterers. Politicians
give facts and figures freely and flu
emily.
YES, l handled $4,000 at the last
election" says one OF them.
Judge Blain holds what Adams coun-
ty calls his confessional In little
room In the temporary courthouse,
and In this room the eminent citi
Gems" rush In droves TO plead guilty
The saddest part of IL all Is that
most OF these men believe that they
are honest, Thirty years OF vote-buy-
Ing In the county has produced
double standard of morality--a poll
teal standard and an everyday life
standard.
Judge Blair receives the culprts
Informally. Are you guilty asks
the Judge.
wal. you see, ledge Blair, 1t was
like this" the plea begins. IL gem
orally ends, Wal | guess I'm gull
ty." Sentences are imposed and
usually suspended, except as to dis
reimbursement
There's an occasional bright spot,
like the story of blind Bill Cline,
poorest man in the county, who
makes scant living by peddling
soap and trinkets. He tramps the
country with pack on his back, and
Is the butt of village cutups. But
he refused IS to vote the Democratic
ticket this fall. and voted the Repub-
llcan for nothing
I'm poor and blind, says Cline.
but there isn't money enough in
Adams-co. TO buy my vote"
Jeers Those Who Sold
An old 'heeler" in Iiberty-tp., was
so rapacious in his demands that the
two party leaders agreed not to buy
his vote at all. SO he stayed away
from the polls. Now he stands around
jeering these who sold.
Now you fellows, go up and pay
your fines. Wonder you wouldn't be
decent
The disclosures made in the inves-
ugation are amazing. 1t has been
shown that a preacher sold his vote
Tor $40. One eminent citizen" worth
$4,000. is being boycotted by the
vote sellers for disposing of his vote
and the votes of his family at cut
rates, several dollars below the
market price.
w. F. Mains, editor OF the Man
chester Signal, was hailed before the
judge for contempt because OF an edi.
torial assailing the court. The editor
was fined $50 and sentenced to 80
days In Jail, but apologized publicly
and the penalty was suspended.
The average price per vote in
Adams county is So, but during one
campaign when both parties were
we'll supplied with Doodle, $25 was
paid. That year voters were placed
on boxes like in the old slavery DAYS
and their votes were knocked down
to the highest bidder. Ii was perfect
ly open and above board. The crowd
around the auction block would cheer
as soon. as man was bought
Adams county was named after
President John Adams. It's located on
the Ohio river about so miles east OF
Cincinnati The boast and pride OF
Adams county is the serpent mound
the most elaborate and celebrated
work OF the mound builders
Whether or not this symbolical
serpent in the Adams Eden had any.
thing to do with the molding of pub
lie morals does not appear, but some
serpent has been busy in Adams
county for a generation.
Now the judicial heel is busy bruis
ing the serpents head.