Evening journal., 1910-12-12
MR.. HOUSTONON
The ELECTION
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When Republican money is plentiful
they are remembered; when not they
vote the Republican ticket just the
same. The rest of the venal vote really |
has no politics, but for years no doubt /
voted the Republican ticket II is an /
accepted fact that in years gone by /
the influence used was that of money /
by the Republicans. In the last two |
campaigns. however, there has been a |
change i'm this vote and in the last |
election there is no doubt that large |
majority of these white venal voters !
voted the Democratic ticket In |
Georgetown hundred 1t is a fact that
at least two-thirds of what is known |
as the purchasable vote voted the
Democratic ticket In the last election.
Considers Conditions.
1T is we'll to keep this in mind in
analyzing the arguments Of the DEM
ocrats. If this venal vote. as has been
proclaimed by the Democratic party
for the last ten years. has been voting
the Republican ticket, and voting It for
money, why, especially in this cam
paign. has 1t voted the Democratic
ticket? There was no campaign OF
publicity carried on to any extent by
the Democratic party in the political
contests this fall. There was no argu-
ment that the Democrats advanced
that would appeal to this venal class
of voters. Remembering that the col
ored venal vote will and does vote the
Republican ticket without money; re-
membering also that the venal white
vote, because of the association in
years past, could be considered natur-
ally Republican vote the only logical
explanation of the change Of the latter
vote to the Democratic party in the
last campaign is that the same in
nuence which has always controlled
the white venal voters In the county
controlled them in this election, but
from the Democratic side AS a mat
ter of fact, men who have never been
known to vote except for money, have
voted the Democratic ticket in this
district the last two campaigns.
"The Anti-Bribery League was or
ganized primarily at least, with the
idea that the respective parties should
he induced of their own volition. to
refrain from the use of money for the
purchase Of votes This the Demo-
cratic organization seemed ready to
do as soon as the league was organ
lied I'm fact, so general was this
Democratic acquiescence that 7 felt
the success Of the movement was in
danger from giving it rather a Demo-
cratic or partisan shading. This, no
doubt, was largely Influenced by
belief on the part of Democrats gen
orally. that abolition of the use Of
money would work to the advantage
of the Democratic party ] have
been more and more convinced of this
fact in the last four years A number
Of prominent and leading Democrats
and Republicans are heartily and
honestly in favor OF preventing in
every way possible. the use of money
by either party. OF course their con-
viction in this matter grows out of
their conception of the real duties of
citizenship and the absolute necessity
of keeping the electorate pure and un-
tainted. But this argument appeals to
a very few, and the league has selt
that the fear of the law, which is the
deterrent, after all, of most of crimes,
was the only way to bring the un-
righteousness Of bribery home to the
average voter That is the line OF at
tack that has been pursued. OF course
anyone acquainted with legal pro-
cedure can realize how almost im-
possible it is to secure sufficient evil
dence to convict If one man under
takes to bribe another, or if one man
offers to sell to another, and no one
else is present and of course that is
the usual mode of procedure, If the
one or the other complains against
the other, the only witnesses to the
contract are the two aprties. both
of whom are guilty under the law. II
the accused denies the accusation II
leaves the evidence of the complaint
unsupported. So you can readily un-
derstand how next to impossible it is
to secure sufficient evidence neces-
sary I'm a court of law to secure con-
viction. We have spent a good deal OF
money hunting up the evidence wher-
ever there have been complaints"
Whiskey Was Used.
What about whiskey in SUSSEX
county, in the recent election?" Mr
Houston was asked.
Il understand that at Bridgevlll,
one Democratic candidate dispensed
whiskey from a barrel. so that it was
almost as free as water. The condi.
tions i'm this district on the Demo.
cratic side were apparently much tho
same. In fact it is rumored here thai
whiskey was given by the Democrats
TO some voters by the gallon The same
general condition, judging from re
ports which have come to me. ex
listed in all the towns in a large de
gree Whether the Democrats useC
money or not, Il is certain they useI
lots Of whiskey. If they used it as az
inducement to influence a mans vote
there is no doubt IN my mind they arr
just as guilty under our bribery laws
as if money had been used. Rumor'
are brought from different districts
that some Democratic workers open
ly paid for votes. You understand, d
course, that those cases have not ye
been investigated fully to ascertain Il
proper evidence can be secured u
Justify prosecution, but It will b'
done.