The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-25
CHURCH GOT VOTE MONEY.
Estimated Purchasable Suffrage OF
"UncIc Joe's" Town $500.

Danville, ILL.,, Jan. 21-With the
session of the Vermillion county
grand jury adjourned to Monday the
politicians of Uncle Joe" Cannon's
home town and county had time to
catch their breath, but their fear of
a complete investigation Of alleged
vote selling is not allayed.
There was new fright today when
1t was reported that Frank Jones,
Danville's city attorney, had made a
confession that he bought votes a,
the last election. Jones denied the
report, but stated that he believed
there had been many votes trafficked
in. He says he favors a mass meet
ing where all the candidates may get
together and go before the grand
jury and tell all they know.
Vote buying and selling has been
a common practice in Danville for 20
years" said Assistant States Attor-
ney Crayton. I'm the Mayoralty
election two years ago men stood on
the streets and openly bought votes.
The estimated purchasable vote of
Danville is $500. At Westville there
is purchasable vote Of 1000. In
that town clubs are organized to get
money from candidates.
"A judge told me that the negroes
Of Westville, when he was candi-
date. organized a club. They took
their bylaws to the judge for ap-
proval. The Judge said one of the by
laws provided that all money receiv-
Cd from candidates should be divid-
ed on the table in open meeting.
II understand that it costs a can
didate an average of So for every vote
he gets in Westville.
''The price of votes is SO high in
Danville that all the officials and cam
didates would like to see the traf-
fic stopped"
A member Of the Republican or
ganization said that in the silk
stocking precinct" of Danville, the
voting precinct of Speaker Cannon,
there were rs purchasabie votes. One
clergyman, he said, got contribu-
ton Of 500 to $50 from the politi-
cal organization every time there
was an election.
This leader said the Republicans
spent $4,000 in the last Morality
campaign to try to elect the candi-
date. The office of Mayor pays ST.
500 a year. The Democrats, it is es-
timated. spent $4,000 and carried
the town bv 2,400.
The Democrats hu so much mon
ey that We couldn't make a don't in
,ne Note with our $1,000" Repuh-
Nyar leader aajd. AS 90 ~. Sol
oier's Home, with ITS 1,2OO votes,
that's the first place candidate
heads for after he announces for Of
ftce When the home was brought
here IL years ago we thought all the
old soldiers would vote the Republi-
can ticket. While we were asleep
the Democrats cut in on us and cap
tured the vote of the home. Since
then the Republicans have taken
nothing for granted. We have taken
care Of old soldiers"
The system was peculiar. When
purchased voter went into the booth
he received ballot and he had to
return the one given to him by the
clerk When that was handed over
to the boss the seller received
meal or bread ticket. If it was a white
ticket he was entitled to loaf Of
vienna bread, which, in the vernacu-
lar OF the buyer, means that he was
to receive SO for the vote. If it
was a blue ticket the seller got loaf
Of rye bread, or IS.
The negroes were paid in tickets of
various colors, which called for from
81 to IS. Absolutely no records Of
any kind were kept. When the seller
money and the incident was closed
Baltimore Sun.