The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-01-05
What Shall We Do About II ?

COnOlUlOuS JIleTe DeCOUltS lnOit dppdi-
ent. 1t has been shown that the men
who sold their votes we're not all igno-
rant and poor, but that men OF
wealth, men of social position, men
i'm all walks of life, even preachers
we're guilty of selling their votes and
that wives sold the votes of their hus-
bands and mothers their sons.
What is the cause of this disgrace
full state of affairs Who is to blame?
Is Adams county alone in its shamep
Wewill answer the last question
first. Adams county Is not alone.
The buying and selling Of votes Is
general all over the United States.
No section or community is absolutely
free from the crime, although condl-
tions are worse i'm Adams county than
generally prevail. Many other places
are, however, as bad.
Who is to blame The answer Is
easy, "You and l." We can see the
reader shake his head and hear him
say emphatically, "Oh, no am not
to blame. have never bought vote
and | would knock man down who
tried to buy my vote. And ! have al
ways deplored the use Of money at
elections" True, but you are to
blame. What have you ever done to
stop the damnable practice? Deplored
it and stood and complacently watch
ed it go on and probably aided a little
at some time or other by telling the
party workers Of some man that they
could get and how much it would
take. Or it may be that you took 50
little interest in elections that some
times you did not vote and when you
did you were so blind that you could
not see any signs that the law was be-
ing violated. The man, who winks at
a violation of the law or urges another
to violate IL or who takes so little in
terest In the conduct Of public affairs
that the law can be openly violated
and he no. know 1t, is almost as guilty
as the man who actually does the
work. Yes, we have all been aiders
and abettors in this awful practice.
What is the cause Again the ans
wer is easy. 1t Is through inditler-
ence of the people, generally, as to
who shall serve them. In every pre-
cinct, in every township, in every
state and in the nation the question
of who shall fill the public offices is
decided by very few men. Most of
us have as little to do with determin-
ing this important matter as our dog
or our cat. We are Republicans or
Democrats because our fathers were.
We make no particular inquiry as to
the qualifications, character or ability
of the man we are choosing to serve
us. Generally we vote for him be-
cause he is on our ticket. Then again
we Will vote for man because he Is
always pleasant and cordial when we
meet him or because he belongs to our
church or our lodge. Seldom do we
really try to find out what kind of a
man ne really is to 60 below the
veneer. We simply take him on ap-
pearances We do not go to those
who have been intimately associated
with him those who know his char
acter and ability. We do not use the
same care and make the same search
ing inquiry we would If we we're going
to employ the man for an important
position in our private business. The
employment of person for the most
menial private job is given more
thought than the selection of man
for very important public Office.
What Is tie result The "fioaters"
as the men who sell their votes are
termed, generally cast the votes that
decide who shall hold an office. Money
and the ability to properly ''place it"
elects our public officials. And this is
equally true from president down to
constable.
Adams county Is only an aggravated
case. Highland county is not free
from the curse although boodling has
never been as open or as widespread
here as there. Aside from the cleo
tion last fall and the one four years
ago, we have never known of an cleo
tion in Highland county where Doodle
was not freely used. AS much as $l5,.
600 has been spent at one election to
purchase votes. A very conservative
estimate Of the floating vote in this
county is from 1900 to 1000. That II
you can buy on an average about one
man out Of five. Highland county II
about an average county, little bet
ter than some, little worse thar
others.
What are we going to do about itp
I Miss Lena McCOppin. who is teach