Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-01

sign. another method of identified
ton was TO have each bought voter
mark his ballot in peculiar way.
different mark being arranged for
each man. Sometimes the marking
would be for a Prohibition or Social
ist candidate for some unimportant
office. IF n ballot was found with
this peculiar marking the voter would
be paid The bidding WIS often fast
and furious. One man. Uncle Fred
die Book. went back and forth be
tween the Republicans and Democrats
until his price was raised from so to
so.
Adams is n poor county. but poverty
was not always the excuse for vote
selling, One of the culprits is worth
$4,000. Others are ministers of the
gospel. lawyers and doctors. Often n
higher price would be given a man OF
Influence on the theory that he could
swing other votes with his own. Nor
was the traffic among foreigners
There are very few foreigners I'm the
county. The men are nearly all Of
old American stock, Nor are there
any large towns to spread corruption.
Farming is almost the sole industry.
Adams IS one of the Ohio river coun-
ties that have been nearly stationary
in population for several decades. 1t
has hut one railroad, which is many
miles from the county seat. The hey
day Of its prosperity was before the
advent Of steam railroads. when the
liver was the chief means of trans
portation. One of the big crops is to
bacco Another seems to be farming
out votes. Most Of the county is billy,
and tba denizens or these sections nre
called "HiH Bilies" or 'Hillikens."
Adams IS the next county west Of
,Ecioto in which the city Of Ports
mouth is located Scioto and several
sdioining counties are said TO be al
most as badly tainted as Adams-lilie-
wise numerous other counties in this
broad republic.
Other Counties Guilty.
Judge Blair recently touched on this
phase of the subject: also on the pow
er Of the newspapers to rectify the
evil. He said:
While the other counties in Ohio and
practically all the newspapers IN this
country are looking askance at Adams
county and saying how dreadful II must
bc to nave so many votes sold and bought.
/ would gently remind them that right at
their doors there il as much, IL not more.
fraud than in Adams county 1t is vastly
different. inaSnluch as ii is practiced IN
open defiance of the law, while here We
have had hardly any law for many years.
or course Adams county has to bear
the brunt OF this criticism. II Will bear
II to cleanse itself. But II would be moro
satisfied If these ''Soody-goody' newspa-
pors and these ''goOdy- gocdy' politicians
who are ga King its way with the kindness
of a father would kindly turn their eyes
TO their own hearths ard ASCERTAIN II they
are as clean and spotless as they should
be
an a great believer IN those newspa-
pers which print the facts concerning the
government, whether IL be municipal.
county, state or ne tional- I believe We
are getting TO he too big nation TO al
low the politicians TO run US. TO think for
Us and TO run our government for Us
Amy one st all acquainted with polit-
zeal conditions knows this charge to
be true. The writer has personally
heard detailed stories Of similar cor
ruption in other Ohio counties-like-
wise IN up state counties IN New York
The political workers make no secret
OF the matter. Some Of them even
boast openly Of their exploits IN win
ming their election districts by the use
o. money Frequently the political
completes Of both parties keep lists
OF "doaters"-that Is. Of men whose
votes can be purchased Indirectly I
have heard similar tales from Indiana
and elsewhere
Let Judges everywhere take up this
work And, II the judges win not lei