The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-01-13
(Ry Leased Mlre.h

West Union o., Jan. l2-lt was just
about a month ago that the Waoe-
sale election frauds in Adams county
Ohio, were first given publicity. Since
then more than fifteen hundred yot-
ers have been indicted, more than
one thousand have admitted their
guilt, and the army of penitents still
comes daily to the confessional the
court OF common pleas at the county
seat, West Union.
The range of ages Oh the corrupt
citizens is q to S4, men in every
walk of life, some who have told OF
annual election rottenness in Adams
county, Ohio, as far back as thirty
five years
or course, such general dopravity
has attracted the psychologists. Men
who are sufficiently interested in
crImuolog} 20 yacc mind causes Tor
onenses nave studied i lams county,
Keen eyes have been turned on it
and it hasn't taken long for the sharp
students to dig up the seed of all
the corrupti0m
The States Poorest County
Adams county is border county.
distinctly a rural county, with Man
chester, it's largest city, having a pop
ulation of only 5000 Adams county
is county Of small farmers, tenant
farmers 1T has been recognized
throughout Ohio fer years as the
poorest county in the state. 1t has
been recognized as a county wherein
existence has meant continual
struggle against adverse agricultural
conditions. 1t is a county Of rutty,
unkept roads.
The regular pay for farn-hands in
Adams county is $40 month and
board After years and years of un-
scientific farm methods, of neglect OF
rented property, Of back-woodry Gus
toms, it is no wonder that both thrift
and civic honor have been chOked in
Adams county. WY to pay the min
imum $5 fines imposed by Judge A..
q. Blair in most cases, many of the
farmers have had to mortgage per-
sonal property.
A Sliding Scale for Votes
So when some office seeker paid a
first bribe to a voter thirty-five or
forty years ago, the depravity was ac-
eepted as a shrewd trade and has De-
come the custom of the community.
Elections have not meant an exercise
of an inallenable perquisite to Adams
county, but have meant a yearly
source Of income. Bribes were pai0
on sliding scale, the poorer men
getting the more because they were
uuhampered by any party affiliations
and would vote for the side or the
man who offered the biggest recon-
pense, Testimony has come TO Judge
Blair that one of the weathiest farm
crs in Adams county worth about
10000 sold his vote November ).
1910, for 81, whereas 10 acre tenant
along Churn creek held out for and
received $50, which represented to
him perhaps several months of crush
ing toll
The poorhouse of Adams county is
chuck full
You can count the wealthy farmers
OF Adams county on your fingers
They represent the big landowners
the biggest having title to about
four hundred acres, part of which y
rents out
a Rich Farmer Held out
The heaviest landowner is William
Groom, SO years old, fathers Of fffteef
children He is worth about $4,000
His youngest child, BY the WAY, IL
20 years old. The Groom place il
within three miles OF West Union
When summoned by Judge Blair tc
appear before the grand jury and an
swer to his indictment, Groom repeat
edly refused. He finally was arrest
ed and was fined $500, of which $3ol
was remtted Judge Blair said hf
would have sent Groom to the work
house for a long term if it hadn'
been for his age.
Another wealthy farmer is Philil
| Hardin, near The small town Of Sea