Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-10

violated, appears as. section $50 of the
code of 1911, and was originally enacted
in ISIS with an amendment I'm 1850. II
has been enacted in the election law OF
1sOs. The original enactments were
amended in 1905 so as 20 make their pro-
visions specifically applicable to prima-
ries II is the primary that is involved
here.
The penalty for the laws violation
either as to vote selling or vote buying
ranges from a fine of 81 and cost up to
possible maximums of 800 fine and twelve
months on the county changing and six
months in jail the imposition of the
three extremes together being left to the
courts discretion
Only about four or FIVE of the county's
sixteen voting precincts seem to be in
volved in the grand iury's charge Of
general vote selling. In those districts 1t
Is said that practically the whole cleo
torats o. purchasables. in some Of the
other precincts of the county not a vote
can be bought.
CITIZENS, BUT NEWCOMERS
Only one of the really old families OF
Morgan is involved in the charge OF
vote-selling, IL is said. Practically
every name now being considered for
indictment, il is said, is comparatively
new in the county. The voters them
parts of Georgia within the last genera
ton.
Morgan county was cut or from Bald
win in exactly it's present size and
Madison was made its county seat in
1908 From then until about fifteen
years ago. IL is said, there was never a
suspicion Of corruption among the white
voters.
It is asserted that as long as the ne
groes voted no white mans vote could
be bought But about fifteen years ago.
1t is said to have been whispered around
that a dozen men in a certain district
would sell their vote. They would not
sell 1t outright. it is said, but they
would accept pay for the time they
lost from their days work and would
vote for the men who compensated
them.
From then the practice has grown
worse until now. 1t is said that there
is one man in Morgan county who adds
100 acres to his landholdings after
every election. This gossip may be
hyperbole,. but it is true on reputable
authority that he usually has money
to make initial payments on new in
vestments after an election.
HERE ARE CANDIDATES WHO
WENT BEFORE GRAND JURY
Following was the full ticket for the
more closely contested offices in the
county primary OF May 1. All of these
candidates are said to have been ques-
toned in the grand jury room: For
Judge Of the city court, K S. Anderson
and J. H Holland. Judge Anderson, the
incumbent, was renominated. For So
licitor Of the city court, w. d. Anderson
and a. G. Foster. Mr.. Foster, the in
cumbent, was renominated. For sheriff,
r.. B. Aycock, C. Shep Baldwin, H A.
Shouse, W. ]. Mum, ]. S. Reid. Mr..
| Aycock was the incumbent Mr.. Bald
win won out. For tax collector, Oscar
Richardson, ]. T. P. Austin, Asa 4
Zachry, C. A. Cocroft and E. B. Fitz-
patrick The incumbent did not run.
Mr.. Zachry was nominated. For tax re-
ceiver, r. H. Prior and Harris Wilson.
Mr.. Prior was the incumbent and was
renominated For treasurer, Frank
Gavin, A J. Hutchinson and z. l. Walk
or. Mr.. Walker was the incumbent and
was renominated.
When the Morgan county grand jury
I recessed at noon today the list Of wit
nesses summoned in connection with
I its probe into the buying and selling of
/ vote on May 1 was exhausted. The prob
ability was said to be that no more wit
nesses would be summoned, and that
when the grand jury reconvened at 1:So
7 O'Clock, ii would proceed at once to the
discussion Of bills already drawn and new
ones yet to be drawn by Solicitor POttle,
/ after perusaI OF the later evidence.
/ BRIDES FOR VOTERS PASSED
j THROUGH MANY HANDS.
/ Il is probable that about twenty true
| bills will be returned. 1t appears 70 be
a possibility. however, that the grand jury
| may be so reluctant TO punish ignorant
I vote sellers, while IL gives immunity 70
l vote buyers for their testimony that II
will return fewer true bills than that
| II Is expected that the issue in the grand
/ Jury room will be Joined this afternoon,
/ and that the indictments will be tried
this week. The grand jury is reported tc
\ have developed ramifications making II
/ dificult TO reach the men whom Il seeks
/ to convict
The distribution OF money has proceed
ed downward in each instance from the
| candidates 10 their agents and then to
other Intermediates and then into the
! voters hands.