Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-13
MORGAN GRAND JURY
CLEARS CITY JUDGE
FROM VOTE BUYING
nStated Positively He Had Not
Purchased Any Votes" Says
Grand Jury of Judge S, K,
Anderson, of Madison Court
Especial Dispatch to The JournaL)

Especial Dispatch to The JournaL)
MADISON, Ca, Sept. ia ringing
condemnation of the fee system and
OF the election Of judges and solicitors
by popular vote was contained in the
Morgan county grand jury's present
ments. submitted to the superior court
here Wednesday afternoon when the
jury completed its work.
In emphatic and unmistakable terms
the grand jury condemned "the per-
nicious. degrading and dangerous prac-
tice" of buying and selling votes, for
which It returned about score Of in
dictments.
In this connection. the grand jury
calls attention ITO a published state
ment that Judge K. S. Anderson, Of the
Madison city court, had been mentioned
as one of those who admitted before
the grand jury that they purchased
votes in the primary on May /.
"In justice to Judge Anderson, we
wish to state that no such admission
was made by him. says the grand
jury in its presentments. I'm fact. he
stated positively that he had not pur-
chased any votes"
The presentn1ents advocate the ap-
pointment of judges and solicitors by
the governor, with confirmation by the
senate. instead of their election by the
people.
On the subject of vote-buying and
selling the presentments were as fol-
lows:
Pursuant to the charge Of Judge
Park, this grand jury has sought to
bring to justice all violators of the
law, and especially those who are
guilty OF buying and selling votes. We
condemn in unmeesured terms the per-
nicious, degrading and dangerous prac-
tice of the buying and selling of white
midst in recent years; such shameful
practice is not only degrading to both
seller and buyer, but it is destructive
to the very Foundation stills upon which
our government is founded 1t is openly
charged that there are men in our coun-
ty who shamelessly sell their votes;
such corruption of the electorate is little
short of treason; it is the insidious de-
struction of the government to which
the offenders owe allegiance; it is dis
loyalty and treachery to every principle
of free government.
I'VE feel mortified and Inundated
that the corrupt practices to which we
l. Of
sationaI and exaggerated comment in
the public press.
I'm this connection we would call
attention TO the fact that one Of these
articles stated that Judge X. S. An
derson had been mentioned as one who
had testified that he had purchased
votes. in justice to Judge Anderson,
we wish to state that no such admission
was made by him; in fact, he stated
positively that he had not purchased
any votes.
1.-THE good citizens of our county are
aroused and determined to purge it's
good name of this foul blot on our
civilization, and we call upon all our
citizens to aid in bringing this shame
full practice to an end; a practice that
is more or less prevalent throughout
the state-but none the less pernicious,
and while we deplore the necessity of
this investigation, yet we deem it, none
the less. our duty.
Let not the money-handlers and
vote-sellers who were not indicted at
this term of the court indulge the vain
thought that they have escaped, for
rumor has spotted them all, and the
Nemesis of an outraged law is' on their
track, and we call upon all succeeding
grand juries to keep the ball, which we
have put in motion, rolling until our
ballot boxes have become pure and un-
tanned.
I'VE would suggest that all indict-
ments found for buying or selling
votes that the same be tried in the SUI
perior court and that such trials be
had as speedily as possible"