The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-18
Cleaning Up County;
Purge Community
From Saturdays Daily.

FROM saturdays Odtty.
Judge A. q. Blair of Ohio, the man
who cleaned up Adams county, Ohio,
gave the lecture of last nights chau-
tauqua program and he held his large
audience throughout his address with
his interesting account of his work
in that state in reforming the cor
rupt election methods of Adams
county. His subject was "A Lesson
to the Nation" He gave a graphic
description of the conditions which
existed in Adams county before the
fight for fair voting and the present
bettered state of things.
Votes were bought and sold openly
there for years and anyone who
wanted office, or position of any
kind, simply supported the man who
was running for the office which con.
trolled the appointment of the partic.
ular occupant of the position sought
after. If the person desiring appoint
ment to some position was able to
buy enough votes for the officeseeker
his appointment was assured. The
practice was openly INDUCED in by
both republican and democratic
parties, and Judge Blair admitted
having taken part in just that prac-
tice when he was a very young man.
Wholesale Arrests Made.
When he was elected to office he
decided that the practice should be
with a number of other men,
done away with and hired two detect
ives to work in some of the worst
communities. A number of arrests
were made, and after heavy punish
ment was dealt out to several offend
ers many others went and plead
guilty to the charge and paid smaller
fines. OF the 5000 voters in the
county l, $50 were fined and disfran-
chised for five years. and Adams
county, Ohio, is now free from that
sort of illegal voting.
Judge Blair took none of the cred
it for the reformation of the poll
tics of Adams county to himself, but
said that it was due to the influence
of the mothers and wives of that
county that the men were brought
to see the worry of such practices
as had been going on at election
80 To paid high tribute to the
women of this country and placed
himself with the men who approve of
equal suffrage.
The speech was interesting from
the beginning to it's close and the
audience was held by his keen hui
NOR and his fair way of presenting
facts.
The Spanish Ladies' orchestra gave
a half hour concert at the beginning
of the program and appeared in cos
tune. Their part of the entertain
ment was very delightful and they
were warmly received
~ Professor F. e. Palmer, the morn:
ing lecture" man, gave his first lee
ture this morning at 1920, talking
on Ideals and Education" His lee
ture was full of good thoughts and
those who heard him are delighted
with the lecture. Miss Rice, who
will conduct the travelogue for the
ILllluI Gil W.T. n, vi SdHlLeu Ilc GLASS
this morning and gave her first les
son.
Gave Delightful Program.
The Jacob Reuter- company gave
concert this afternoon which was
very delightful program. Mr.. Reuter-
is wonderfully skilled violinist, and
with him in the company are bari
tone and a pianist, who are both
very fine musicians. Their program
was splendid one and everyone who
heard them this afternoon will be
there again this evening.
Ralph Parlette gave a humorous
lecture this afternoon which was in
tensely interesting. His humor Is the
kind that delights everyone and
brings many hearty laughs, but he
is not merely a funny man." His
thoughts sink in and are carried
home and they are well worth con.
sideration.
This evenings program will con-
sist of the concert by the Jacob Reu-
ter company and lecture by Cover
nor Robert Glenn of North Carolina.
Governor Glenn is known as one of
the greatest orators of the south and
his lecture tonight will be heard by
a large gathering of people.