The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-08-21
VOTE BUYING SHOULD END.


in the election in this county last
week admits of no denial. There is
evidence in abundance TO show that
both were lavishly lsel at places in
the county. The scenes around the
court house, the largest voting pre-
1cinst In the county, during the aft
ernoon, were a disgrace te the coun-
ty. Negroes were brought to the
polls In droves and herded by white
men. They did not all come without
some substantial inducemert
Complaint that much whisky was
In evidence at many of the polling
places comes from altogether reliable
sources. Now The Herald recognizes
and appreciates that no one candi-
DAFT or set of candidates was 1espon.
sible for this condition. 1t also
knows that at every election in re-
cent years the same methods have
been used. 1t has no desire 10 pun
ish any one or to make any examples
Public opinion has not been sufficient
ly aroused to condemn the practice
of corruptly using money in elections
in this county, but it is time to call
halt.
It costs entirely too much to make
q campaign for Office in Maury coun-
ty. If a poor man makes race for
a county Office and figures at all In
the running the chances are that II
he is defeated he is badly embarrass-
ed financially. This should not be
the case. Some of the most deserv-
ing and efficient men IN this county
are too poor to make race for a
county office under the existing sys-
tam.
There are some precincts in the
county where one could not use a dol
lar of money or a drink OF LIQUOR We
hope that the day will come when
this can be said of every 'oting place
in all the bounds Of old Maury. 1t
will be highly creditaDle tC US when
that Is the case.
We doubt again if any very consid
cradle proportion Of the campaign
funds that are raised for the purpose
of buying votes ever reach the voters
It is our opinion that very large
percentage of it percolates into the
pockets of the election workers who
are supposed to use it to bring the
returns up right
For many years the negro vote, FOL
lowing the enactment of the Dortcf
ballot law, was negligible Guantlt!
in Maury county His presence II
large numbers at the polls is the di
rect result Of the uss OF money IL
elections. We know that there are
number of high class, honest and in
telligent negroes who do not sci
their votes, but the unfortunate rae
ia largely the prey of the white mel
and the majority of them come to tn
polls for what they can get ont OF tn
election. They know that they can
not aspire to Office or hope to EMO.
any of it's powers and emo!aments
Let alone they remain away from
elections.
Vote buying and the nsc OF liquo
in elections should be stopped in Maj
nv county. 1t can be stopped If al
enlightened public sentiment will de
nand it. The liquor question is n
longer at issue; the saloon is doome
in Tennessee and there Is no sort Q
excuse, whatever there might hav
been in the past when fighting tn
iiuuor power, for good citizens TO US
money improperly to influence elet
tons.
Maury county should have clea
elections. We believe that, they, ar
fair. AS a general proposition we b
ul6V0 LLdL lilo NotOo IL eAAS SS~~~
are counted and certified as they ar
cast. We have practically no frau'
Now why not make our election
clean? Why not remove the burde
imposed upon candidates? The us
OF money on one side almost in Sc
defense forces the other side to, tn
same methods. The use OF money b
one candidate invites the same met
DDS from another. IN the end the r
suits would not be materially diffe
.ent. Now why use money at all
the polls?
We are prone % talk Of electio
Doodle in Shelby and OF liquor use
to influence the result in Oavidso
Now why not be fair and take II
mote out of our own eyes before "
accuse our neighbors?
SENTIMENT IN AMERICA.
A day or so ago there was a b