The Hartford republican., 1915-09-17
other. That is now your task.

III UdklnB your lnNeStlBdtlOi
you must have in view three classt
of offenders: first, the men who ful
nished the money to buy the votes
second the men who do the buying
third; the men who do the selling
They are offenders against the Law
all subject to indictment.
"The man who furnishes the mon
ey to be used in buying votes is
briber or bribe-giver: the man VIII,
received the money for that purpos
is bribed or a bribe-taker. and tn
man who sells his vote is bribed o
bribe-taker and the man who buy!
Is a briber or a bribe-giver.
| Not Able To Indict All.
"You will not be able to indict all
the members of each of these classes
The entire transaction from the time
the money starts on its corrupt
course until IL reaches the hand OF
the poor mortal who sells his vote is
secret one and 1t is a difficult mat
ter to unearth all the facts. The law
appreciates this and realizes that in
most cases It will be necessary to use
one OF the parties to the transaction
as witness in order to reach the
other offenders and il gives the per-
son who may be selected and used as
witness immunity from punishment
for the part Of his transaction.
mo person can refuse to give you
any information he has as to an elec-
ton offense. on the ground that he
will incriminate himself or on any
other ground. for when he testifies
before you and tells you the truth
he can neither be indicted nor pun
ished for his part in the transaction.
but II he lies he can be indicted and
sent to the penitentiary for that Of
fense. II is only when he tells the
truth that he is given immunity, and
before you begin to interrogate any
witness concerning an election Of
fense make il clear to him that IL he
tells the truth he goes free, but that
If he lies to you he is very likely to
go to the penitentiary.
How To Get the Evidence.
at will not be child's play to get
the evidence against any of these
election offenders. but am confident
that II you will proceed in the right
way you will be able to secure a start
ling number of indictments. Some
of the offenders are men who cannot
be induced to tell the truth. Some
of the others may have enough re-
gard for their oaths left to tell you
the whole truth If you ask them the
necessary questions they cannot
evade. Others can be induced to tell
the truth only by the assurance that
what they tell cannot be used against
them. and by your explanation to
them that their escape from punish
ment is to tell you truthfully and
frankly what they know.
"If there can be any degrees of
guilt as between the three classes l
have mentioned I would place the
or their friends who fur
nish the money in the superlative de-
gree; the middle men. those who re-
ceive the money and use it, or part
of It. in actually buying the votes in
the comparative degree, and the poor
devils who sell their honor and their
votes. in the positive degree.
Election Officers May Offend.
"The officers who conduct the elec-
tion sometimes purposely or inno-
Gently aid those who are engaged in
buying votes and where they inten-
do this they are subject to
Indictment. II the men who con-
duct the elections as officers can be
taught to regard the provisions of
the law strictly most of this post
election trouble will be obviated.
"An officer of the election has no
right to mark voters ballot unless
he voter swears that he is blind or
physically unable to mark it. He has
40 right to even make a dot as indi-
,ating where the voter shall stamp
he ballot until the voter has sworn
hat he cannot read the English Ian
,uage. II the offenders disregard
hese provisions of the law they are
subject to indictment.
"If any officer of an election chal-
enger or inspector reveals to any
,erson how a man has voted or gives
my information concerning the ap-
,earance of the ballot voted. he is [
ubject to indictment and the pun I
shment is confinement in the peni- {
entiary for not less than two nor |
more than FIVE years. This provis- {
on of the law is constantly violated. Ii
specially by the men who have been 2,
-. \