Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-02-04
} ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
!: A GUILTY
!; CONSCIENCE
; A Story of Partisan
!. Politics
By r. A. Mitchell
Iste4sts4s4sAsASasaStstsAS

kohticS WIS running nlBu IN fHrlb.
A candidate was speaking to an audi
ence, invelghing against the dema-
gogues who he asserted, were cor
rupting the masses. Money" he said,
lis flowing like water. There Is a man
In this audience who | know has re-
ceived 100 francs for his vote. Just
think of too francs for the surren-
der of the Invaluable privilege he en-
joys under the republic OF expressing
his wish In national affairsW
After the meeting the speaker, Victor
Daroux, was sitting In a restaurant on
the Boulevard des Italiens with cou.
pie Of friends. partaking Of supper.
He was Just raising glass Of wine to
his lips when IA man stepped up to him
and said
M. Daroux. ! am the bearer of a
message to you from my friend M.
Charlier. He demands retraction
from you In tomorrow mornings Jour
nails Of your accusation In your speech
this evening that he has sold his vote.
In case you refuse
Daroux, who was staring In wonder
ut the speaker, broke in
why does NJ. Charlier assume that
| referred TO him In my remarksr
Because you looked directly at him
when you made the accusation"
Daroux was deliberating what to do
In the matter when waiter approach
ed and Informed him that Il gentleman
In another part Of the room desired to
speak to him privately. Excusing him
self, Daroux went to this newcomer.
IN. Daroux," said the man, ~ repre-
sent NJ. Armour He demands an i'm
medinte retrnction of your accusation
made this evening that he has sold his
vote for 100 francs"
Daroux was tempted to laugh, but
the speaker was 30 serious that he re-
Trained.
why does NJ. Armour assume that
referred to him in my remari1sT no
asked.
because you were looking directly
at him."
DarOux WINS silent a few moments,
then said,
"And II refuse 70 rctractT'
"In that case NJ. Armour expects that
you will give him tho satisfaction due
from ono gentleman who has wrong
fully accused another"
let me have your address," said
Daroux. II will send an early reply"
Returning to his table, Daroux re-
Ceived the same announcement from |
N. CHARTERS friend Of what was ex- |
pected In case OF refusal to retract |
and called also for his address. The |
man had scarcely gone when third
came and demanded retraction for |
N. Blanc for tho same offense and re-
ceived the same answer as the others. |
ut seems" said Daroux to his |
friends, that II guilty conscience
counts for anything there has been a
good deal Of vote selling"
During the next half hour three more
men demanded retraction OF NJ. Da-
roux for accusing them Of selling their
votes, and the accuser, after being In
formed that refusal would DO fol-
lowed by challenge, called for the
Darty's address and promised to send
an early reply.
ut does not seem 30 remarkable"
said Daroux after tho last man had
been disposed Of that 10 many men
have sold their votes, but that the price
In ench case should have been a hun
dred francs. | had heard before ris-
Ing to speak that 10000 francs had
been distributed among certain infiu-
entail voters, but did not know that
a hundred francs was the current price
paid. fancied that some one Of the
persons bribed might be In tho meet
Ing. and II occurred to me to fire an
effective shot by making a pointed &C
II seems that have killed
half dozen birds with single STONE"
These words were spoken to friends
who were with Daroux when the ava
lanche OF demands for retraction fell
upon him. One Of the party suggest
ed that II the matter were properly
handled sufficient capital might DO
made out OF II to win the election.
Daroux was running for tho CORDS leg
slatif. but bis opponent was 80 lavish
with money that he had no hope Of be-
ng elected. However, those gentle
men now gathered about him at tho
restaurant were shrewd politicians, ana
hey set themselves TO find a method Of
procedure by which the Incident at
lome might DO used to turn the scale
n his favor.
II was decided TO stave OF the mat.
Ter TIL the day before the election.
which was 10 take place in four DAYS.
The day after the demands for salts
action were made no reply was sent.
The second day each one OF tho con-
Icience stricken meu received word
nat M. Daroux refused to retract. A
eply to his refusal was returned by
'Gch one Of the six men accused In tho
hape Of challenge TO mortal combat.
Daroux chose six seconds TO repre-
ent him. and since, being the chal-
enged party. he was entitled 10 choice
Il weapons, time and place OF meeting
e Instructed each second in accepting
he challenge 10 choose foils, 10 appoint
he time Mt 10 O'Clock on tho morning
'efore the election and the place tho
lace dc Ia COncorde.
Every challenger was struck with
mnZeIneui that NJ nullic a rfana |