The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-12-01
CORRUPTING ELECTIONS

rTE INDICTMENT of Truman Newberry and 134 oth- E epoch in the history of American cleo begins The soil has been long preparing for crop Within the past decade in leg islaure in the United States have been seeking pre- corruption the ballot many states strong stat ues have been written into the books In states there laws which virtually leaze the corrupt expenditure of money but these teeth and able to bite if vigorously enforced,
 There is statue which applies the Michigan cases, whhh fairly oppressive law although until gently did not make the direct buying of votes crime
 a rather strong statute. It forbids vote buy ing directly. indirectly with cash with promises of office or other valuable con5Ideaton It m the amount that candidates for office spend The amount which candidate the United States Senate is permitted to expend is ? cent of $500 one quarter Of one years salary The Federal Act hat such candidate shall not gives expend promise sums in the aggreggao exceeding SiO
 Nevberry it will be remembered against Henry Ford in 198 and the report of his admitted that $176 GOO had been dsbursed
 Federal department of usice based evidence which that S5O0000 and perhaps great deal expended Not to report expenditures in full IS In itself a crime, in Michigan.
 The indictments oIlege about every corruption is known to election crooks including thousands of attempts to corrupt the vofers-
 The sixty-fHh congress investigate the scandal The Ssh congress refused to touch the affair." giving as justification the cost of investigation
 the Federal Department of Justice investigated and relatively rng expense, has proceeded to the present point
 his in the evenly divided Senate the Repub- control and able to pack the committee
  ons
 This matter has its especial relation to Connecticut In this State Corrupt Practices Act was passed in 198 It Is far from being perfect law In authorizing expenditures transportation voters to the polls, and the employment of persons the polls it opens fertile and legal field for cor rupton of which politicians do not hesitate to avail them selves.
 But the statute purchase of votes It makes it criminal to collect money except through authorized rer or political limits what candidates may expend requires political be given in the of the actual donor All gifts must reported It criminal act fO it is offer money is required that primary expenses and election expenses shall be reported separately.
 This in dead letter. It has been tnuousy nagranty violated The conditions in Gonnec tcu precisely like those in Michigan In sin gle Bridgeport the municipal election just hed single party has reported expenditures of S300o0 which ad mttedy included funds obtained from which not disclosed
 How much than this actually expended only thorough investigation disclose.
 it happen that such a satute drastic, and carrying penalties imprisonment continually dobeyed?
 The explanation is found in statement by of the Re publican leaders of Michigan who said: This will be fought hard and believe shown that we have not been than the representatives of other political organization"
 That's the answer Political corruption has been so gen United States that all parties tarred with the stick in Connecticut the statute is dead letter because all politicians doing the thing larger smaller scale.
 The situation nevertheless is dangerous to all concerned in i. The is the The law may be invoked at any tme by unforeseen actors and circumstances and It would much better well much safer for all who play with eIectonssto play@accOrdng to law.
 The Newberry is useful, the contrary to the tent that it warning to all who engage political rupion, carry elections without regard to the law
 The offenses with which Senator Newberry and his charged characterized Sessions United States district court striking at the heart the United States surely the doctrines of anarchy.
 Indeed anarchy carried to it's tenth power when those aspire to be the lawmakers befou the justice. Said Judge SessOns
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 supremacy of the of result it will
 
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 buy election to besrnrch the balot surely an upon the rights of the people, than an armed force could be graver open violence