Year: 1874

Judged from the expressions of our ex changes and papers coming to our address | from all the principal cities of the coun try, the late November elections were specially noted for illegal acts on all sides the noble and independent voter being the ready and active promoter in very many instances. The eagerness with which men offer to sell their votes, and the vast mum Der that zealously hunt up the highest bidder for them, are points seem ingly established, and do not offer much encouragement for men of small means even with perfect capability, to seek office at the hands of the people whom they are to serve. From all parts of the country comes the wall about fraud, notwithstand- ing nearly all States and Territories have the most stringent laws making all man. ner of fraud, intimidation, deception, or unfair influence Cf any kind over voters, a crime. Yet with all the cry of positive fraud, there are very few convictions for it. It almost seems as if the reason why is like unto that wherein a large body of a community commit legal murder by hanging a man without "due process of law" and none of the participants are punished. To be plaineT, the disposition of the community seems 10 favor fraud in elections-some to use money to influence the voter and the voter to seek and accept pay for his vote and such other service as he can render. It has even been suggested in our hearing, that the cheapest method to secure an election by the dear people, would be to proceed about this way: Say I500 votes are needed to make success OCT tain. Then figure-nOt over eiestimate-how many votes will be freely given-say 800. Now 1000 are to be influenced" Set the workers" to find out the average price per vote, and put it high enough SO as not to be overbid at the critical period, always taking into account your opponents abil- fly and like resources to persuade the free voter againt you. Then provide for using the funds accordingly, and generally few thousand dollars will do more to get "an expression Of public opinion at the ballot bOX," than many thousands scat tered among careless workers" saloons, churches, school committees, etc. These

 

 cannot be used to the prejudice of any can didate. and are now stated mainly because our exchanges are so full of the subject in some of its phases; and also as hint to the honest voters to hereafter look out for the dishonest workers" or "mIddle- men" as the grangers say, and at future elections deal with first hands and get all ic The higher priced your votes, the better.

 From among the many evidences of the winning character off the method just point ed out, which we see passing round, we take the following from The Chicago Tribune, which shows how business like voting Is done in the "Garden Cityu of the West. It will be seen at a glance how conclusively matter of principle is estab- lished by such a popular vote, because the great western Tribune says it has the ap- '' proval of large portions of the people" But let us hear The Tribune tell it:

 There are regular agencies in this city where upon the payment Of an agre ed price any candidate for a nomination can secure beforehand the election of dele gates favorable to his nomination. These contracts can be had for single ward or district, or the entire city. This practice has now been extended to the regular eec- tiOnS. and for sufficient sum of money a can be made for any mum ber of votes that may be required in any ward or precinct. These contracts sometimes in vOlve false registration, repeating, perjury, and, if needed, the corruption of the judg- eS and clerks of the election. This is an expensive business, but, when money is a condition in an election, the purchase is cheap at any cost. It is pity, but it is neverthel less true. that the diShOn- est practices have the silent approval of large portions of the people, who think that the election of a candidate by what ever means compenSateS tor all crimes committed in securing his election. The use of money 10 bribe voters on Tuesday was open and Ostentatious, and men were invited to accept pay. Every person who was supposed to have any influence in the control of votes, and who was in such cir cumstances as to be approached, was hunted up, and paid liherally for his own corrupt services, and had money placed in his hands to distribute among those he could control. The striking scene was en- acted at more than one poll on Tuesday of voters refusing to deposit their ballots un- til they were paid the promised price of their votes. When paid, they approached the ballOt-boX with green backs in one hand and the ballot in the other. At more than one poll there were men with green backs ostentatiously displayed who were there to pay for the vote of any one who | would take them.

 A SPECIAL election has been ordered by Acting Gov. BashfoId, in Maricopa coun-

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