Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1884 — THE MAGNETIC HEELER. [ARTICLE]

THE MAGNETIC HEELER.

How Demooratio Voters of Maine Were Magnetized for the Republican Ticket. Ten Dollars About the Average Price, Promptly Pclid on Delivery. Brazenly Corrupt Methods Practiced by the Augusta Republicans at the Recent Elections. It cost the Republican managers in Maine a big pile of money to make a showing in that State. At Augusta, the homo of tho leader of the party that declares so vehemently In Its platform for the purity of the ballot-box, $lO was paid In many cases for individual votes, and It is said that the number of men In the State who sold their votes was not less than ns,ooo. Tho result is an Interesting verification of the Rev. Stephen B. Elkins' favorite political apothegm: “Carrying an election is a more question of finance;” but tho magnitude of tho outlay In Maine is a good ground for fear that the party barrel will run short before the work of electing Jim Blaine has boon completed. A New York dispatch to tho Chicago Daily AVtcs (Independent) says: The World publishes a special dispatch, two columns in length, from Its staff correspondent at Augimta, Me., reiterating the charges of wholesale bribery

practiced by the Republicans in the State election last Monday, supported by a dozen affidavits, sworn to before a Justice of the Peace and the names of more than 800 Augusta men aocused of having been paid bv B a.no's managers for voting for Gov. lloble. William H. Burgess swears that ho saw Assistant Postmaster Burrows pav monoy at the polls to Isaac Brand; Fred Cypress Bwears that he saw $lO paid to William Downs In return for his vote for Robie; Paul Mackay swears that F. H. Harvev, a Republican politician, oiferod him $lO to vote for Robio; Michael Burns, a saloonkeeper, swears that a Republican Government official of Augusta offered him SIOO to stay away from the polls and work on the outside to get the Democrats to voto the Republican ticket; also that he knows that Joseph Routn, James Shaw, Samuel Berry and Tip Shaw sold their votes to the Ropubicans for $lO each. Freeman E. Woeks swears that he had alwavs voted the Demooratio tloket until Monday last, when he sold his vote to the Republicans, receiving for It $lO in cash, although Horace B. Cony, a Republican manager, told him they were only paying $0 for votes. Then follow 800 names of men in tho Ist, Bd, ad, 4th, sth and Otti Wards of Augusta, all of whom tho World correspondent oharges with having sold their votos to the Republicans. Another batch of affidavits is being prepared in Augusta, taken from men who openly declare that they sold their votes for prices ranging from $U to *lB at tho solicitation of Republican managers, and were paid the money by the same men. The following will servo to show tho iniquitous methods employed by tho Blaine managers to swell tho Republican majority: “J, Michael Burns, of Augusta, Me., occupation saloon-keeper, upon oath depose and say that I was approached two or three days before the State election, which was held on the Bth day of September, 1884, by a gentleman in good standing and now in Government employ, who asked me if SIOO would induce me to stay awav from the polls and use my influence in getting Democrats to vote the Republican ticket. He also stated to me that I should have as good a show as any one engaged in my business If I would do what I could to help them (the Republicans) in the eleotion. I took it to mean that 1 should be saved from prosecution as a seller of intoxicating liquors. Tho gentleman further remarked to me that the Republicans would surely carry the city at the spring election, so that they would control matters. I asked him who authorized him to mako that statement to me, and he replied that he would not reveal the name of the party unless I would give my word of honor that I would go with them on election day. I relused to do so, telling him that SSOO would be no object to me so far as Inducing me to vote and work against my convictions. On the morning of election several men came to my place of business whom I knew to be Democrats, and some of whom never voted any other ticket, and told me they had been offered $lO and sl2 each to vete the Republican ticket, and asked me what they should do about it. I told them to go and vote according to their convictions and not sell their votes. They returned to my saloon after election and informed me they had sold their votes, and some of them showed me the monev which thev received ior them. Joseph Routh was one of them; Samuel Berry was another one who told me that he had sold his vote. James Shaw and ‘Tip’ Shaw also came to my saloon and showed me their money. One of the Shaws had two flve-dollar bills and the other hod a ten-dollar bill. James Shaw told me that ho received the money tor his vote from the Republicans. I know of many others who I am positive sold their votes to the Republicans. Michael, Buhnh. “Subscribed and sworn to before me on this 11th day of September, A. D., 1884. “Thomas J. Lynch, Justice of the Peace. “State of Mainq, County of Kennebec.” , “I, Freeman E. Weeks, of Angnsta, county of Kennebec, and State of Maine, upon oath depose and say that I am a legal voter of Ward 5 of said Augusta; that I have always voted the Democratic tloket; that on Thursday or Friday of last week Horgoe Blaney asked me how 1 was going to vote: I told him that I did not intend to vote the Republican ticket,,bnt Intended to vote my own principles; he told me that if I would vote the Republican ticket he would pay me as much as any one was paid, whether It was $lO or more. On election day he took me to the voting precinct, and I deposited a Republican vote in the box which Horace Blaney gave me. When I came back to the carriage he took me and carried me across the street, and gave me $lO, saying that they were not paying but $9 for votes, bnt he would give me $lO. Fbeeman E. Weeks. “Subscribed and sworn to on this 10th day ot September, before me, Thomas J. Lynch, Justice of the Peace. “State of Maine, County of Kennebec." The above are only two ot a largo number of similar depositions. Then follow a long list of names of voters of Angusta who are known to have been suborned at the polls by Republican managers. It is my deliberate opinion that Mr. Blaine acts as the attorney of Jay Gould. Whenever Mr. Thnrman and I have settled upon legislation to bring the Pacific Builroads to terms of equity with the Government, up has jumped James G. Blaine, musket in hand, from behind the breastworks of Gould’s lobby, to fire in our back.— Senator George F. Edmunds, of Vermont. I have the greatest respect and admiration for tho Democratic candidate. He has made a splendid record as Governor, and I believe would do equally well as the Chief Executive.— Ex-Secretary of State Hamilton Fish. If Cleveland was a good enough man for Mr. Blaine’s friends to make Governor of New Yoifk, perhaps some Republicans may think he is a good man to make President.— Bo'scoe Conkling.