Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1888 — The Venal Vote in Indiana. [ARTICLE]

The Venal Vote in Indiana.

N. Y. Evening Post: We publish elsewhere an interesting interview with Mr Lucius B. Swift of the Indiana Civil Serv’ce Reform association on the subject of the venal vote in that state. Even if all due allowance be made for any possible unconscious exaggeration of the evil by a gentleman of somewhat positive views, it remains true that the situation is most deplorable and alarming. AVe should say that the first work which the association ought to undertake, without regard to the result of the pending election, is the securing from the next legislature of a law reforming ihe system of voting so that it will be imp ssible for one man to buy another man s vote, and then accompany the other man to the ballot-box and see he votes as he was bought to do. Before 1892 the law of Indiana, and for that matter, of every other state, should be so amended that it will be no longer possible for a political manager to give such a direction as this: - ‘ Divide the floaters in blocks of five and put a trusted man with necessary funds in charge of these five and make him responsible that none get away, and that all vote our ticket.” No doubt the quot.d clause of the above, from Dudley’s circular, was fully carried out in many sections of this state, ancipixbab'y other states. It was disgustin'’ to hear of men at this place, election day, demanding two dollars for the time occupied by attendance, and they would vote the ticket desired. A law should be passed, upon conviction to forever disfanchise the buyer and seller of notes. Accessories to the Eldredge Sewing Machine can be procured of Mrs. Jas. W. McEwen New backgrounds, new camera, new balustrade, new burnisher and new ideas! Now is the time to get those photos taken you were talking about espeotfully, J. a. Sharp.