Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1914 — A VERY ROTTEN DEAL [ARTICLE]

A VERY ROTTEN DEAL

Was That “Voting Contest” of the Republican, According to Report. From all reports the “voting contest” pulled off by the Rensselaer Republican last week was one of the rottenest deals ever heard of in Jasper county, and it is rumored that criminal prosecutions may be started as a result. It is told that the “contest manager” and one of the proprietors of the Republican “tipped off” several -—perhaps all—of the contestants as to w’hat it would be necessary for them to put up to win the prizes, and among these was one party who resides at Parr, who is said to have been assured if she would put up a certain amount she would get the piano. A The amount was put up, she states, and in the gum was a check for SIOO which she, or her husband, had forgotten to sign. Their attention was called to this oversight later and, thinking perhaps that other contestants had been told the same thing, they balked on signing it until again reassured that it would certainly get the piano. Later it was found that another party had put up a big wad of money that overbalanced their pile, and the latter was hunted up and told that their amount was too small to win the instrument. Their suspicions were then confirmed that it was a hold-up to get every penny possible out oi the “contest” regardless of any sense of honesty or fairness and they rebelled and demanded that what had already been put in be paid hack, and they were paid back $136, they state. This was not all they had put in, bqt it was beter than to lose it all, and they feel that they came out perhaps better than some of the other victims. It is reported that other “contestants have deinanded their money hack, and It is probable that prosecutions will be started uniless an amicable settlement can be made with'- the victims.