The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life

by W. A. Wilkins

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE ELECTION.

  'Twas the eve of election, and everything had been done by all sides toinsure a full vote. Thorough canvasses having been made by the threecandidates, every party felt confident of winning the day. A massmeeting at the Opera House was to be addressed by Senator Hamblin, andthe hour drawing nigh a vast crowd assembled. At eight o'clock thespacious balcony was filled with ladies, stalwart men occupying seats onthe main floor. When Senator Hamblin entered cheer after cheer greetedhim. Bowing acknowledgments, he turned to greet the semi-circle of solidmen of Cleverdale occupying chairs on the stage. Although his face wasradiant with pleasure, careworn lines about his eyes gave evidence ofthe strain he had undergone during the exciting canvass now drawing to aclose. As he took his seat a gentleman rose and said:

  "Ladies and gentlemen, for the purpose of organizing this meeting, Inominate as chairman, William J. Campbell. All favoring Mr. Campbell aschairman will signify it by saying Aye."

  There was a loud vote "Aye!"

  "All opposed will say No!"

  There being no votes in the negative, the motion was declared carried,and Mr. Campbell escorted to the chair. Making a brief speech, he paid ahigh compliment to "Cleverdale's favorite," Senator Hamblin, predictinga sweeping victory on the morrow, looking for a more harmonious feelingin the party after the canvass was over. His remarks were frequentlyinterrupted by applause, after which he asked the pleasure of themeeting.

  Cyrus Hart Miller arose and proposed a number of gentlemen asvice-presidents of the meeting. The list contained names of many oldcitizens, and it was evident an effort had been made to recognize everyelement of Cleverdale. Every nationality was represented, even the namesof several colored persons--descendants of Ham--being sandwiched betweenCeltic or Teutonic slices, while the native American was present insmall quantity--merely enough for seasoning.

  Then followed a long list of secretaries, embracing the names of manyyoung men. The motion being submitted and carried, these gentlemenwere invited to take seats on the stage. After music by the band,Cleverdale's glee club sang a piece suitable for the occasion, whenthe chairman presented Senator Hamblin. This was the occasion formore applause. When this subsided, the honorable gentleman began hisremarks. Speaking at length, the occasion offered fine opportunitiesfor display of his oratorical powers. Giving his views upon leadingpublic questions, and comprehensively elucidating all the details ofhis subject, he compelled his audience to be attentive listeners. Hisviews upon finances were explained, and his opposition to railroadsand other monopolies graphically dilated upon. In all his remarks,however, he held one highly-colored picture before his auditors: it wasa life-size photograph of himself as a Reformer. No reference was madeto Daley and his friends until near the close of the speech, when theSenator paid his respects to them in words not at all complimentary. Hetold his hearers of having been forced into the campaign against hiswill, compelled to be their candidate simply to vindicate their honoras well as his own. Not desiring the office, it being a detriment tohis business, he had placed himself in the hands of his friends andneighbors, and the morrow's verdict would be received by him either asan indorsement or condemnation of his course as their servant. Havingbeen told that vast sums of money would be expended by the boltingfaction, he also had the assurance of gentlemen managing the campaign onhis side that every effort would be made to thwart the corrupters of theballot-box. Dwelling heavily upon this one point, he somehow refrainedfrom telling the audience that his own check for twenty thousanddollars had been drawn that day, and the money distributed in everytown in the senatorial district for the purpose of purchasing votes.Had the information been given, the knowledge might have increased hisvote among that class of men whose patriotic motives at the polls aregoverned by money.

  The Senator spoke for two hours, and, the meeting closing, the people ofCleverdale were left in a halo of political enthusiasm.

  Election day opened pleasantly. Cyrus Hart Miller had thoroughlyorganized his forces, his chief staff officer being the powerful PaddySullivan. Next to his own Bridget and the children, Senator Hamblinoccupied the chief seat in Paddy's affections, for the "Boss" being agenerous paymaster Paddy adored him.

  The opening hours of election day were quiet. During the morning thehonest voters cast their ballots, the marketable article appearing laterin the day. As Miller entered one of the polling-places and met FarmerJohnson, he extended his hand and said:

  "Mr. Johnson, how are you to-day?"

  "Mighty well, Miller; how's things agoin' here?"

  "Oh, Hamblin will be elected by a good big majority."

  "Don't be sartin on it. I tell you what it is, them Daley fellers isa-workin' like blazes into the hands of t'other party."

  "That's nothing new, for Daley has been working that way all the time,being paid to bolt and come up a stump candidate. He is a bad man, Mr.Johnson."

  "Don't know so much about that air; but see here, Miller--let me speakto you privately--he offered to pay my team hire if I'd come down andvote for him."

  "But a farmer worth his forty thousand dollars wouldn't sell his vote!"

  "Sell my vote! See here, Miller, let's go into this room. There: I canspeak to you by ourselves, now. Do you mean to insinuate I'd sell myvote--me, a farmer who can buy the best farm in this 'ere county? No,sir, you've got the wrong man."

  "Why, Mr. Johnson, of course you wouldn't."

  "No, I jest wouldn't. But you see this is a good workin' day, and me andmy two boys dropped everything to come down to vote. Daley offered topay for my team if we'd go for him. I don't like him half so well as Ido Hamblin; but--er--it kinder seems as if you'd oughter stand the priceof our three days' work and team-hire if we vote your ticket."

  "What do you call it worth? Are the boys here?"

  "Yes, they'll be here in a few minutes; and if you'll give me fivedollars--that is, two for the team and a dollar apiece for our threedays' work--we'll vote for Hamblin."

  "It's a pretty good price, but I suppose I will have to do it."

  "But 'tain't sellin' our votes. I'd scorn doing such a mean trick asthat. It's only gettin' pay for lost time."

  "Exactly so, Mr. Johnson; I wouldn't dare offer to buy your votes forfear of offending you. There are your boys--call them."

  The good old farmer, whose fine sense of honor would not permit him tosell his vote, said:

  "Jack, you and Jim must vote for Hamblin; give us your ballots, Miller."

  The ballots deposited in the box, Farmer Johnson, one of the upholdersof our free institutions, received a five-dollar greenback forperforming his duty as a patriot. This was only one instance, many ofthe same character occurring during the day.

  Paddy Sullivan was at the polling district, and as the "b'ys" came up,said:

  "Now, thin! here's your clane ticket--sthand aside and let the voterscome up. Here, Misther Inspecthor, take this ballot. Be jabers, thim'sthe regular clane ticket, an' it's meself as knows how to git 'em in!Whoop 'em in, b'ys!"

  Crowding his fat form before those voting against his candidate, atevery opportunity, and challenging them, he ruled despotically, andrespectable men looked approval.

  "Arrah! Paddy Sullivan is no slouch, and when yees wants the ballot keptclane, I'm the daisy to do it."

  Men ran hither and thither; Miller's aids receiving orders flew off,returning with those to be "seen." Whispering consultations were held,ballots distributed and deposited, the corrupted voters thereafterreceiving pasteboard checks representing the amount agreed upon. In asmall room in another part of the building the holders, presenting thechecks, received their cash.

  During the afternoon the excitement increased, the purchasable votersflocking about Miller and Paddy Sullivan, the latter standing near theballot-box and making himself obnoxious to all voting the other ticket.He assumed to instruct the inspectors of election about their duties,and these officials feared to dispute his authority, in many instancestheir decisions being forestalled
by him. Those of the other party wereat his mercy, and the power of a pothouse politician was absolute. Hewas especially abusive to those of his own political party who voted forDaley, and soon after noon the Daley crowd becoming demoralized weredriven from the polls.

  So thoroughly was Senator Hamblin's programme carried out that everyvoter on his side was brought to the polls, in many instances men beingpaid to vote in both polling-places. All this was done in the interestof Senator Hamblin, who claimed to represent the "honesty and reform"element of the community.

  Honesty and Reform! what sins you have to answer for! So potent arethese names that if Beelzebub ever expects to people his realms withthe good, he need only announce from platform and press that he is forhonesty and reform.

  Toward night Senator Hamblin received words of encouragement from everytown. Passing the day at the bank, directing the movements of hisforces, he was in excellent spirits at the prospects of his success andthe downfall of his enemies.

  The polls closing, Cyrus Hart Miller and Paddy Sullivan joined the bossat Hamblin's private office.

  "Sinitor, ye're elected by two thousand majority, and there hain'tenough lift of Daley to grase a griddle wid. Didn't we vote the b'yslively!"

  "Paddy, you are a trump, and I shall never forget your services inmy behalf. Here is a little present for you," and he handed him twoone-hundred-dollar bills.

  "God bless you, Sinitor, and whin Paddy Sullivan can help yees, he's yerman, every time. May ye live long and niver want for a frind."

  Cigars were lighted, and the trio waited for returns. It was notlong before the good news began to flow in, Cleverdale's majorityfor Senator Hamblin being nearly two hundred larger than that of twoyears previous. No sooner was the result announced than the streetswere illuminated with bonfires and a crowd of men approached the bank.Telegrams kept coming in containing news of Senator Hamblin's increasedmajorities on every side, so that his election was assured beyond adoubt. His countenance beamed with delight, and Paddy Sullivan, whirlingupon his heel, shouted:

  "Hip! hip! hooray! didn't we whoop 'em in!"

  The shout reaching the crowd outside, they at once responded:

  "Three cheers for Senator Hamblin!"

  In answer to the summons, Senator Hamblin stepped out, followed byMiller and Paddy, and was greeted with cheers from the crowd, whodemanded a speech. He responded in a few words of thanks, congratulatinghis fellow-citizens that honesty and right had triumphed overcorruption. When he concluded, cries were made for Miller, who appearedand spoke briefly, thanking his fellow-citizens for their part in theday's victory. Of course he did not refer to the fact that at leastthree quarters of those before him had received checks, ranging from twoto five dollars, for voting for Senator Hamblin.

  A great victory had been won--that was enough. Senator Hamblin, figuringthe cost, found he had paid over forty thousand dollars for the honor ofholding an office for which he would receive fifteen hundred dollars peryear for two years. Contemplating the cost, he said:

  "It is a pretty expensive investment, but the profits have not yet begunto come in."

  It was far into the night when, entering his residence, he retired tohis room, and said:

  "Now if I can get rid of Alden and make Belle the wife of Mannis I shallbe a happy man. Mannis is rich, and I have lately met with heavy losses.To-morrow Sargent goes into the bank, and then--for Alden!"