LETTERS: VOTE FRAUD DESERVES HARSH ACTION

To the editor:

In 1976, I cast my first vote in a Democratic primary in New Madrid. For my vote I was paid $5, handed to me with a sample ballot by the driver who delivered me to the polling place. This was nothing unusual. To most of us growing up in that area, it was simply accepted as the way elections were run. I knew, however, that vote buying was wrong, and I never accepted payment for my vote in any election since, even though the practice remains largely unchanged to this day. State Rep. Gene Copeland continues to deny any involvement in this practice, and with the blessing of U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd Jr. is absolved of any blame. Lester Gillespie, an Oran resident, apparently delved into his own pocket to arrange the purchase of liquor and to draft and duplicate coupons for distribution among voters. His zeal to see Mr. Copeland re-elected is particularly interesting, given that his listed address puts him outside of Mr. Copeland's district.

The liquor store owner has also been found blameless. Doubtless, he had no idea that the coupons being redeemed on Election Day were in exchange for votes.

Missing from Copelands denial of wrongdoing is any condemnation of Mr. Gillespie's actions. In fact, to read Mr. Copeland's letter, one would believe that no improprieties were found in the recent election. Surely condemnation from an honorable and respected representative such as Mr. Copeland would discourage other overzealous campaign workers from engaging in this unethical practice. No, Mr. Copeland denies involvement in the practice but doesn't mind having benefited from it.

Vote fraud is a serious problem, far more serious than the misdemeanor charges levied against Mr. Gillespie would indicate. To cheat in an election is to chip away at the very foundation of our republican form of government. It is tantamount to treason and should be punished severely. Those who cheat in elections are the enemies of America. They rob us of our vote and our hopes for honest government. The Republicans are now demanding that the U.S. Justice Department monitor the next elections in order to prevent such fraud in the future. One need only look to the latest Teamsters elections, for which the taxpayer shelled out millions, to recognize the folly of this request. The results of the Teamsters elections had to be thrown out due to the high level of voter irregularities, and the taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for the next one. Not one of the regulators charged with monitoring the honesty of the election, however, has suffered for his waste of taxpayer funds, and no doubt the same regulators may well be dispatched to New Madrid and Mississippi counties to monitor the fairness of our next election. The serious problem of vote fraud will only be solved when the citizens of this nation tire of dishonest government and realize that honest government requires honest governors. Those who steal elections cannot be trusted to legislate honestly once elected, nor can those who ignore such blatant dishonesty be trusted to deal fairly with dishonest behavior in other aspects of governmental oversight. If the people really want honest government, then they must reject those who condone fraud and punish those who engage in it. SHAPLEY R. HUNTER

Tamms, Ill.