ABSTRACT
The estimate published on the eve of the election is often vouched for by the signature of one of the famous experts, and it is settled after a long conference of the executive committee of the party. The importance of the canvass is somewhat diminished in America by the decisive role of the nomination, which discounts the result of the election and which makes the candidates bring their efforts to bear, not upon the electors, but upon the delegates to the convention. The economy of the American electoral system, which makes the result of the presidential election depend on a few "pivotal" States, whatever the distribution of the whole popular vote in the Union, has facilitated the concentration of bribery operations, and thereby put a premium on them. These States, ranked among the "doubtful" ones, four or five in number, are "drenched with money" during the presidential campaign for buying the "wavering" electors who sell themselves to the highest bidder.
