Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-05-02
The FOOr-House Election ImbrosIio.

ITS ORIGIN, ITS HISTORY, ITS RESULTS.
As much has been said Of late in certain Dem
ocratic papers in relation to the election OF Off
GERS by the Trustees of the Poor of New Castle
county, and as there appears to be much con-
lecture and very little certainty as to the means
used to bring about such a result, we will take
the trouble to throw some light upon this hith-
erto dark subject, for the benefit of our Demo-
cratic friends. - -.-.--
The Board Of Trustees as now constituted
contains eight Democratic and three Republican
members, giving the Democrats majority of
five, but not enough as the sequel will show TO
prevent the election Of a Republican Treasurer,
and giving one-fourth of the present term of
Oyerseer TO the present Republican incumbent.
During the session Of the Levy Court held at
New Castle in the latter part of March the Board
OF Trustees at the request Of the Court met with
them fer the purpose Of determining the amount of
tax required for the support Of the Poor during
the present year, and to transact other official
business. After the usual business was trans
acted, the Democratic members net in cAucns
for the purpose Of nominating persons to fill the
oticee OF Oyerseer, Treasurer, Attorney and
Physlclans for the approaching new term. There
being but few applicants at that time for Over
seer, action on that office was postponed For
Treasurer, Il. ID. Hicks then a member of the
Levy Court from New Castle, and Edward Rev
nolds OF st. Georges were nominated, and Mr.
Reynolds agreed upon as the regular Democratic
caucus nominee for Treasurer Jose h NJ. Barr
for Attorney and Doctors Kane and Draper for
Physicians.
Thus matters stood until the recent meeting of
the Board for the election of officers and the
transaction Of other legitimate business After
the organization of the Board and the proper
time having arrived, the election of overseer of
the POOR being first in order, Malachi Barlew,
Of Brandywine, Democrat, was elected, he receiy.
ing votes, and l. l.. Crouch Republican, and
present incumbent receiving votes one De-
lican.
Mr. Brinton, Democrat of Wilmington. then
moved that Mr.. Crouch be allowed to remain in
the ofiice three months OF his successors term
which MIR. Gawthrop moved to amend by making
1t six months the vote on Mr. Gawtbrop's
amendment stood i've in favor and six against,
Two Democrats voting for the amendment The
original motion Of MIR. Brinton was then adopted
almost unanimously.
The result of the election Of overseer disclosed
to the astonished Democracy loose screw some-
Where ~ the Democratic machinery and with
many misgivings the Board proceeded to the
election of Treasurer.
Nominations being in order r. d. HicksI Dem
oorat. late member of the Levy Court from New
Castle, but now of Wilmington; Joseph Seal
Democrat, of W lmington and Wesley Talley Re-
publican, and present incumbent We're placed in
nomination, but to the great surprise of some
OF the members the name of the regular Caucus
nominee Edward Reynolds was never once mem
TONED. In the mean time it had transpired that
II. ID. Hicks in his anxiety to secure the coveted
pr1ze had got letter of recommendation from
the Levy Court OF which he was member and
had placed it in the hands of Mr. Brinton of
wilmington. He had then written to one or
more members OF the Board stating where such
recommendation was, and suggested that as the
Overseers of the Poor we're but the creatures of
the Levy Court it would be advisable TO keen
that fact in view in the election Of the Treasurer
This kind OF dictation did not suit such indie
pendent Democrats as Roberts OF Appoquini-
mink and Others and they determined that the
man the Levy Court wanted elected was Just the
man they would not elect.
With these forebodings Of disaster staring
them iii the face the Board proceeded with the
ballot, which resulted as follows Hicks votes,
Seal 2 Taley votes, and one ominous blank
which was meant for nobody, or ANYBODY, as
circumstances might require. From the lst to
the 9th ballot the result was the same. when an
Enthusiastic Hicks member in order to force the
Seal members into measures made a motion
which was carried, that the candidate receiving
the lowest number of votes should be dropped
Under these circumstances the 10th ballot
was proceeded with the result to the great con-
sternation and surprise Of the Hicks men show
ing that although Mr.. Seal had been thrown ont
in the cold, his two friends could not be caioled
into the support Of the Levy Court candidate,
Republican under the circumstances being pre-
ferable, consequently the ballot Just taken show
ed votes for Hicks, for Talley, and still that
ominous blank.
Things were now becoming interesting, and
never did Wellington at the battle of Waterloo
more ardently wish for the approach Of Blucher,
than did the Hicksites wish on this occasion TO
clasp in their embrace this, until now, insignif-
cant blank. Butcher came to Wellington and
gave him the victory, but this independent blank
came not to Hicks when called, but remembering
the violated caucus, and feeling for the time
the truth Of the axiom that "Revenge is Sweet"
the 1lth ballot brought the imperturbabie
blank into live, active, living vote for Wesley
Talley, the Republican nominee, and electing