Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-15
ras sssAroxsHrp.

Probable Result OF the Proposed
Contest OF Richardson's Seat i'm
Kent.
The report published in EvkRr EVENING
on Saturday OF the proposed contest OF
the seat Of Alden b. Richardson, State
ssnator-eleot In Kent county, fell like o
bcmbeh among the jubilant Republi.
cans, who have regarded the United
States senatorship an surely theirs. Thus
far there have been no new Developments,
and it is not yet known positively that
there will be any contest. The proba-
bilities are, however, that there will be.
The main ground of the proposed con-
test is purely technical, but IL is hard TO
get over. The uniform ballot law was
passed In 1881, and has been in full force |
and effect ever since. Il was passed for |
the purpose Of maintaining the secrecy |
of the ballot. At the election Of 1880, |
some employees of manufacturing con-
cern in this city were furnished by one |
of the superintendents with numbered |
Republican ballots, and given to under
stand that II these identical ballots
were not found in the ballut-box
Of their polling place when the
votes were counted they would be
discharged from their employment. A
trusted partisan on the board of
election officers was posted and directed
to keep a watch for these ballots durlng
the count. OF IL numbered ticketa given
out to men in the Second ward, IL were
voted. This practice raised such storm
Of indignation that the uniform ballot
Law was passed. Since then the county
committees of both parties, in the
preparation Of election tickets, have used
the utmost vigilance in seeing that the
provisions of the law were scrupulously
observed.
The point upon which the contest in
Kent, If made, will hinge, is portion of
the law providing that upon the inside,
''Rnd at the head Of the ballot shall be
written or printed the name Of tine poii,i-
cal party to which majority of the per-
sons voted for belong" Many ballots
cost for Mr.. Richardson, il is claimed,
were headed Democratic" but bore the
names OF IA Republicans and only seven
Democrats, thus being clearly in violation
of the letter OF the Law.
Wilmington Democrats nse not yet
much concerned over the matter. The
prevailing sentiment is in favor of allow
ing the Republicans the full fruits of
their victory in this State. though some
declare that II tho Republicans, in their
eagerneHs to win, ignored well-estab-
lished and well-understood law, they
should suffer for it.
When the Saulsburys started on their
campaign to defeat the regular Demo-
cratic ticket, they had ballots prepared
headed Democratic Ticket" but only
bearing the names Of the Demo.
cratic candidates for electors, Con
gress. levy court commiHsioner for Duck
Creek hundred, inspector and assessor
leaving blanks for the State senator, seven
representatives and four levy court com
missionera. It was their original inten
ton to use this ssmi-blank ticket only
but finding that this sort of Democrats
detection would not be- sufficient to defes
the regular ticket, they Allied the blank
with stickers bearing the names of tn
Republican candidates. These ticket
were worked all over the county, and tn
Democrats claim that, in addition TO thei
illegality--being still headed Democrat
when the majority Of the candidate
: thereon were Republioans-they wer
= worked 80 ss to deceive many Democrat
who supposed they were voting the Demo
I cratic ticket.
, A careful comparison Of tho return
Q shows that the Salisbury RepublioR
8 ticket received the following votes l
4 Duck Greek hundred, "a; Little Greer
@ 80; Kenton, As; East Dover, First distrio
J. II; Second district, III; West Dover, 2t
l. North Murderkill, 100; South Murderkil
81; Mispillion, $50; Milford, 105; tola
4 75l. II ia not claimed that all Of thes
j. tickets wsre Illegal, as some coDtaine
more Democratic than Republican csnd
( dates, and were, therefore, headed
accordance with the law.
II The Democratic managers, having
9 knowledge Of these tickets, sent word
|, all the polling places to protest again.
!. having them counted. This was done \
It several instances, but the inspector
% counted them. In East Dover hundre
@ the Republicans called In Nathaniel |
n Smithers, Esq, who decided that as tn
o preponderanoe of Republican names upo
8 Democratic tickets had been brougt
about by the use OF stickers, the ballol
were legal. The Democrats called
Edward Ridgeley, Esq, who gave it
his opinion that the ballots were clearl
!. illegal. The inspectors counted them.
In South Murderkill hundred %
10 these ballots were objected to. I'll
N Democratic candidate for coroner, JAM
m W. Smith, was one of the DIRECTORS. q
.. was defeated by only four votes, and wi
4 contest the election Of John W. Jacob
!. his Republican competitor, on the groun
"a that these ballots, bearing Mr. Jacob
r. name, were illegal and should not hay
been counted.
/. This is the Democratic claim. In Of
4. lition IL ia asserted that the Republican
% resorted to fraud, intimidation IA
bribery. These grounds, however, WI
8. not be urged. II the contest is made
No will be- upon the claim that at least ~
of illegal ballots were cast for the kepubl
!. can county ticket and counted. III
ID wolcott, although declining to talk abo'
', the matter, thinks the grounds are goo'
as Mr.. Ridgeley is confident OF II.
n. Meanwhile the matter will be held
allegiance and carefully considered. an
a whatever action is deemed most advisao
At under the circumstances will be taken
u the proper time.
IA 4 ooUNTEB MOVEMENT.
a. The Republicans are alarmed at q
NJ technical strength of the Democrat
,e position, and are talking Of count,
III movement. Anthony Higgins, ESD, 81
IN that the House, taking the alleged di
franohisemont of 5000 Republican vote
" of New CASTLE county as o Just caus
= could unseat the seven Democratic repr
sontatiyes from New CASTLE county Of
give their places to the seven Republics
le Candidates who were defeated at the ele
re tion. This would give the Republican
i, all the 81 members Of the House, and e.
n able them to elect the United States Be
ator without trouble.
J., Meanwhile, no definite steps have bat
n; taken and the whole thing is in state
It. conjecture.