Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-23
raOss roAt.xD xnohIprs.


sSaW They Lead the Trail 90 the
EHicknIna- Republican Esarsain OF
Last ran.
The forged md fraudulent tax receipts
that were captured from several colored
applicants for registration, last Saturday,
still continue to be fruitful topics OF
public discussion, although 10 some quar-
tiers they have lost the Interest they first
possessed. When, ct fest blush, the use
of these tax receipts looked like bold
attempt on the part of the Higgins Re
poblicans TO Illegally register oolered
citizens for the purpose Of carrying the
approaching ci,y election, and thus
heraliing abroad Higgins triumph in
Wilmington, the anti-Aiggins Repubii-
cans thought il en- elegant nstter for
public exposure. But when EVERY EVEN.
ISa's revelations clearly indicated that
the tax receipts which the colored dupes
used on Saturday were the same
which were promiseuously provided OF the
general election last November, for such
oolored men Hs would vote for Henry d.
Hickman for levy court commissioner
their tune suddenly changed. Those
revelations ont 80 close TO the alleged
bargain Of tho last campaign, rs result
Of which hickman freely guaranteed the
sherin's advertising aud other patronage
Ia raturn for Republican votes for himself
that the trail started upon by portion
Of the Republican press of the city be.
came decidedly too hot to be followed,
and was Bummarily dropped.
Although the principals In the affair
shrewdly covered their tracks, and care
fully concealed all eliminating evidences
OF their connection with the discreditable
affair, II ia q matter of public notoriety
that Hiokman's election was due entirely
TO purchased Republican support. By
Democrats his candidacy was extensively
repudiated, as the election returns clearly
show. He had lees than 500 majority,
candidates on the same ticket exceeded
2,000. By virtue of an arrangement
regularly entered into at secret confer
ence, the confederation Of which WIS the
printing OF the sheritf's advertisements,
Hickman was promised immunity from
adverse Republican press criticism dur.
ing his canvass for denomination,
and in the event Of his success at the
nominating contest, as much immunity
from adverse comment during the cam
paign as was possible without exciting
undue suspicion. 30 we'll was this bar
gain carried out, that despite Hiokman's
unssvory record, EVERY EVENING was
practically the only paper that boldly
opposed his election. Even when Sena-
tor Higgins, in speech Mt Republican
meeting in the Ninth ward, scathingly
reviewed Hiokman's scandalous record
while member Of the board of trustees
of the poor, EVERY EVENING was the only
paper that reported his burning, hair
curling criticisms. The bargain was
faithfully carried out, and Mr.. Hickman
received unusually considerate treatment
at the hands of the local Republican
press.
But as election day approached II be.
came more and more apparent that even
this bargain would not save Hickman, as
there were too many honest Democrats
who were determined not tovote for him.
1t was then that the scheme Of securing
Illegal Republican and negro votes for
Hickman was conceived. County Col
leotors Neary and Dickey, as has already
been stated, refused to issue receipts to
oolored men and other Republicans SIM
ply because they were willing to vote for
Hickman, and then the scheme OF fraud
uient tax receipts was devised and exc
cuted. There was already In existence q
counterfeit seal, which has been sue
cessfully used for grinding out
fraudulent tax receipts as FAR pack
AZ the election OF 1882, and
this, II Ia presumed, was brought into
requisition, as the stamp on the bogus re-
ceipts captured on Saturday last differs
from the genuine stamp, and Is similar to
the fraudulent stamps used in 1882. The
fraudulent receipts were freely issued for
the November election, and Nickname
return was assured, though charges have
frequently been made that even with
these fraudulent precautions II also re-
quired some very mysterious counting on
the part Of some Of the election inspectors
In this city TO make Hickman'a success
certain, SO frightfully was he cut In all
directions. These charges have been
matters of common rumor ever since the
election.
Having successfully voted on these
bogus tax receipts last November, the
colored dupes who held them used them
for registration on Saturday and Satur-
day week. Five were detected in the
Fifth ward, but number of others were
successfully worked. On all the Demo-
cratic block books however, the names of
the colored men who registered on these
doubtful receipts have been marked for
challenge and they will be stopped when
they attempt to vote on election day.
Meanwhile, the Department OF Elec-
tlons will make searching investigation
OF the fraudulent registration. The dry
rattling, and there is mortal fear that the
full details Of the disreputable Hickman
Republican deal, the fountain head Of
the present corruption, will be exposed.
The trail is becoming dangerously hot.