Evening journal., 1889-01-07
CONVENTION AND SENATORIAL.
The Situation at Dover Yesterday
Busy Week.

The second question which must be
met on Wednesday is giving the Republi
cans even more trouble There is a
powerful popular sentiment in favor OF
regarding the vote cast in November,
1887. as ample to base upon call for a
state convention The Republicans are
almost unanimous in this opinion, and a
majority of the Democrats of New Castle
and Sussex counties are believed to take
this view. The Republican platforms, at
least three Of them, have declared for
this view Of IT,
The objection TO tits that the vote was
less than the majority of the votes cast
eat any one Of the three next preceding
general elections, which IS the constitu-
tional requirement Of the present method
of calling a convention. The highest
vote polled was in 1892 Since then
because Of the disfranchising tendencies
Of the assessment laws, the vote has
grown less with each election.
The Republicans Of the House. that is
at least three fourths Of them. propose to
get around the snag by a resolution, sim
ply declaring that they have ascertained
that majority Of legal and qualified
voters OF the state cast their ballots for a
convention and that the Legislature
should, therefore. provide for the election
of delegates and the holding Of conven-
tion.
The vote cast for convention was
II, 200 In round numbers, and fewer than
100 against it. The majority Of 1882 was
10, 300 But this proportion is said to be
opposed by two Of the ablest lawyers at
this bar, both Of whom are Senatorial
aspirants Hon n B. Smithers is said
TO oppose the popular tide, while George
V. Massey, Esq, was originally opposed
20 the reform movement, and is therefore
in a position where be will try to defeat
any proposition that looks to an early
convention.
The Senatorial contest has shifted
slightly since tho organization Of the
Legislature on last Tuesday. Mr.. sSmith-
ers, who was believed not to be in the
race--at least this was the claim Of Mr.
Massey's friends, who asserted that he
had reached this conclusion because of
his age, which is just 20, and of his fail.
ing powers-has determined TO remain in
the Geld, aud has at least four votes to
begin with
This has been the first serious draw
back TO Massey's boom, as it leaves him
with not more than three votes if that
many to start with. His friends made a
desperate effort to off set this loss by be-
seiging the grnngers who held session
at Camden, in this county, on Thursday.
K. II. Bancroft, master of the State
Grange, was closeted with Massey for
hall day ON Wednesday, but nothing
had been gained.
The Grangers who control the House,
remain firm against the counsel of the
Pennsylvania. They believe that this is
life and death struggle for their inter
ests against what they deem the ex-
tortionate policy of the railroad company
They say that IL Massey should become
Senator he would ma ne the next governor
of Delaware, and thus would block their
purposes for ten or twelve years to come,
II not for all time They demand two
things, namely, constitutional reform and
lower freight and passenger rates, and
they allege that Massey is the most potent
enemy to both that is in the state.
Three of kent's members are grangers
and two more are in sympathy with
them. Sussex sent two grangers, but
the entire delegation Of eight Republi.
cans was chosen IN a convention that was
mildly unanimous on two points, namely
a constitutional convention on the vote
Of 1887 and lower freight and passenger
rates on the railroad, especially on the
d. NJ and V. branch, where passengers
pay cents a mile
The people Of Sussex urge that If the
railroad company took in its free passes
now held by nearly all the politicians and
business men of note in that county foi
their influence. il could afford to LET
everybody ride for three cents a mile. On
the other hand the Massey men are now
urging Mr.. Smithers again him. Sup
pose he should die, they say, Governor
Biggs would be glad Of the opportunity
OF appointing his son John (the Attorney
General Of the state) TO the Senate.
The strength of Sussex and of the Kent
grangers is divided between Charles II.
Treat of Georgetown, late candidate for
Congress, and Anthony Higgins Esq, OF
Wilmington. The radical grangers are
for Treat and are working like beavers
Their effort is backed by Treats indie
fatigability and the potent cry, "This is
/ Sussex's turn" County lines are as
powerful in Delaware as ctate lines in
the rest of the Union, and Mr.. Higgins,
who is the first choice of
four or Eve Representatives and
the second choice of as many more,
would undoubtedly be chosen senator,
If he lived in Kent OF Sussex county.
New Castle, his own county, has no Re
publican votes here, but it is solid foi
him. The powerful commercial and in
dustrial interests Of Wilmington are said
TO be unit for the intrepid Republican
leader, and the shipping interest through
out the state is also pushing him. Al
Frederick, Milford, Milton, Lewes anc
Laurel, all of them centres Of coastwis.
trade, the sentiment is largely for him
Bethel, small town ON the BroaC
Creek, in southwestern Sussex which Il
chiefly occupied by sea captains ant
small vessel owners, recently organized
Higgins Club, and they expect to be here
in force this week If all these forces car
break sown the prejudice of county line
Mr.. Higgins will be chosen, as his age
which was AS in October, is largely in iii
favor as against Mr.. Smithers. who an
pears now to be his leading competitor
]. Edwards Addicks, Of philadelpbii
or Boston, who has a summer residene
at Claymont, Del, and who voted her
last November, expects to become Sena
t0r, because Of the deadlock which h
forsees,
The best informed men of the state Q
both parties say that there is not a pun
chasable man in the Legislature 1t is
remarkable fact, too, that only two Z
the sixteen Republicans in the body eve
tasted intoxicating liquors. The rest al
teetotalers.
Flames at wayne.
The handsome resideqce Of Robert n