Evening journal., 1889-03-20
CONVENTION DEBATE.
Flood Gates Open at Dover
Yesterday.
WHITEMANs ELOQUENT SPEECH.

cans.
Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, March 19.-The Republican
program has been carried out and the
amended Bradford bill passed the House
at $50 this afternoon by the folio wing
vote: Ayes, Hynson, w. +. Davis,
Masten, Richardson, Clark, r. A. Davis.
Wallace, Morgan, Sackett, Lingo, Down.
ham, Short, Speaker Hoffecker, Eckels,
Lodge-15; nays, Gray. Armstrong,
Brockson-2. 1t was red letter day OF
the session as far as the debate is con.
cerned. All of the speakers were interest.
ing and were listened to closely by the
members and crowded lobby in which
were number of prominent
citizens from all over the state
The friends of the bill were championed
by Representatives Downham, Lodge,
Clark, Eckles and Speaker Hoifecker, and
from their standpoint delivered as good
speeches as could be expected from an un-
tenable position. The desertion of
Messrs. Eckles and Lodge from the
Democratic fold rendered the strength of
the party as far as numbers were con
cerned, but they did not suffer for ora
torical ability. Representative White
man covered himself with glory. II was
grand thing to hear the Mill Creek hun
dred member, scarcely Of age to entitle
him to seat in the House. 80 eloquently
pleading for a proper observance Of the
plain dictates of the fundamental law.
In speakers numbers were against him,
but in well chosen language he met each
of his opponents one by one and com
pletely demolished their arguments.
His speech on its merits commanded the
respect of his opponents and the admira-
tion and warm eulogy of those who were
in accord with him. The arguments ad-
vaneed by him were not answered in yes
terday's debate and will remain un-
answered. 1t is not often that a man of
his years refuses to yield to what is the
popular thing when duty calls him to the
right.
PRELIMINARY sKIRAIIsH.
Mr.. Downham made the first move in
the long debate of the day by calling for
the regular order of the day at Il o'clock.
Mr.. Lodge Immediately arose and
moved the adoption of the minority re-
port of the committee. In moving the
adoption he said that he believed that his
vote would be the only one for the re.
port
Mr.. Downham said in part sAs one
member | wish the proceedings of that
committee could go into history. The
amendment of Mr.. Lodge is just the
proposition that / desire to see pass. 1t
was the view | entertained when | went
into the committee No less number
should be given Wilmington when her
manufactures, varied industries and the
he b,.lI - 81 . H.
of Delaware are considered / would
gladly vote for this amendment were
not afraid it would jeopardize the bill.
The number | contend is a just and
proper one.
Mr. Eckles-"When introduced bill
seven weeks ago | had in my mind what
/ considered was fair and reasonable.
The members from Kent and Sussex ex-
pressed themselves as perfectly satisfied
with it. There was not word said on
an objection raised until few days ago.
In introducing the bill meyer thought
of any personal advantage 1t was a
measure l believed the people were clam
oring for. The bills introduced by Mr..
Downham and myself have been so
changed as to leave no resemblance OF
their former selves. | believe that some
expert political physician has been at
work, cutting here and slashing tthere
until now the present bill has become an
Eckles- -Downham bill
Mr.. Downham-The gentleman sees
fit to say that this has become a partisan
measure | am sorry he has taken that
position.
The vote was then taken on Mr.
Lodges minority report and it was de-
feated by the following vote; Ayes
Downham, Maull, Sackett, Morgan,
Eckles, Whiteman, Lodge.
Nays: Masten, r. G. Davis, w. f.
Davis, Richardson. Clark, Wallace Lingo,
Short, Hynson and Speaker Hoffecker. -
10. Declined to vote: Biggs, Armstrong,
Brockson, Gray
THE MAIN DEBATE.
This disposed of, the main question
came up Mr.. Downham moved that the
bill be read third time by paragraphs.
Upon that motion he arose and said in
part: Il have been asked to state my
reason for voting for this bill ! do not
think that / could influence a vote or
change the views Of the gentlemen who
decline to vote and who expect to
refer the matter back to the people.
There are other modes in my opinion.
The first being by legislative enactment.
1t is known how impracticable that is.
Mr. Bates, in an address before the Young
Mems Democratic Club of Wilmington,
told how eleven different amendments
had been offered and only two had ever
been passed. Suppose they undertook
to follow this unexceptionable mode,
where will they got How long will il
take us to have convention2 No man
can tell. Here is an extract | will read
from the EVENING JOURNAL, tMr. Down
ham read from the JOURNAL of last Fri,
day, in which the correspondent took the
| ground that the Republicans were trifiing
because there had never been a legal ascer-
tainment of the votel The editorial com.
ments Of the same day take the same
position and | suppose this represents
the opinion of those who are opposed tC
the bill. Admitting that there is nc
legal record and no means Of ascertainine
the votes. What must we do
They say that reference must
be made to the highgest Of the general
electors. The anti-eonyention people say
it means the highest until they reach a
point away beyond any hope of calling a
convention. Can you say that under the
method proposed that it is not logical
when say that convention cannot be
called before 1898. What are we going
to do if this is sol
Mr.. Lodge:
1T is somewhat Of question TO me
whether this final act is comedy or a
serious undertaking. When [ consider
that politicians of both parties are max
capital out Of it and some want it tC
hodl office. l think it is a comedy.
I 4.