Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-18
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
The General Assembly is Divided in
Struggle for Political Advantage Clay
tons Old Home and once.
SIAN Correspondence OF EvnNINa JouRNA1

toms Old Home and ONCE.
STAFF Correspondence of EVENING Journal.
DOVER, Del, Jan. S.-Next week in all
probability the convention question will
be brought up. On Tuesday afternoon
it is expected to sec lying ON the table
at least two bills with that
end in view. The one that will
attract the most attention, no doubt, is
that to be introduced by Representative
Eckels 1t win be about the only one
that stands the remotest chance of going
through both bodies. It's pro-
visions will be after the ideas of
such convention Democrats as Alfred P.
Robinson, Colonel E. l.. Martin and
George H. Bates. The Republican posi-
ton will be defined in a bill that is ex-
pected to come from Mr.. Downham. This
is expected to be most radical. having as
its basis a proposition to follow out in
many details the things contemplated in
the new constitution. If this bill Is
pushed it is said by many, it will accom-
plish two things, namely, defeat consti-
tutional convention for this year and
give the Republicans capital with which
TO enter the next campaign. The Demo
Gratis, on the other handf do not propose
that all the capital shall be
on one side, and after the
defeat of the Republican BILL they mean
to give the Republicans a chance to kill
bill calling for another election. This
sparring for points is what threatens to
kill all chances of convention this year
and the only course open. it seems. is for
the real friends of the movement to take
hand, remove it from the field of parti-
san politics and urge it purely upon pa
triotic grounds. This is what such friends
of a convention as Colonel E. l.. Martin,
DR.. Hugh Martin, A. p. Robin
son and George II. Bates are urging
The men who are opposing the movement
are the worst element in State politics
and for years have done much to keep
the state back. Every one of them has
some personal interest to subserve by his
opposition. The men in Dover on the
night that the Democratic caucus was
held were not the friends of the party.
The bit of special pleading INDUCED in
then to defeat the movement conceals be.
hind il, nothing more than outright OPP
position to the whole movement This
opposition is by no means confined to the
Democrats. There are a number of Dover
Republicans who oppose convention
with the.same spirit that the Democrats
do. Such of the members as these OBJ
structionists can reach will be opposed tC
any step that looks forward
The high license problem will be in
troduced next week also, in all proba-
bility. The bill is drawn and ready fol-
presentation. This bill will not pass foi
the reason that it too will be
made the subject of party
action by the Republicans But ever
if this should not be So the position of
the Senate on the question Of high IL
cense has already been defined. Two
years ago a bill was introduced and
passed the House after long struggle
When it reached the Senate the chances
of its passage there were very good Tn,
liquor men. however, engaged James l.
Wolcott TO defeat it and as he had a
mortgage on that body. the liquor mer
selected the right man and the bill wa
consigned to pigeon hole in the clerk
desk. There was very little doubt tina
this will be the course Of the liquor in
terests again this year.
The scheme for new State Hous
which was introduced two years ago b,
Senator McWhorter is again in the air
A bill is in preparation, providing for tn
expenditure of about $3.50 600 for thi
purpose. The idea is to take away entirel
the present building and the Jump prop
erty adjoining which also belongs to tn
state and erect upon the site a magnif
cent building with ire-proof annexes tina
will be sufficient to contain the State Il
brary. The Jump property was purchase
by the state for governor residence fey
years ago, but as it was in no conditio
at first to be used for that purpose an
as no governor ever was anxious to hv
in it, it has been useless possession
The old house has an interesting history
It was first built by Speaker Chew o
larged to suit John NJ Clay
tons tastes when he move,
to Dover. In the little two-story build
ing used by Clayton much of the histor,
of the state was made. From this littl
room the great statesman directed tn
course of the Legislators over whom b
exercised an iron will. Judge George +
Fisher studied law in this office and il
the second story OF the building tn
judge instructed Claytons two boys il
the elements of books. In the evening
Clayton would gather around him in thi
little room a group of choice spirits, sucl
as Bob" Frame, an ardent spirit of tn
bar of the 'Thirties, Thomas Clayton
his cousin, and Henry M. Ridgley Clay
ton was an expert violinist and he use
to play for his friends entertainment
sing songs and hand around apple an
peach brandy.