Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-11

The Democratic maBH-meetlnQ at Mid
dletown Saturday afternoon called tor
discussing the question of reform in the
county government was very much like
the famous old county meeting in Its
palmy days, before the greedy grasp OF
the place-hunter degeneratsd II into a
mere stepping stone to the eheriif's office.
II was splendid gathering OF repreaen-
tetive Democrats, and the leading issues
that will confront the peoole in the pend.
Ing campaign were fearlessly handled
and a declaration made that fully COM
mits the Democratic party OF New CASTLE
county to the reforms sat forth. The
meeting was gratifying success and all
who attended were impressed with the
arm belief that it will have much 10 do
in helping TO win victory for the Dem.
ocratio ticket at the November election.
Here are the names of some Of the 400 or
more Interested Democrats who attended
this important gathering:
Ex-Governor John z. Cochran, looking
hale and hearty despite his 81 years and
with as deep an interest as ever In the
success OF the Democratic party; j..
wilkins Oo0oh, Thomas Dilworth, Henry
A. Rowland, Bewsll O. Biggs. Theodore
Il. Armstrong, DIR. 1. n. Vallandigham,
]. Thomas Budd, f. A. Brady, Joseph
Biggs, Thomas MoOracken, A. e. Eliason,
W. II. Mitten, Nathaniel Williams, viii
liam L. Wier, Edmund Haman, John
Guthrie, James L. ShAllorosg, Samuel j.
kilgors, Frank H. smith, A. P. VAnde-
krift, O. j.. Freeman, Thomas Cochran,
J. II. Price, DR.. Woods, Thomas Bird,
James HesSinger, Macomb Clayton and
Formal j. Lynch, Democratic nominee
for sheriff. From Wilmington were Hon.
George II. Bates, Willard Hall Porter,
Esq, L. o. Vandsgrift, Esq, Edward r..
Kane, Robert II. Taylor, John X, Brad
ford, Esq, Patrick Nesry, Frank Kane,
Enoch Moore, Milton Lsokey, W. A.
Kelly, George Carmichael nd John hi.
Enos.
The meeting was held in me town hall
and was called to order by Willard Hall
Porter, Esq, chairman OF the Democratic
county executive committee. Then ex-
Governor Cochran was made chairman
and was escorted 20 the chair by j. Wit
kins Oooch amid applause. DIR. l. N.
YallendighAm was appointed secretary,
after which other officers were selected,
as follows:
yiea-prenidenta- Brsndywine hundred,
William p. Lodge; Wilmington, Enooh
Moore; 0hristiana, John W. X. killgore;
Mill Greek, Thomas L. ). Baldwin; White
Clay Greek, Joseph Dean; Pencader,
Thomas MaQracken; New CASTLE, DR..
John j. Riaek; Bed Lion, John i.
OheAirA; ST. Georges, Henry Clayton;
Appoopiuimluk, DIR. James V. Crawford;
Black b,rI, James II. David.
Secretaries g. Freeman and Abreui
Vandegri:s, Midii7town.
On .he motion Of Nathaniel Williams
for committee Of five to prepare bnSi-
ness for the consideration of the meeting
the following were appointed George
II, Bates, j. wilkins Oocch, Nathaniel
Williams, William L. Wier ana nscomo
CLAYTON. ThiG committee, after q brief
retirement, reported though Mr.. Bates
the following preamble sni resolutions /:
WHEREAS, In tho opinion Of The Democrats
VI New Castle county, ~ county meeAAs a.
sembled, the time has come 70 MAKE Ger AIN
changes in The mode If tNuHty sdrHEuW ~
and for the passing II Such ANs a. WIZ tALuM
greater restrictions around the expenditure y
public funds; a -
ened in thls State from the infiuenec 81 money
10 corrupt voters thus enphNs Kins tue urgent
necessity for such legislation as " u insure AZ
honest OK preston OF pubic OPINION rom inc
voters Of this stats; and
WHEREAS, The redont census reports are
convincing cvidencn OF greater Heces-lN
than over for increased representation Tor
n Nv Castle county Iii the General Assembly.
RGsgtv q, That tho law contto Ling he elec.
tlon OF levy cpurtmen Should ha SO ieNised ~
the next sessiGi: OF the IeGis allure hA 10 nave
raid coul composed Of five menberH instead
Of IL, as Is nuw the case, who shall he Elaiu a
fixed salary and so elected ls to always insure
a minority representation.
That there be also Incorporated IN thls re-
vision of tho laws appertainiug to the levy
court, y provision for n controller, Similar 70
the provisions in the III Il presented u the last
legislature, known as the five commissioners
bill, and that tho financial affairs o. said levy
court, composed OF Ave commissioners a.
aforesaid, be required TO he ST stated and kept
that II may be possible at any time 10 be
thoroughly understood by all the tH1payers Of
the couhty, md in this connection we further
recommend that at the end o. each fiscal year
n financial statement, including q detailed ac-
count of the receipts and expenditures Tor inc
yoar just passed, be published by said levy
court in two newspapers OF inherent ponies
RESOLVED, That the next legislature BIO 70.
Cussted To consider the system oil asseSslng and
collecting county taxes and 10 devise some less
expensive and loss cumbersome plan.
Rss lUsd, That the boarding OF the prisoners
in the county Jail he separated rom the once
OF sheriff and be under the control of the Jail
commissioners who shall be required pseunre
competitive bids for all supplies for said
prisoners, as il now done for the amshouse
supples; and also, thar such LEGISLATION he
enacted as will make It the duty Of 81 d Jail
commissioners TO provide labor for the inmates
OF the Jail.
Rssltps1 That the laws controlling all tuture
elections should he SO revised at tho next sos
zion Of the Legislature as 20 insure an hhsp-
lutely secret ballot and efficiently prevent The
possibility Of fraud or tho corrupt use OF money
ID influence said elections This system OF
elections may be devised according To what Is
known as the Australian ballot system or Other
system of a similar character, according TO the
Judgment Of the LeRlslat ire
lfss6lUtd, That we most earnestly approve OF
the utterances of the Democratic party Of our
State, as formulated in tho platform aloptel
at Dover In thu convention he'd on the lsih
day of August last, ana recolnmHn It's SOUND
uiteraucss both upon national ahd state ISSUES
10 tho careful consideration oil ne pe5p.3 y
this state, and especially that part OF the pat
form dealing with state issues when recon-
mended the holding OF q convention TO revise
the constitution OF The state
R.,a p,d, That we most earnestly urge upon
thp candidates for the Legislature that they use
their utmost endeRvars 10 carry cut the RECON-
mendatons presented i'll thpso re solutlons
Rsso a That as Democrats Of New Castle
county we do heartily ratify and approve OF
tho nominations thus far mad Tor state ana
county officers, and We pledge 10 the nominees
our best efforts TO secure their triumphant
election.
In support of his motion to adopt tina
resolutions MIR. Bates made an earnf st
and impressive address. Wise legislators,
he said, must adjust to each portion OF
our State the system of local government
best adapted to such portion. The
changed condition of sffairs in New
Castle county makes necessary certain
changes in the system of government.
AS Democrats we are proud OF our State
and county governments, and because we
are Democrats we do not believe that any
system can be devised that is too wise ia
be examined, criticised or improved as II
goea along. IL is the system that il
criticised and not the method OF Its ad-
nainihtrAtion. The present levy CONT