Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-26
DEMAND BALLOT REFORM
MEETING OF THE KENT COUNTY
FARMERb' INSTITUTE.
Tho Farmers Declare For Ballot
tseforDl. Purify OF Elections and
Favor Free COinREe-rO meetssat
FELTON,, July S0th.

Special Correspondence Gazette and journal
CAMDEN, June 1S.-Ths regular meet
ing OF the Farmers' Institute of Kent
County was held here this afternoon.
The attendance was small, on account Of
farmers being busy with their wheat hsr-
vest. Thomas B. OouIsey, Esq, President
of the institute, presided; a. N. Blown
scting secretary.
E. II. Bancroft, chairman Of the COM
mittee to formulate method to prevent
bribery at the coming November cleo
tion, as well az come plan to be enacted
into law by the next Legislature that
will secure the purity Of the ballot, made
the following report:
Your committee beRs leave to report that
unless patriotic citizens and politicians
make special efforts to discountenance and
prevent the unlawful use Of money at the
November elections OF this year there is
reason TO apprehend that they will be
marked by bribery and corruption to an
unusual degree. We therefore recommend
that the Farmers Institute OF Kent county
invite the executive committees of the
Democratic, Republican and Prohibition
parties to pledge themselves to abstaiI
from all illegal use OF money In the cam
paign and at the polls. and to use their best
efforts to dissuRde and prevent others from
the said illegal and unpatriotie practice and
to render such assistance a. may be In their
power to secure the Indictment and punish
ment of vfolators of the election laws.
We also recommend the appointment OF
observers at the polls, who shall detect
bribery and furnish Information ITO be laid
before the grand jury.
We also recommend that the institutes OF
New CASTLE aud sussex counties be notified
| OF this action and requested to adopt a
| similar course.
We also recommend that the institute de
maad a pledge of cooperation In this
| action from each candidate who seeks the
suffrage OF the people.
| We also recommend the adoption Of the
| following resolutions:
RRsolued, That this institute regards the
purity OF the ballot is the very foundation
OF FREQ government aud that the buying
! and selling OF voces shall be regarded as
| the greatest of all crimes and for the pur-
| pose OF destroying this worst Of all evils,
| we earnestly and imperstively demand OF
| the Legislature the passage of secret
ballot law, known commonly as the Aus
trRltan System, or something equally etfi-
| Client.
ReSolued, That the plan presented by
| Thomas b. Ooursey for securing secret
ballot at elections be endorsed by the insti-
! tute, and the matter be referred to the
united committees OF the three institutes aid
| tL0 btuuBcos
The committees report above was
unanimously adopted.
The following resolutions offered by j.
Alexander Fulton Of Dover, were also
unanimously adopted:
ResolUed, That we hereby tender our
hearty thanks to the members Of the Unite I
States Senate who yesterday voted to re-
store silver to its ancient and honorable
place as money in the coinage Of the coun-
try.
Rssolued, That we now appeal to the
members Of the House Of Representatives
to respond to the unmistskable demand oi
the people and pass the Senate bill without
! delay.
/ Resolued, That copy of these resolutions
be forwarded to the Hon. ,. H. Rsgan and
the Hon. Preston b. Plumb In the Senate
and the Hon. J. D. Pennington In the House
with the request that they may be promptly
laid before their respective bodies.
A general discussion as to the best
crops to produce followed, and the insti-
tute adjourned to meet at FELTON,, j JuIy 30th.