Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-04-10

The People will speak Now.

hp AtVPto Will sPo@1 ANUN-
Daily Republican, March 3lst
The first battle Of the campaign for
economy and reform has been fought and
lost by the friends of reform. Lost 80
far as the levy court Is concerned, but
not lost yet so far as the people are con-
cerned. The managers hive yet to CROSS
swords upon the battle field of reform in
November next, and until then will come
the nanmuyring OF the armies for the
better position. The contest of last FIJI
day in the levy court was but the first
skirmish, feeling OF the enemy's lines
to test its strength and to find who were
loyal to the csuse. That skirmish showed
but four members of the levy court out
of IL that we're on the side OF the people,
and ono Mugwump only with his one
vote, no matter which way cast. Messrs.
Eiiason, MCCALL, ShRllcross and Rothwell
occupy no equiyooAl position before the
people. They were, from tho first to the
last, and NIL the time, in favor OF saving
50 900 to the overburthened tar-payerG,
while their seven colleagues chose rather
for time longer TO tug ut the Keats of
county Doodle.
The taxpayers OF the county have been
watching the contest with intense eager
ness, hoping for success, but fearing de-
feat The latter having como, they will
bear kindly in mind tho four men WHO
were On their side and voted for tho tax
payers instead of for the tramp boarding
house. These four gentlemen in the
contest said nothing about conscience; it
required no redundancy OF words TO show
that they were doing right in the cCnrse
they pursued; they made no apologies,
raised no questions as to the honesty of
their motives; appealed to no popular
sentiment; threw party bias aside and, as
honest men, voted for what they believed
TO be right. There is no question Of
their standing, after having done their
| duty with the best men of all parties, and
even others must give them the credit of
honesty OF purpose, and OF having the
| courage to do their duty, no matter what
or who may stand in their way.
This issue before the people has be-
come narrowed down to two points, tue
taxpayers and tho trampH. Msssrs.
EliasOn. Mccall, Shalloross and RothWeli
have voted for the taxpayers, aud all
others OF tho levy conft for the trRmps.
The first voted to put 5000 into the
pockets of the tax payers, the others
voted to put 1t into the pocket OF the
sheriff for feeding tramps and to enable
that official to make q large contribution
to the Democratic campaign fund for the
debauchery OF the ballot. The people
will Judge which have doae right.
1t was only So 200 that the levy court
was asked TO iop of from the sheriii's
feed bill. Do wa see some hard op-
pressed farmer hold up his hand in
establishment, and do we hear him ex-
claim, when compared with his small
earnings in the face of poverty; why,
that is enormous; do sheriffI make SO
much that $4,000 would be no mora to
them than 400 would to metn Yes,
honest frisnI, il is even so. For the
feed OF prisoners alone for several years
past over $lb, 600 year has been paid to
the sheriff for feed,ng prisoners. In
Chester county, adjoining us, it costa but
-, 600 year to feed tho came prisoners.
The difference is Sl0,5c0, and the latter
amount is clean profit to the sheriff.
Was it unreasonable. then, that the tax
payers OF the county should ask but for
the reduction of $1,000? Four members
OF the levy oourt said it was not; seven
members said it was. The taxpayers
OF the county will say which WAS right.