Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-12
Higgins PLANS OF THEFT
He Proposes to Steal the Next
Legislature.
TAX RECEIPTS ARE GUARANTEED
To Colonize Delaware With
Negro Voters.
An Organized Plot Unearthed in WASH
ington--1,2oO Men to be Brought Here
and Qualified as yoters--The Details of
Dastardly Political Scheme.

The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Times writes: "Some lead
ing Republicans are said to be behind
scheme which has matured in this city
and by which it is proposed to get con-
troll of the Legislature of that State and
return Republican United States sena-
tor in place of Senator Gray. The next
State election takes place in 1892, but
according to the laws of the State voters
must qualify and purchase their poll
taxes before the 10th day of March.
The guarantees of good faith have been
furnished by Senator Higgins and a
local colored Republican club in this
city has been preparing the preliminary
work, which Is now about completed.
A few months ago, a meeting of the
Civil and Political Interstate Club of
this city, of which Perry Carson is a
member, was held at Carson's Hotel, the
famous resort for colored politicians Of
all degrees, and delegation of visiting
statesmen presented plan for the con-
sideration of the club by which the
Delaware Legislature could be carried
for the Republican party. The lines of
the plan were discussed and it was de-
cided TO appoint a committee to carry it
out
TO coLoNIzE NEGRO VOTERS.
According to the statement presented
by the visitors it would require an i'm
portation of between 100 and 1900
outside voters to accomplish the desired
object, and as the time was limited the
committee at once set out upon their
mission. Several members of the club
Immediately subscribed amounts rang
inn 30 sd ~,
well headed it was taken around to the
various departments, and the fund was
soon increased until it assumed the pro-
portions of $3S,500. The time occupied
in securing the money was little over
two weeks, and the ''importation com
mittee" went to work to get the neces-
sary voters.
The subscription paper set forth the
present situation in Delaware together
with the proposed remedy, and then, in
explanation of the expenditure of the
money, it said that as the poll taxes
were $1.25 each, 1900 would be re-
quired for this purpose alone. The re-
mainder was to be used in defraying the
expenses incurred in transporting the
voters, first from their homes in various
states, after which they were to be re-
turned to their homes and then brought
back in time to vote.
A meeting of the Civil and Political
Club was again held at Carson's Hotel
on Thursday night, in order to hear the
report of the importation committee
The committee reported that they had
carried out the duties imposed upon
them and that after they had raised the
money they had visited different states
and secured the necessary number of
voters. They stated that they had ar
ranged with 200 men in Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey and Maryland
and that they would be on hand in time
to qualify before March 10th.
THE LAW ON THE SUBJECT.
Chairman Kerr of the Democratic
state committee of Pennsylvania was
seen in reference to the matter to-day
and he said that every one must know
that such action was against the law
and that those who entered into the
scheme were liable to Imprisonment.
'"The law of Delaware, as understand
il" said Mr.. Kerr, sis that voter shall
have been a resident Of the state for one
year and of the district in which he
votes for go days, in order that he may
be qualified to vote. If man has been
d lESlIGlI VI bllG Hldlt anu llIpNtS OuJ IOI
any purpose he shall have q recognized
home in the state for at least six months
before he can cast ballot.
This proposed action is clearly in
violation of the law and those who come
up to the polls on election day should
be subjected to careful inquiry and il
it is found that they are not legally
entitled to vote they should be arrested,
together with the originators of the
scheme. There is clearly implied vio-
lation of the law on the part of these
for it would be foolish to
suppose that they would bring voters
from other states and maintain them for
one year or even sixty days, in order to
get their votes, hope this matter will
be given wide publication in order that
the Democrats of Delaware may be on
the alert"
A report is current here that Presi-
dent Harrison is anxious to give good
places to ex-Representative Greenhalge
Of Massachusetts and McComas of
and that in order to do this
he will in the near future ask for the
resignation of Civil Service Commits
sioners Lyman and Roosevelt. 1t is
known that Mr. Harrison would like to
have a thorough reorganization of that
and the rumor is generally
believed to have good foundation.
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