Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-04-29
REGISTRATION FIGHT.



the time. There Is no man here proHdei
of the little state than | am. And hop,
and trust that this bin win fail to pass
Then again what have the people Of
Wilmington done that they should moi
have the same law. Why not make II
apply all over the state2 Why should
they have the rope any tighter around
their necks than we want 1t drawn
around ours9 They are Delawareans; and
ws as Delawareans should treat them as
such Treat all men alike move that
Section OF that bill be defeated
Mr. Speaker-"Tbe question Is on the
adoption OF Section 2 /"
McMullin-"I was In hopes we should
have heard from the other side. In the
main agree with my colleague from
New Castle county, but not altogether
In my opinion this section does not pro-
pose TO object at all to the constitutional
mode OF choosing electors but to ascsr-
tain the qualifications Of those who are
80 vote | cannot say that consider Z
as being strictly partisan 1t must be
that at some time that there must be
governor different In POLITICAL faith
from the one we now have / cannot
charge IL as being partisan. except
that II does just at this time
give the party In power the advantag
on the start. There Is, | agree. feel
ing Oh the part Of the people that the
appointing power Of the governor should
not be extended. want to stand before
the people az being as loya, to Governor
Reynolds as any man. But with ali due
difference to Governor Reynolds, as |
said before, the people Of the state are
adverse to comforting so much power
into the hands OF the governor
Williams Until next election who
could appoint fhem7'
McMullin-"They can be- elected In
May
Willlsms-"rhati idea occurred to me.
II was, however impracticable, and !
have since given 1t up. We must pre-
pare a way and | consider this the best
plan proposed. Take a railroad, for In
stance. It Is common carrier But II
prescribes way In which the passen-
gers must proceed, In getting tickets
etc IN order to be entitled 20 travel |
upon it The road is bound to carry pas
sengers, but the passengers must conform
to tne regulations Of the road
Pilling--"It is true-every word he
has said with regard TO the railroad. But |
there is no constitutional provision In
that matter. The constitution here
says that II you have certain qualifca-
lions you shall exercise the right OF |
franchise II man comes up to the
window and does not possess the qualif |
cations contained IN that bill, what are
they going to dog They aud are sworn |
TO ( by the constitution. You cannot
refuse To take the vote
Williams--"Ho w are you TO prove
these quallfcationsf'
Piiling-"By his tax receipt"
Williams His identity Is more Inn
poriant than his tax receipt
FllliEg-"That ls so But the people
OF Delaware have been exercising the
right TO vote for over 100 years without
that bill have been voting In one dis
trict for over 40 years. and 4 strong
Democratic district, too, and can eount
on these two hands the men who have
voted illegslly because their Identity was
not known
Willlams-"Y You have been more for
tunate than many others /"
Pilling-"I have seen no petition ask
ing that this bill shall be passed. The
motive escribed for its passage Is TO gel
honest elections. | am with you II that
Is the motive; but, as have stated. in
this way We don't start fair. Go to New
Jersey and examine the registry law
There you have one for each party,
Their constitution Is different but nnder
eur constitution we cannot do it. ANY
man who has paid his tax under certain
constitutional conditions has the right OF
an eiector He can still vote IL we pass
laws from now til election day, and we |
cannot prevent aim from exercising that
prerogafive. We have .hree proposed
amendments before the General As
aemoly, and hope they will all pass I
voted Tor Que this morning, or was Ii
yesterday
Williams--"Thls morning.
Piiling-"Yes, believe Il was INT Z
don't let US violate our obligation to the
people Our forefathers made that con {
stitulion aud said It was all that was :
necessary to give a man the right 10 Z
vote. Il Is a very old thing. X IA .
nothing new, that I am calling yeur
attention 70. But this bill Is to aid and !
give more political force to a certain |
political party II Is not fair 1t Is not
just There is nothing just about Il.
Williams The board OF registrars is
not hnal he can 20 to the board Of r.
view Under this bill It Is possible for
any man to be qualised II he wants to.
HALL must say the object OF both
parties vas to hinder Illegal voting. And
why Is this Registration bill brought
heref IL is to make Illegal voting i'm
possible, l am sorry to hear that anv
member OF she Senate Is opposed 70 II
l am q great champion for stopping
Illegal voting, That Is why an N
favor Of the bill and am ready TO vote
for 1t
M Speaker Senators i did not in
tend 20 make any remarks on this bill.
but would ask my friend why he claims
II 70 be unconstitutional Does he rot
know that for some years back we have
had the same law governing us Ia the
city Of Wilmington He tells you that
tax receipt 10 the only qualification
necessary under the constitution IL
enable citizen to vote but beg 70 a.
sure him that be Is In error and hope 70
convince him Of his error. as I have All
the qualifications Of q voter. besides
property qualifications, and yet have IA
come to the rack every time and become
registered before / am allowed to de-
posit my wota. II that Is constitutional
why is not this billfo
PiliinF laughing)- There is not bit
81 use out will answer your question
Inc wilmington bill only applies to a
corporation; u Is not applicable to any
other part OF the state. That registrE- /
tion law Is dead letter as far as the Il
rest OF the state is concerned, II this bill |
passes but aow you have a second one /
for the state election. If this bill. for |
ilmlngton passes you will have two |
laws for WILMINGTON, and another FOR |
the rest Of the state l don't saw that IA |
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