Smyrna times., 1891-03-18
FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION.
The House Passes a Bill to
Vote in May

FIVE BALLOT REFORM BILLS.
Pursuing the Search for Missing SecNr-
tiles.
The Dover correspondent to the
EVery ESening says: Convention stock
may be quoted trihe higher. The
House passed Wednesday afternoon,
by unanimous vote, the bill introduced
by Representative Ridgely on February
18th. AS before stated, about the only
detail in which this differs from the
Grubb bill (which passed the Senate
on February 25th) is in the date-the
third Tuesday of next May in the
Ridgely bill; of May, 1892, in the
Grubb bill.
The passage of the bill was attended
by speeches by Messrs. Higgins, E. J.
Morris and HutsOn. Mr.. Higgins be-
lieved 1--WE are all exceedingly in earn
est in wanting a convention. l." said
he, 'shall vote for this bill. At the
same time, in doing so, must say that
if 1 had been active in the preparation
of this bill, I think I should have pro-
vided for some other date. believe
the very mention of next May, how
ever, is an indication on the part of
those who offered this bill that they
want convention, and that they want
the people called upon to decide it as
soon as possible. Therefore I hold the
time mentioned as an indication that
that those who offer the bill are in ear
nest. If this election were to be put off
for another year it would require great
effort to get the people out. 1 don't
agree that May is the best time of the
year--the farmers are very busy then,
and l must say that l almost despair
of getting out the constitutional num-
Der necessary, but in view of the fact
that those who offer this bill propose
to give it to us at once and at a time
when so many are qualified to vote, I
accept it and shall vote for it. At the
same time, every one of US will have
to use his utmost endeavors to get the
people to come out. There ought to
be a campaign of education entered on
at once. We all know our need of a
new constitution, the old one is like an
old garment that we have Outgrown.
Our statutes made under it have grown
so mixed and muddled that even law
yers hardly know what they mean.
Delaware is too progressive to be hand
icapped in this way. Therefore, l bes-
peak for this bill the earnest endeavors
of this Legislature to bring the people
to a sense of the necessity of coming
out; that everything in our power to
be done should be DONE"
THAT suits my ideas," replied Mr.
E. J. Morris. 81 think next May is the
time. fear if it is put off until 1895
the people will grow cool towards il
and not come out to vote. Our people
are now anxious for convention.
believe they will turn out and I DOM
believe we will have any difficulty in
giving majority in favor of a cOnven
tion. Therefore favor this bill il
preference to the other, and, like my
friend on the other side, shall sup
port the bill and do all l can to get thu
people out. The other time, lin 1888
never went to the polls, but if l an
alive and well I shall be on hand thi
time"
Mr.. Hutson said: II this morning
called up the Senate bill (for the frs
reading) but since doing so I hav'
talked with Senator Williams and
think the minds of some of these sena
tors have undergone a change sine
they passed their bill for an election Il
be held in May. 1892. Mr.. William
told me they didn't think there woulC
be any trouble if we saw proper Il
amend it here or to push our own bill
and am ready to vote for the bill, anC
not only to vote for it here but to vOt
for it at the election and to do what
can in trying to get others to come out
The convention bill passed four year
ago submitted the question to the vot
at an election in November, in an Of
year but there are differences of Opin
ion in regard to when this election Cal
be held, and while the constitution ex
pressly declares that an unexceptiOna
} BILE mode shall be to hold it on tn
third Tuesday Of'May, that is the onl
day specified, and for this reason
don't think there can be any quibblinl
as to the time if the election be held o.
! that day. I think there will be decid
! edly more persons turn out next Ma
than there would be in 1892; a neV
,, constitution is being talked of now an
I the people are awake and thin
while it lie fresh in the minds of tn
; people we should give them a chanc
to vote on it."
BALLOT REFORM.
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