The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-31
THIRD EDITION.
The Democrats are Becoming Desuor.
ate--The 4 Attest tsugaboo story.

The Democrats are Becoming Desper.
ate-The Latest Bugaboo story.
The latest Democratic poo-bah story
came out In big taring headlines In |
the Democratic papers on Saturday |
and Sunday. The fairy tale was tele. |
Graphed to Philadelphia and New York |
that the wicked Republicans. headed |
by Senator Anthony Higgins, had tried |
to set up trap to capture both Sus- |
eek and Kent counties; had tried to |
buy lsaac j.. Wootten, an honest ana |
dyad-in. the-wool Democrat; had offer. |
cd to buy him by promising to give
him Fat position In the employ OF |
the Government In the event OF Harrl- |
sons reelection
Wootten makes the the following
statement.
''On October 18th had an Interview
with Senator Higgins at the yelling
house OF George Il. Smith postmaster
at Laurel, man appointed by Senator
Higgins and one of his chief political
lieutenants in Sussex county, and said |
10 be a man OF great influence with |
him and an active, INSCRIPTIONS
Political worker for the Republicans. |
About four weeks ago Smith said |
that II would help him the Republi- |
cans would carry Sussex county aud |
tAat IL ulu uelp SuOuiu nave any
thing l wanted. He said, furthermore,
that II did not believe him no would |
write to Senator Higgins and get him |
fe come down TO Laurel and could |
see him. He went on to say that l |
could help the Republicans as regis. |
trar by turning down Democrats, and |
said that II l wanted to the Democrats |
would make me voters assistant, and |
! could then SO manipulate the tickets |
nf fhn illttarata UfNtapa lhof hat- Ia
not know it. could stamp the tickets
DO that Democratic ballots would turn
out to be stamped for the Republicans
when they came to be counted.
Il asked Colonel William T. Records
OF Lnurel, Democratic nominee for
State Senator, 10 go to Georgetown
and see Alfred z. Robinson, chaiI man
OF the Democratic County Executive
Committee. and consult him as TO
what should do to expose the fraud
md bribery which | was satisfied the
Republicans contemplated in ourcoun-
ty. When Colonel Records returned
he said he had seen MIR, Robinson and
that he thought it best for me to lead
/, Smith on and to find out, if l could,
who was prompting Smith. I then
told smith could be voters assistant
u wanted to. Smith told me that
higgins would do anything that he
tSmith1 said. He said he would get
Higgins TO see mo.
On Thursday night of last week, at
about 1880 or IL o'clock, l went up to
Smiths back door, as he had request.
cd. llo took mo Into the house, where
Hound Senator Higgins waiting. lIig-
gins talked about the certainty Of iIar-
flson's election, and went ON to men.
Ron what states he would carry.
among others he said he would
carry North Carolina and had q lighting
chance in tennessee; that he was GER
tain OF Connecticut aud that Della ware
was sure for him. Said he III you
will do this thing We are all right
He said he would do whatever Smith
s1id and that he would get me any
place under the government outside
81 civil service. The senator said it
WAS his ambition to show the people
that he could carry this State Then
he drifted back to general politics and
said the Republicans would carry New
York.
Il told Smith that 1 wanted the
place in the Land 0fllce that Gus Par.
sons OF Salisbury, Maryland had I'M
dor CLEVELAND. Smith wrote to Hig-
gins and showed him Higgins reply,
in the letter Mr.. Higgins said he did
rot see any Gus Parsons in the blue
book, but lie found that j. A. Par
sons Of Maryland had $500 place.
good enough place for me. He said |
could reduce the Democratic majority
In Little Creek hundred to 200 II |
wanted to. In the postscript Higgins
told Smith to destroy the letter.
SENATOR HIGGINS EXPLANATION.
Senator Higgins was seen at his law
Office. and was handed CODY OF the
paper containing the charges.
What have you to say in refer
ence TO the charges Senator Higgins
was asked
careful peTusal of its contents gave
out this statement for publications
In respect to the statements print
ed In the papers as coming from ono
auc j. Wootten, OF Laurel, Delaware,
have to say that about two weeks ago
while was at Laurel to consult party
lenders there about party matters
NOotten called on me at tho house of
George Smith, lnforming me that he
desired to change his political connec-
lions and to solicit an Office under Il Q
= Government.
Having understood him to be d man
OF influence and good standing, | told
him | thought an office could be had
Tor him. Nothing WAS said about what
work he should do for tho Republican
party; nothing was said about his be-
ing registrar nor voters assistant, nor
did know he was registrar, nor even
hear that he was until reporter SO
Bnid to me to-day. Nothing was said
as to his doing, nor dld have any I'M
Outstanding that he WAS to do any.
thing on behalf OF the Republican
purity as an official, or in the discharge
or abuse oil any official duty. whether
rs registrar, election officer voters
assistant or otherwise Tho absurlity
OF the charge becomes apparent from
the fact that under tho statute the
voters assistant Is chosen by his own
party and then not until election
morning. Any statement that | was
concerned In any attempt to influence
him III the discharge Of official duty Is
false. Subsequently, Mr.. Smith wrote
10 mo to know If Wootten could have
place IN the land Office held by ont
Gus Parsons and / replied that
could lind no such persons name II
the blue book bat only one John A
farson."
At tho conclusion Of this statement
MI Higgins was asked II lie had any
thing more to say relative to tht
charge of bribery Preferred against
him. Ito replied that tie had nothing
10 add 10 his previous statement far
ther than to deny the charge as stated
Geo. T.. Smith, says that "WOutt"I
called several times at his BtcrR in hi
AFoCAiNNt lAliH 4AiF WI llt NSAllLtI u
Bee me. | did see him ut his store. liz
told me that he had hefrirndci me il
the post office while lie had it,tud nov
he would Hike to have an Office tina
would take him away from Laurel am
offered to support the Republican par
~, and to furnish Inc with lrfurml
ton as 10 how the Democrats propos
ell TO use money in tic election, an,
whether they intended to bull-doZe u
at the polls IA they did two years ago
Il told MIN that would feeuiumen,
him to Senator higgins Tor an ap
pointment and afterHard. when Nj
Higgins came mere to see Messrs Mai
vel and FooBs, Wootten called to Sc
him at my house. No mention wa,
nude in that Interview OF any seryic
TO he done by Wootten for the Reput
liean party. NoottGn expressed hi
disposition to support that party am
MIR. Higgins said that he thought
place might be obtained for him.
Senator Higgins did not write tina
should destroy the letter"
PHILADELPHIA Pa Mr. David HuIil