Evening journal., 1892-11-04
WHERE IS MAHAFFY?
Sheriff Simmons to Have Con
troll of the Election.
HIS DEPUTIES NON-PARTIsAN.

point Special Constables, But They and
the Deputy NIa.shaIs Mast Keep Hands
or
United States Marshal Mahaffy will |
sing low and sing small in this election. |
Sheriff William simmons a Republican, |
but one who is regarded as a fair man, |
will have charge Of the polling places |
in this city, aud his officers will be |
equally divided between the Republican |
and Democratic parties.
Il is the wish of the real leaders Of !
both parties to have a peaceable election.
Some demagogues of the Mahafy stripe
would like TO see things differently but
they have been overruled.
Governor Reynolds will appoint
special constable for every deputy that
Marshal Mahaffy puts in the field.
They will constitute an armed neutra-
tity which will only be put in action
when the deputy marshals interfere
with the election, or when they join
with the marshals in suppressing dis
turbance with which the deputy sheriffs
are unable to cope.
Confidence in simmons.
The Democratic County Executive com
ullltt anu lut Utluulltdn county IN-
ecutive committee have implicit conf
dence in Sheriff Simmonss fairness and
integrity. He has pledged himself TO
preserve the peace and for that
purpose he will appoint four deputy
sheriffs Two of them will be Republi-
cans and two Democrats. They will be
stationed at the end of the ropes leading
to the polls This is regarded as the
point of friction. They will decide who
is to first enter the barrier and preserve
the peace and make all arrests. The
constables and marshals will be kept
away from the polls but within easy
call.
Several Conferences Held.
Several conferences have been held
upon this question. Sheriff Simmons
felt himself able to preserve the peace
of his bailiwick and negotiations were
begun. He said he would do the fair
thing and he was belize ed. Colonel
Benjamin Nields represented him.
Chairman sauIsbury's Letter.
The following letter written by
Chairman Salisbury, shows the stand
taken by the Democratic committee:
WnMNeToN, Del, Nov. A. 1892
BENJAMIN NfRLDs. ESQ.,. Attorney for
William Simmons, Esq, Sheriff.
DEAR SIR: Having obtained yesterday
the sense Of this committee as TO your
proposition relative TO the appointment
of cons ables, sheriffs and marshals on
election day, am now able ia
answer definitely what our position
is in that matter. Permit me 70 say that
our committee. collectively and individ
ually. believe that absolute reliance may
be placed in your client, Sheriff Sim.
mons, to carry out any agreement we
might make with him, and we be-
lieve, further, that the other proposition
coming TO us and connected with this
same subject. are made by the leading
and responsible men in good faith and
with the intention Of carrying them out
should they be able TO do So. We are
however, obliged TO decline the propo
sitions as made, chiefly for two reasons
First-That we fear should the polls
be left without sufficient protection on
election day, we might have a repetition
in some precincts of the Fifth ward riots
of 1890, and the election officers would
not be able to hold fair election, anC
partisan officers could not or would not
afford sufficient protection.
Second-While the officers in regarC
TO United States marshals are made in
good faith, we do not believe the officials
of the Republican party would be able
to carry them out by reason of thu
partisan pressure which would be brough
to bear ON those not so high in Republi
can party councils. We need only refe
to the manner la which such an agree
ment in regard to United States marshal
made with Mr.. Bayard. failed. In lieu o
your proposition we suggest that you in
d struct your client that he appoint one o
: two deputy sheriffs from both principa
parties to keep the peace at each polling
! place. to keep the men in line and geneT
ally to have official charge Of matter
about the polls.
If this is agreed to by the Republican
leaders we will see that all constables a
2 may have been appointed shall be so hell
1 in hand that unless called on by tn
inspectors, or unless it shal
p be necessary. to suppress rio
they will not in any way officially TAX
any part about the polls except to couu
terbalance any partisan efforts Of tn
j United States marshals. This propos
u tion has been verbally made to botl
4 Sheriff Simmons also has calle
{ to me in your absence, and TO MI
, Martin B. Burris, chairman of the Re
( publican county committee, in th
= presence of each other and on this maj
Y ter is Of public nature and has been Oh
4 subject of public discussion, take th
:, liberty in your absence, of handing
l. copy TO the press for publication. Ou
desire is that the peace should be pr'
served and we are willing that thi
I special duty shall be confded to th
q sheriff Of this county. called upon 20
a last evening on the adjournment Of OF
i committee, to state this position, but,
!. being shortly after 3 o'clock, your offiC
J. was closed.
n Yours very truly,
10 WILLARD SALISBURY.
. Chairman Democratic County Exec
a tive Committee of New Castle County.
l. The Agreement Made.
q The last conference was held tn
.s morning Chairman Salisbury repr
sented the Democrats; Chairman Burr
appeared for the Republicans, and Sher
Simmons represented himself and q
~ peace Of the county.
~ As a result Of the conference the f
: lowing agreement was entered into;