Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-04
TINE HARRIS coRNER raRoE.
Assessor Jim Hsnce's Partisan Tactic
and Also tho Shameful Work Done a
Ogletown.

Assessor Jim Eisnce's Partisan Tactics
and Also tho Shameful Work Done at
oGletown.
The disgraceful partisan work of Re-
publican Assessor Jim Hance at Hare's
Corner during last week eliminated In
the shameful farce Of Saturday last
when nearly 300 Democrats of New
Castle were successfully prevented
from getting their names on the assess
ment list.
Mr.. Hance made not the slightest
effort to hide his tactics Of dilatoriness.
The record of the closing day for
assessment at Ilare's Corner as accom-
plished by the Republican assessor was
only equalled by the tactics of the other
Republican assessor for Newark, Mr..
Morrison, who had chosen Ogletown
for his place of sitting. What was
accomplished on Saturday by these two
Republican assessors forms one of the
most disgraceful chapters of local party
tactics. Contrasted with the open and
honorable treatment of Republicans by
the Wilmington assessors during the
past week, when every effort was made
by the Democratic assessors TO afford
full facility to all Republican applicants
for assessment, the story of the doings
at Hare's Corner and Ogletown is
enough to make decent citizens blush
with shame.
500 DEMOCRATS DIsFRANCHIsED.
BY Jim Hance's tactics quite one-third
of the Democratic voters of New Castle
have been DISTINGUISHED. Never before
in the records of New Castle hundred
has such unblushing partisan work been
accomplished. Republicans have not
been refused in past campaigns.
Obstacles have not been thrown in their
way by Democratic assessors. 1t is al
most impossible to express the feeling
OF strong condemnation now existing in
New Castle in regard to Assessor
Hance's methods.
Upon testimony that cannot be gain
said it is stated that OF 260 Democrats
who walked from New Castle through
the mud three miles to Hare's Corner,
or drove, as the case may be, Republican
Assessor Hance put on exactly only 40
names. These men who are almost all
mechanics, engaged at the Morris raskcr
works, went there that day purposely TO
be assessed. New Castle was the proper
place for the assessor to sit. But Mr..
Hance thought it best for the Republi.
can party to drag these citizens three
miles from town and back in order to
be assessed.
He sat in his chair dilly -dallying. At
the slightest pretence of any crowding
he would stop work, pack up his papers
and threaten 10 go. II would take him
as long again to be coaxed back with
the humor for work.
WHITING OUT THE RECEIPTS.
Instead Of using the printed forms, a
quantity of which lay on the table be-
fore him for his use, he would take
piece of note or foolscap paper and write
the whole receipt out, thus taking 10 or
10 minutes of his tedious, awkward pen
manship, instead of in two minutes fill
ing up the name into the printed blank
form. Then again, his anything but
taultless clerical ability afforded plenti-
full opportunity of mispelling names,
and then the whole ordeal of rewriting
the manuscript receipt had to be gone
over again.
Citizens could hardly restrain their
indignation at the sight Of this open
criminal dilatoriness in killing time,
From 10 a. m, to p. M, he had only 30
names listed. He sat, impudently facing
the voters during the noon hour with a
cigar In his mouth and his feet resting
on the stove rail he gazed indifIerently
at the crowd of citizens who begged
and prayed him to let them off. Ii was
no use. A message was brought from
New Castle that three hack loads of
voters We're waiting TO come out. The
answer was sent back that il was use.
less TO come 70 Hares Corner as there
was ten times as many Democrats wait
ing at the desk as Hance would attend
to.
The citizens remained perfectly quiet
and orderly, giving the Republican
assessor no opportunity to claim that he
was lnterfered with. At b o'clock the
crowd begged and implored him TO
adjourn till Monday in order that they
may have an opportunity to be assessed.
"No-I'M ADDING THIS
Mo-" he said, "when | adjourn, |
adjourn to Tuesday in Wilmington
Levy Court. I'm adding this not you.'
Ills meaning was that that was the end
OF the assessment for New Castle.
The crowds returned to New Castle
in wagons and walking parties. All the
way home they expressed their disgust
at Republican methods. There is no
doubt that llances action has solditied
the Democratic vote, and has brought
the Republican name to disrepute in
New Castle to degree never known
before
lance openly refused old citizens of
New Castle who had lived there all their
lives. lie refused men whom he has
known for 20 years. He made we'll
known and highly respected citizens
drive hack TO New Castle and examine
family Bibles for UNNECESSARILY exact
details before he would accept their
voucher His diser3ceful deeds were
witnessed BY eX-nlcmuers OF the Lepis
lature, by prominent farmers and Others
who openly sympathlked with Tasker's
employees ia their shameful political vic
limitation.
Hance's tactics, which it is stated
were inspired from Wilmington head
quarters as brilliant and unsupported
Hank movement on the Democrats did
not pan out quite as the Republican
assessor hoped. His idea was that
by sitting at liare's Corner he would
euchre hundreds Of Morris raskcrs EN-.
ployes out OF their votes. He calculated
lhat they would not waste day in COM
ing TO be assessed and to tramp III tile
mud three miles from New Castle TO
liare's Corner Fate, however, in d
curious way, got ahead Of him. The
death OF Mr.. lasker, closed the shops
ana the mechanics took the opportunity
TO pay the assessor a visit.
THE aGLETowN FARCE.
Anp q a