Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-03
WILLIS, TOO.
The Reverend Nominee in the Plot to
Corrupt sussex.


Corrupt sussex.
Another chapter in the Republican
plot to CORRUPT the vote of Sussex
county isgiven N the suhioned affidavit,
made, it will be seen, hy Cyrus Ward,
the Democratic nominee for county
treasurer, man who is wcll-known
throughout his county and whose repu-
tation stands endorsed by hundreds, if
not thousands, who have heretofore
recommended him for official appoint
ment at the hands Of the governor. This
affidavit shows that Mr.. Ward was one
Of the other two whom Senator Higgins
went down to Laurel, on Thursday,
October 18th, to meet at Postmaster
Smiths house, and it further shows that
the Reverend Jonathan 5. Willis, the
Republican nominee for Congress, is as
lavish with the offer Of Federal appoint
ments for party service as is Anthony
himself. The affidavit is us follows
CYRUS WARDS AFFIDAVIT.
STATE or DELAWARE, SUSSEX
County, SIS: BE il remembered, that
on this first day of November, A. D..
1892, personally appeared Cyrus Ward,
who being by me first duly sworn on
the Holy Eyangels Of Almighty God,
deposes and says: ...
My name is Cyrus Ward and | reside
about one and a-half miles from the
post-of1ice, in Little Creek hundred,
Sussex county, Delaware, and am en-
gagged in the lumber and mill business. |
am the regular nominee Of the Demo-
cratic party for the office of county
treasurer of Sussex county.
About one week after the Democratic
county convention at Georgetown,
George Smith, the postmaster at Laurel,
drove up to my saw mill at COverdale
Cross Roads, in Sussex county, where |
was at work. In the carriage with him
was
TIE REVEREND JONATHAN s. WILLIS,
whom knew only by sight. Mr.. Smith
got out OF the carriage and came into
the mill. He asked me to come outside
for little talk and we went to one side
of the MILL He said you have been
treated badly by the Democratic party
and | would like to make proposition
to you to help us (meauing the Repub-
llcans)i | know you are Democrat, but
If YoU WILL DO WHAT WE WANT
l will see that you get genteel, per
manent and lucrative position"
didn't ask him what it was for | didn',
interest myself i'll what he was saying
but he went on to state that it was d
clcrkship, that the work would be easy
and not more than eight hours day
and that it would pay not less than
one thousand dollars a year and per.
| haps twelve or fifteen hundred dollars
/ Inn I,n
you think favorably of this call at my
store in LAUREL" As he was leaving he
asked me to walk out to the carriage
and meet Mr.. Willis.
| THE REV. JONATHAN S. WILLIS SPEAKS
To Mr.. Willis he said: "Mr. Ward i.
| a Democrat, and can do as much o.
more than any man in Little Greek hun
dred. | have just told him if he will
help us this fall will get him gooC
office that he will think something Of"
Mr.. Willis spoke up and said: "lf
am elected to Congress, and every one
says l will be, / will do all / car to
carry out Mr.. Smiths suggestions in re
gard 10 Federal positions"
l replied: VERY WE'LL" and they
drove off.
On Sunday morning, the 9th of Octo
Der, Mr.. Smith drove up to my hous
he was driving out that way anC
thought he would stop. supposed h
was going to visit his sister, who live
several miles beyond my house. H
said thai
HE HAD SEEN SENATOR HIGGINS,
and that the senator said he could ge
me q place not later than the LIST o
January and perhaps by the LIST O
December. He repeated what he hat
said at the mill, that the Office woult
pay not less than $1,000 and perhap
1880. He asked me if / knew low til
Democrats were going to spend thei
money. l told him did not. He said
"We propose
TO HIRE THEM TO STAY AT HOME
and that is the way we want you I,
work your men," l supposed he mean
the men | have some influence with
He said they were given five or tel
dollars apiece to them to stay at home
| am not positive about the sum, it wa
either five or ten dollars, | think it wa
ten dollars. ] said: "If | should con
cludc to do this and you should fail
where would be?" He replied; "W
don't expect you to do it all, we hay
lots Of others who are working for us.
supposed by lots of others he mean
Democrats.
NOW MARK THE DATE.
He said Senator Higgins was coming
to Laurel the next Wednesday or Thurs
day night
TO MEET THE OTHERS
and if would come | could meet MI
Higgins and could see for myself tina
he (Smithl was not trying 10 deceiv
me. told him that | would be At m