Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-15
HOW They WORK IN SUSSEX
Republican Schemes of AS
sessment Frauds.
VOUCHING FOR UNKNOWN MEN
Trying to Force Alien Negroes
Upon the Lists.
Tricks Constantly Attempted by the Re-
publican misunderstanding RceklessIy
for Men Unknown to the Vouchers
Why tho Levy Court Has to he Careful,

Editor The Gazette. Thinking a
communication from Sussex county
upon the subject might interest your
readers ! write in regard to the tactics
resorted TO by Republican leaders in
their attempts to have negroes assessed
By vouchers.
The Levy Court met in regular ses-
sion March 9Th. lis members are Demo.
Gratis but not Democrats in a partisan
sense. They wanted TO act impartially
and endeavored to do so.
March 9th was day Of revelation to
all our people. Men identified with the
Republican party, individuals who had
been looked upon as the soul of honor,
came before the court and testified
falsely. A leading Republican testified
that he knew negro and that he was
Il years of age, yet, in the hearing of
the court, he asked the negro his name
and age. Another Republican, one who
was a candidate in 1892, swore that he
knew certain man and that he was II
years OF age. Subsequently, in the
presence of the court, he admitted that
he did not know whether or not the
person was 81 years old, and stated that
he had taken the prescribed oath be-
cause other Republicans had taken ii.
Do the people of our county, ire
spectiye of party, want to be controlled
by the men elected by such meansg
Last Thursday the streets of George
town We're filled with new recruits to the
Republican cause. In Sussex county there
are at least 800 negroes from adjoining
States, negroes who come here in tue
fall tn nnt wood Na,ra "A
who return home in the spring. Ii the
Republican managers could get them
assessed these negroes would come here
next fall to vote.
The Republican leaders seem TO have
unlimited cash and are spending it
treely-paying negroes taxes, paying
Tor teams to bring them to Georgetown,
paying negroes fare on the railroads.
Impartial citizens would like to know
why 100 negroes were left off the assess.
ments of 1893 and 1894 in Baltimore,
Dagsboro and Indian River hundreds,
when the assessors in those hundreds
were Republicans. The natural infer
ence is that these negroes are not bona
hde residents of our county.
Thursday the writer saw strange
negro standing near the court house.
The negro approached me and stated
that a white Republican had told him
to come to Georgetown and white Re-
publican would vouch for him. He
said he was from Little Creek hundred.
When asked whether he knew anybody
here he stated that he did not but said
some of the Republicans would sec him
on the street, ask him his name, age and
residence and identify him before the
court.
There are several negroes who failed
to pay their poll tax and have been re-
turned as delinquents Now, If negro
has been returned as John Brown of
Seaford hundred the Republicans say
he is Alfred Brown, swear he is Alfred
Brown and, If the court does not know
him, get him assessed.
Thursday Republican leader was
seen looking over the delinquent list
and heard telling negroes what names to
assume and to not forget their assumed
names
This is one of the contemplate tricks
by which the Republican managers hope
TO carry the State next fall, but if they
expect to put on our assessments be. |
tween 300 and 400 alien negroes they
are grandly mistaken.
The Republicans ask why the court
doesn't assess these negroes. They say
these negroes will pay tax and that will |
put money in the county treasury. Our |
treasury is not so bad of that the Re- |
publican managers can foist foreign |
element ON our assessment lists to stiile |
tho voice of our people. The court will
go slow and sift the evidence and try TO
protect the ballot in our beloved State.
The men who swear falsely are not the
men to trust with our county affairs.
Two weeks ago the Republican lead
ers had smiling faces and told how they
were. going to carry the election next
fall, but since the court let them know
that no man will be assessed unless he
is bona tide resident and is vouched
for by respectable freeholder, and that
their great system of fraud had been
discovered, they are downhearted and
hang their heads in shame.
hope the Levy Courts of our State
Will stand firm aud protect the ballot
from fraud and expose all rascaily
methods. MoRE ANON,
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