Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-29

Editor E0ery Egoning: AS constant
reader of EVERY EVENING for many
years, have learned to admire the bold
and courageous stand you have always
taken for honesty in government and
such administrative reforms as would
tend to the elevation of our people,
thereby the general prosperity of our
State But with all you have done in
the past in this respect, there never was
time when your advocacy of reform or
Of better government was so timely, 50
significant, or so commendable, as the
present, when, through the corrupting
Influences of modern methods of con-
Quoting elections, the credit of our State
has been destroyed and the honor of its
citizens debased. No good citizen, no
matter what his politics, can but stand
shoulder to shoulder with you in your
noble advocacy of right and, principle
and to help you sec that justice shall
and will triumph.
1t is being charged that your "tirade"
| Gas it is called) is but momeling for
| political effect. This however cannot be
| so judging from your attitude in the
| past. As far back as can remember
| you have always advocated honest cleo
| tions, and denounced bribery. The only
| difference now is that the magnitude of
the evil, as manifested so clearly at the
recent election, intensifies the need of
more pronounced public sentiment
against it, | therefore hope you will
/ continue to so completely expose the
| villainous traffic in that highest birth
right of American citizenship-the cleo
tive franchise-until it will be COM
| pletely abolished, and believe your
efforts will be heartily seconded by
4 every good citizen of Delaware, irre-
spective of his political affiliations. Let
our successful opponents show their
contempt for such disreputable methods
by RELOCATING Mr.. Higgins to private life
and Mr.. Addicks out of the list of Sena-
torial possibilities, and select as a col.
league of our senior Senator man
qualified in every particular for such dis
inguished honors. They have long list
of able men to select from, viz: Massey,
Bird, Bradford, Pennewill, Smithers,
&C., most any of whom the Democrats
of the General Assembly could vote for,
who are above reproach and who would
be satisfactory as far as it is possible for
Republican representative to be to a
Democratic constituency. 10 say that
either Higgins or Addicks are entitled
to the Senatorship because they fur
nished the money to purchase it is to
say that any one with ill-gotten gain is
entitled to it when discovered with such
gain in his possession.
think, however, that something more
substantial than mere press discussion
is necessary to root up this evil. 1t will
require all good, earnest and true advo
Gates of ballot reform to be banded to-
gether in their efforts, working unitedly
and with the power that specific organi'
! cation always carries with it, and
would suggest that an organization bt
effected at once, to be known as the
! "Ballot Reform League of the State o.
i Delaware" and that EVERY EVENING
i start a roster and enroll every name sent
in, each name to be accompanied with
ST until 100 names have been enrolled
at which time meeting shall be called
to be held in the city of Wilmington
a for the purpose of effecting permanen
o organization by electing permanen
officers, adopting rules Of government
and methods of action. The editor o
g EVERY EVENING to be the custodian o
: all funds received until such time as ,
!, permanent organization can be effected
d If any one has better plan to sug
IS COST let him do SO, but let all friends o
n ballot reform unite and honorably an
Z Systematically work together for tn
L suppression of the greatest evil With
y our borders, and to re.establish the pas
: fame and good name of the citizens Q
. Delaware. A. N. BROWN,
I WYoMING, KENT COUNTY, DEL, NOV
y 23d, 1894.