Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-10-03
rhe constitutional convention.


the Sussex papers, brings up once more
the subject of the constitutional con
vention, which had dropped out of edi-
torial mention. II what it has to say
represents the views of ex-senator D.
L. Mustard and Hon. Ebe W. Tunnell
1t is significant and calls for some
comment. The "Pilot'' says;
The constitutional convention was
not called by the honest intelligent
voters of the State. Deduct the vote
of that contingent who did not have
the least idea Of what they were voting
for when they passed in the slip For
a Convention" at the dictation of the
voters assistants, and there would not
have been majority for the conven-
tion. When the convention is called a
section after the manner OF the South
Carolina Constitution will remedy a
great defect
We do not know what information
the Pilot" can possibly have as to
the honesty and intelligence of the
%, s42 voters who voted for a conven-
tion last fall. The ballot was secret,
and, moreover, 20,066 of the conven-
tion votes were given in New Castle
and Kent counties where the 'Pilot"
had no special opportunity to discover
what class Of men did the voting,
The 1900 voters who went into the
election booths in this State last fall
were given two ballots to stamp. One
contained the three party tickets which
-. L.. IL -, k... 4
"For Convention" and Against a
Convention. When the ballots were
counted it was found that %, 842 voters
had put the stamp of approval on For a
Convention;'' 2,364 had stamped
against Convention % and some
13, had refused to stamp the conven-
tion ticket at all. OF all the voters who
went TO the polls majority of 6, 800 had
declared for a convention. The voters
assistants could not dictate how men
should vote on the convention any more
than on the party tickets.
That the people of Delaware the
thoughtful ard disinterested masses
were favorable to calling a convention
tion of impartial observers, by two pre-
vious votes taken on that special sub
ject. A special election to call con
vention was held on November LIST,
1887. The late Chief Justice Robinson
was then the leader of the convention
sentiment in Sussex county. Nothing
except the convention was to be voted
for. There were no candidates, no ex-
citement, and no contest for supremacy.
Yet IA, AL voters went to the polls and
voted for convention on that occa-
sion, and only 49s voted against it. At
that election 3,944 votes for conven-
tion were polled in Sussex. Another
special election to call convention
was held on May 10Th, 1891 Once
more there was absolutely nothing but
the desire for a convention to bring
men to the polls and the election came
in busy season for Delaware farmers.
Yet II, 1877 voters deposited their bal 4.
lots for convention, and only Il5
against a convention. The figures show
not only that the voters of Delaware
have strong desire for the conven-
tion which will meet next year Ia
frame a new Constitution, but that the
desire has been an abiding and steadily
increasing one. In 1887 it controlled
the votes of IA, 431 Delawareans; in
1891, II, 1877; in 1894, %, s42.
The people have been for years
aught that new Constitution was
needed in Delaware. The newspapers
have united in advocating it. Political
orators have preached it for dozen
years. Party platforms have declared
for it over and over again. 1t is a
little hard on the men who voted for il
at last, to tell them that they are moi
the honest, intelligent voters of tho
State and to intimate that they voted
at the dictation of voters assistants,
Both Democrats and Republicans in
voting for convention were at least
honestly and intelligently carrying out
the platform pledges Of their respective
parties. Witness the following extracts
As true Democrats we recognize and
obey the popular will, as evidenced bN
the special election held last Novem
ber, and declare ourselves in favor ot
the reforms long conceded by all par.
ties in the State to be demanded h,
popular sentiment, through the me
dium of a Constitutional Convention
TO be provided for at as early a day n,
in the judgment of the Legislature
acting for itself as a coordinate branch
of the State government il may ht
properly and constitutionally done. -
Democratic State Platform. 1883.
Resolved, That it is the duty of thu
Legislature TO provide for the holding
of a convention for the revision an,
amendment of the Constitution of th,
State by the light of the experience ol
the last 90 years. Democratic Stat,
Platform, 1890.
They the Democratsl renow thcil
demand for Constitutional Conven
tion at tho earliest period at which II
may iaWiuily be convened, Demo
cratic State Platform, 1852.
The Democratic Legislature Of thil
state at IFS last session provided /
metnod ny which the people mal
readl y assemble, if they 50 desire, ir
orderly convention, to consider ant
.S'N'"'''iv NIdt 'uduStS or mOdluca
tlons are necessary or desirable in ou
organic law the Constitution of oui
State. The Democracy Of Delaware
approve Of this action and urge aii
Democrats to vote at the coming elcc.
tion in favor Of d convention ID Nj.
wise the Constitution nf the State. w.
insist that any Constitution adontnd
in convention shall he voted on by ira
people and ratified by them before Il
shall become operative, and the peopr
hound by its nrnN Nininl,n L. -.