Smyrna times., 1896-10-28

peated by either party. The court it
seems stand very different to the ques-
ton to what it did two years ago, as
the following from the Sentinel will
show:
"The characteristic difference be-
tween the Republican movement and the
Democratic movement before the regis
tration boards on Saturday was that
the Republicans intended to prevent
fraud, and the Democrats intended to
repeat the fraud by which they carried
Kent County at the polls in November
1894. This characteristic difference
was quickly recognized by the best
men of the Democratic party. They
not only denounced the attempt at
fraud, but quickly put themselves in
active opposition to it. The Hon. Ed
ward Ridgely, a lifelong Democrat,
and a candidate for Presidential cleo
tor, was the first to speak in opposition
to the intent of fraud. 1t was upon
his counsel that the Republicans relied
in their extremity. The Hon. Charles
b. Lore, Chief Justice of the State
courts, was also earnest and active in
his efforts to prevent the cOnsummatiOn
of the fraud. He began the work as
soon as he arrived in Dover on Mon
day morning, and no Democrat who
would listen to him was allowed to
escape the conviction that the Chief
Justice recognized the intent as fraud
and was anxious to prevent it. The
Hon. Robert White, Attorney-General
of this State, joined with his colleagues
and by refusing to entertain the writs
of indictment against Beniah Watson,
John B. Wharton, and Robert Polk,
struck a sturdy and honorable blow
for justice and against fraud. Follow
ing these gentlemen and no less active
and earnest in his efforts for justice,
was the Hon. James l.. WOlcOtt, eX
Chancellor of the State. He opposed
the Democratic proposition to throw
off the names of the voters against
whom the Democrats had entered q
protest, and commended the PROPOSE
tiOn made by the Republicans that
both parties accept the registration
lists, and that no one either Republi-
can or Democratic should be disfran-
chised, as the only righteous conclusion
the people of Delaware and especially
the people of Kent County owe a debt
of gratitude.
After the above was printed, Little
Creek Hundred, it seems, violated the
compact agreed upon by the leaders.
The thirty Republicans sworn against
(mainly because their '94 taxes were
paid in '95, less than two years ago, the
constitutional provision) were notified
to appear on Saturday and show cause
etc. They were apprised of the legal
difficulty likely to follow if the names
were struck off. Sheriff Shaw rode
down to Leipsic Saturday afternoon
to not only demonstrate himself but
took letter to ex-Sheriff Fennimore
from John F. Salisbury telling them
in no case to strike off single name,
as the Republicans were not going
to do it, but Notwithstanding all this,
the Board struck offtwenty one names,
the balance of the thirty having
property or some other consideration
emitting them to eligibility. One of
the Board swore that they would do as
they did two years agO-'that there
was no use having machinery unless
yOu use it." Theodore F. johnson
refused to sign the registry list as cor
rect, and thus it goes before the legal
authorities, with results yet to deter
mine.
At Kenton nine were stricken off but
for other reasons than being of the
thirty five sworn against on the prev
ious Saturday. The Democratic In
spector, VIM. H. Greenwell, like Abel
S. FAIRIES of the Western District of
Duck Creek, had too much regard for
his oath as a member of the Registra-
tion Board and the rights of citizen
ship to wantOnly deprive men of their
right of franchise.
LATER.
The case of the disfranchised voters
of Little Greek Hundred was settled
yesterday by the restoration of the 21
names that the Board had stricken off.
Sheriff Shaw, acting under orders from
the Court served a summons on them
to appear before the Court at 10 o'clock
yesterday, but at nine o'clock the
names had been restored and the