Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-17
a rrnudnlent Nom,nn,Inp.

Inc DemOCfatlc nomination electiun
in Wilmington. Saturday afternoon, was
marked by frauds SO gross and glaring
as to make it the imperative duty OF
the County Executive Committee to
refuse to accept the returns for the
office affected that OF State Senator
and to oruer new election. The
election also offers an admirable oppor-
tunity TO Attorney General White and
the grand jury OF New Castle County,
when they attend the general sessions
court, next week, to take cognizance
of the palpable frauds against the
primary election law, aud direct their
functions to the absolutely necessary
work of planting the scoundrelly
offenders on the road that leads most
directly to New Castle Jail. 1t is not
only the interest of one candidate or
the other that was concerned in these
shameful proceedings. The offences
committed were against the people OF
the community-a against the peace and
dignity of the State. 1t is the duty
of the attorney. general and the grand
Jury, therefore, to take cognizance of
these grave outrages, and act as the
| law gives them the power to act. There
is no lack of material to work upon,
or OF ample evidence with which to
make out case.
While the frauds practised In the in.
| terest of the contestants for the Soma
torial nomination naturally sweied the
votes for other candidates upon the
ticket, it did not affect the result in
their cases. Mr.. Dickey was nomi-
mated for Representative, beyond a
| question, and Levy Court Commits
sioner Mealey was unopposed for re-
nomination. But the result for State
Senator was clearly vitiated by fraud,
and should be set aside.
The story of the nomination contest
is fully told in our local columns, but
even without word of explanation,
the figures of the returns speak fol
themselves. The total vote, in the
face of the fact that fully $500 Demo
crate did not 20 to the polls, is very
nearly equal to the Democi attic vote
cast for Governor in Wilmington at the
election Of 1894. In the Eleventh ward,
the total vote returned is much creator
than the vote of both parties combined
at the last general election. In thu
lower district of the First ward, tn,
vote returned almost equals the com
bined vote of both parties in tn,
entire ward at the election of 1894.
These acts conclusively bespeal
fraud, and fraud of character tina
should result in the summary punish
ment of the perpetrators. And in thu
event that new nomination j
ordered, as was done under similar
but less disgraceful, conditions at tn
primaries four years ago, the officer
who made these fragrant returns shout,
not be permitted to serve and thus pos
sibly again attempt their nefarious worl
1t cannot be charged, however, tina
the frauds were committed in behal
of only one of the two candidates
There are instances Of ballot bo
stealing in the interest of one con
testant, and ballot-box stuffing in tn
interest of the other. Could the fraudu
lent votes on both sides be winnowed
it is probable that the result of tn
contest would be unchanged. Blu
that is not susceptible of proof, an
. does not affect the vital principle {
the case. The one fact that stands OF
convincingly is that the frauds wer
.. appalling in their extent, and that tn
, verdict secured by such methods shout
9 not be permitted to stand unchallenget