Middletown transcript., 1896-07-25
MIDDLETown. DEL. JULY ss. 1856
coNsirrUrtoNAL CONVENTION,


CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The TRANSCRIPT favors non-par-
tisan convention, made up Of delegates
of the leading citizens of the State Of
both parties. That is the ideal conyen-
tion to effect changes In our constitu-
tion, but it cannot te secuted because
the conditions for the election are such
that politics must rule the nomina-
tions. The TRANSCRIPT prefers par
iisan to bipartisan convention. UL-.
der the plan for bipartisan conven-
tion each party in each county would
name five delegates, the ten delegates
being elected in each county on both
or all tickets. There would thus be
fifteen Republicans and fifteen Demo-
Gratis, selected by the politicians rather
than by the people, and no other choice
could be made. In the 0pi2.tn of the
Transcript those fifbeen Democrats
would be the same men who have de-
feated legislative amendments to which
their party was pledged in two of their
State Conventions; the same men who
fought the popular vote against con-
vention at every special election held
to call convention; the same men who
defeated in the Democratic Senate in
1889 the excellent bill drawn by E. G..
Bradford, Eslr., and introduced in the
House by the writer and which received
the endorsement Of every Republican.
( and several Democrats representing
New Castle county, providing for a
liberal convention by combined dis
trict and county selections; the same
men who have prevented any change
in our fundamental law for years and
who have profited by it, filling the Of
! fees with fat fees paid out of the tax
payers pockets; the same men who
hope and expect to continue the present
order Of affairs by means Of a biparti-
san convention, a Is to 15 vote never
being able to change one line of our
present laws.
But that accuses those men of pre-
venting the object Of their election and
is charge Of discredit, to say the least!
The TRANSCRIPT cannot help that
since it had DO hand in creating the
facts. No one will deny the factsabove
stated and there is not a particle of
eviderce to prove change of heart or
a change of purpose in the directing
minds which have controlled the po-
litical affairs in the State for years
Party men who openly violate pledges
made to the people in their State Con-
ventions without a dissenting voice
and that without su subsequent excuse or
apology, will not hesitate to again
break faitt with the people, or that is
our opinio: and the reason for our op-
position +, bipartisan convention
and we be I'VE it is the reason for op-
position the part of Republicans
generally. republicans are in favor Of
certain rel ms. They have set forth
their viE time and time again in
State and unity conventions and in
their pape The Democrats are op-
posed to lese reforms, openly or
silently, i rart or in whole, and it
would lool like the height of foolish
ness to sci It thirty picked men. half
of them eI ,hatically, favoring certain
measures I'D the other half as emphat-
ically oppo ed. The result would he
that the rforms would fall through.
Fifteen men would be just as effective
In accomplishing this as would thirty.
The bipartisan convention looks very
frateinal and very catchy in its propo-
sition but leaving aside the question of
its being an arranged trap for defeating
reforms favored by Republicans it takes
the whole matter out of the hands of
the people aud puts it completely with
IN the control Of politicians, Is Repub-
licans and Is Democrats selected by
partisans for the whole people to vote
for, ten from each county.
We prefer the partisan convention
to half and half. Then the party
managers would be responsible for he
changes effected anu the people would
hold them TO strict account. Should
the Republicans have control and
should they attempt to introduce rad
ical measures, IF which we are certain
there is no danger, the people would
nee that they did not enjoy the fruits
or their victory. Should The Demo-
Gratis be the responsible party aud
should they then refuse to incorporate
the reforms which the people demand
In the new constitution there could be
no shriL king from the results. If II
were bipartisan aud nothing were
done, as we fear, the cry would be that
the delegates of b ,th parties are equally
responsible being equal in the conven-
tion and that no reforms are wanted,
except by tue newspapers. We are or-
posed to bipartisan convention.
There is different order Of affairs
In Sussex county, however. 1t was in
Sussex that the fight was begun for a
convention under he leadership of Al
fred T. Robin son, subsequently, Chief
Justice, and a more honest man never
entered lne> political arena. The people
there have facrd il,e hands of the p III
tician aud have contendrd for felirl
Though u convention. They called for
a Couu,y Convention Ia Suggest deit-
gates 10 The political conventions bu