Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

STAT Correspondence o. Gazette and journal.
Dover, Dec. Last night was one
long to be remembered here. Pre-
liminary arrangements were made by
Democrats and Republicans for the
Constitutional Convention, which meets
here to-day. Nearly all OF the dele
gates and many other politicians ar
rived during the afternoon.
The Democratic delegates and several
other prominent members OF the party
held conference in the Levy Court
room from 7.30 o'clock until 0. Is. The
princlpa. matter under discussion was
the admission of the Kent delegation.
Speeches were made by William II,
Royce. Hon. James Il. Wolcott, Hon,
William +. Causey, Col. e Il. Cooper
and Gen. II. r. Kenney, the tenor Of
their remarks being the denunciation
OF AddiGks and Addicksism and argu-
ment In favor OF admitting the entire
Democratic delegation from Kent
county. 1t was claimed that great
fraud was practiced at the election by
the Republicans in Kent county, aud
that mad 1t not been for the fraud the
Democrats would have Numerically
vanquished the Republicans in the
party at the polls.
A majority of the speakers held that
the Democratic candidates we're right
fully elected, and that there was no
question but that the entire delegation
should be seated. A few of those at
the caucus favored seating five Demo-
Gratis and five Republicans. but the
majority were bitterly opposed to this
plan.
At about 9. 10 o'clock the preliminary
conference was terminated and all but
delegates elect Withdrew from the room.
DIR. O'Day of Little Creek, Kent
county, and j. A. Ellegood of Sussex
county were absent. The caucus or
ganized by electing Andrew j. Horsey
OF Sussex county chairman and Charles
Il. Evans of New Castle county eecre-
tary. The first business taken up was
the Kent county matter. and the
speeches on that point, which had been
made at the preliminary conference
were discussed. John Biggs. who was
one Of the principal takers, made a
vigorous speech IN favor Of seating the
entire delegation. He could not see
how some could be admitted and others
excluded. Others followed In the same
strain. that opinion being general
among those who expressed themselves.
1t was the general belief that the con
vention should be the judge OF it's
members, and the Kent Democrats
should be admitted on their credentials,
and il there were any contests let that
matter be an after consideration. The
scheme to divide the delegation found
but few friends.
One of the speakers said he had I'm
1arutooI hat he a.
sion uf the Republicans to 90 into con-
vention with the Democrats and after
ward Withdraw, but he had heard dur
ing the evening that unless the Demo.
Gratis agreed to admit five of the Kent
Republicans ii was the plan of the Re-
pubIicans to set up convention Of
their own.
AT about 10 o'clock Delegates E. @.
bradford, William g. Spruance and g.
+. Richards were admitted to the
Democratic caucus as representatives
OF the Republican caucus, William ii.
I Boyce having informed the Democrats
that Messrs. Bradford and Spruance
were in waiting and desired hearing.
, They occupied the attention of the
Democrats for about 20 minutes, and
made the proposition thar compromise
be effected on the basis of admitting
six Republicans and four Democrats
from Kent county, which would make
the convention partisan body.
At the conclusion of the visit of
Messrs. Spruance, Richards and Brad
ford, recess OF 10 minutes was taken,
and during that time the delegates col
looted in groups and talked the situa-
tion over among themselves.
At 10. 30 O'Clock the caucus resumed
business and all but delegates were ex-
cluded from the room. The PROPOSE
tion of the Republicans was discussed,
as was also the advisability of dividing
the delegation by admitting five Demo-
Gratis and five Republicans.
The Republicans had held no caucus
: That is. they bad made no preliminary
organization, but simply collected at
the Hotel Richardson and held an in
formal conference. When the Demo-
Gratis heard that there had been no
formal caucus on the part of the Re.
publicans, they considered that their
proposition might no: be carried out,
oven If accepted by the Democrats, as
their colleagues might refuse to ac-
quiesce in tbe views of some of the
party men.
This threw cold water on the to a
proposition. and then the Democrats
set about the work OF making some
sort of a definite arrangement. After
considerable controversy they decided
to agree to whatever plan should be
decided upon by the Kent delegation.
The Kent men accordingly withdrew,
aud after short conference returned
and reported that they favored seating
five Democrats and five Republicans,
and that they had agreed to recon-
mend w. T. Lavender, William Sauls-
bury, DIR. e. W. Cooper, DR.. Nathan
Pratt aud Louder L. Sapp.
+ Soon after the Kent men had made
their report TO the caucus John +.
Salisbury and John ID. Hawkins en-
tered the room and protested vigorously
against any such arrangement. They
held that such thing could not be
IightfuIly done.
A majority of the members thought
otherwise, however, and committee
was appointed to make the proposition
TO the Republicans. The committee
accordingly called on the Republicans
and made the proposition that half
andhalf delegation be seated. Inquiry
was made as to whether the Republic
cans were to be permitted to select
their own delegates, and when an
affirmative reply was received, the
proposition was accepted. The Demo
ratio committee returned to the CAUCUS
and made their report, and after this