Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-13
THE SENATE JOURNAL.

~ was incomplete In Not Recording Gov
ernor Wntson's Prasenos nt the Session OF
May 0th-A Complete Explanation by
Senate Clerk Hastings.
Editor The Gazette; The Republi-
can papers seem inclined to cast suspi-
cion upon the atfidavits OF Acting Gov
ernor Watson, State Senator Records
and Chaplain Cort because the Senate
journal does not substantiate their
statements that Mr.. Watson presided
over the Senate on May 9th, 1895.
In view of tha great stress these
truth loving editors lay upon the SEN
ate journal as proof that several of the
most prominent men Of thu General
Assembly have made false allldavits,
feel constrained to explain the circum-
stances that caused the erroneous omis.
sion of Mr.. Watsop's name from the
Senate journal on that memorable day.
The party OF tinfallibility" 10 which
their traducer5 bplong had neglected
their privilege and duty OF electing a
United States Senator, and the last
day OF the session, which should have
been devoted to other business was,
from the noon hour, to be used for
that neglected purpose. Consequently
other work had to be rushed through
with a haste that for any person but
an infaliible" Republican made mis-
takes and omissions probable.
Added to the hurry and confusion, l
was further embarrassed by the sick
ness of Reading Clerk Springer and de-
prived OF his valuable assistance, and
was assisted by gentleman wholly un-
acquainted with the modus operandi of
journal keeping. ss
Mr. Watoot, tooir tba GonnI,n.y. .kas..
not at the beginning OF, but during the
session, and as | had long been in the
habit Of emitting Mr.. Watson's name
in calling the roll for yea and nav
vote, it was not surprising that / did
SO at that time.
The journal of that day never was
read before the Senate for approval,
and th"a she error was not detected
until j reached the hands of the prin-
| ters, ard then insisted that il should
be set zip as II had come from the Sen.
ate chamber, for | deemed that honest
men would approve the manly course
of acknowledging my mistake, and
that those who were mean spirited
enough to censure me for it would
misconstrue and distort any effort
made to cover up an error, though il
was only due to the haste and confu-
sion of the closing hours of the General
Assembly.
In this course | have not been cen
sured except by the ''infallible" edi-
tors of the Republican papers. conspicu-
ous among whom is Hynson of the
News and Advertiser; and just here |
want to correct one Of his recent lin
| falliblo" utterances, which was to the
effect that 1t was strange that "only
Democrats had any remembrance OF
Mr.. Watson having occupied the
| Spebker's chair on May 9th. "
II this great t?) editor will go back
a, few years he may remember when
there was Republican State Senator
from Sussex, whom he has good cause
TO remember. That gentleman, Hon.
y. 0. Moore of this town, was in the
Senate chamber on May 9th, 1895, and
while Mr.. Watson was in the Speaker 6
chair Mr.. Records introduced Mr..
Moore 10 him. He was also present
when Mr.. Watson voted upon ques
tion of business before the Senate, and
he is willing to make an affidavit ia
the fact. | would advise Mr.. Hynson
to think twice before be denies the
truth of an affidavit made by OK Sena-
tor Moore of Sussex. My object in
writing this communication is to ac-
knowledge the mistake in my journal,
which evildisposed persons are attempt
ing to use to dscredit tho statements
of other gentlemen.
My ony regret in the matter is that
the small error on my part as clerk oi
tho Senate should have afforded the
unprincipled representatives of the Re.
publican press a pretext to cast suspi.
men m nht IN my party IN their vile ssttemp,
Senate for man who was never elected
to that Office. g. A. Hastings.
Clerk of the Senate.
Laurel, Del, Feb. 9th, 1896