Middletown transcript., 1896-01-18
HONEST ADMISSIONS,

HONESI ADM1SSIONSs
John L. Price has brought suit
against William Reddie and jerome B.
Bennett for $50 for alleged services
rendered the democratic party at the
recent election.
Mr.. Price lives in Landing. Neck,
and along about election time imagines
he is heap big Injun in the way of pol
ling votes and all that sort of thing.
He claims that just prior to the last
election Mr.. Reddie and Mr.. Bennett
promised to pay him $50 if he did GER
tain things in the way of securing votes
for the democratic ticket. He claims
to have performed the stipulated servi-
ces but that he has seen nothing of the
promised half hundred simoleons, hence
his suit.
That is the Price side Of this tale of
woe. As for the Reddie- Bennett side,
that is another story. In view of events
that transpired on the fifth day of last
November they fail to see how any
body is entitled to anything for servi-
ces rendered the democracy, as results
90 to show that there were no such
services. AS for Mr.. Price, they are
positive that he deserves nothing and
nothing shall he receive.
The agreement with Price, SO Mr.,
Reddie says, was that he was to vote
some four colored voters in Trsppe pre-
cinct and half a dozen or SO in the sec
ond Easton precinct. If he did this he
would be entitled to $50 for his trouble
But he didn't do it, according to this
version of the story.
On the Sunday prior to election day
| Price was discovered in secret confab
| in the woods with Robert F. Walker
and Thomas M. Bartlett, and when
they saw they were discovered the trio
| took to their heels and made break
through the woods at two forty gait.
The corpuIent Mr.. Walker got his feet
| tangled up in some bushes and took a
graceful header, but that is neither
here nor there. When the democrats
learned all this they concluded that
Price was playing fast and loose with
them and was really aiding the RepuE-
licans, so they kept sharp watch on
him.
Election day came, but Price and his
squad Of blacks did not put in their
appearance. The promised quartet OF
voters was not seen at Trappe. nor the
sextet at Easton. Indeed, so it it said
Price refused even to vote himself un-
less he was paid SIS. Finally this
money was paid him and he voted.
Justice Nicols will give the case a
| hearing to-day.-EdstOn Ledger.
slack Barber, colored, charged with
fraudulently voting on the name of
George w. Brown, in the second pre-
cinct, fourth dist, was given hear
ing before Esquire johnson yesterday.
and held for the action Of the grand
jury. Barber, it is stated, is sailor,
barely, If, twenty-one years of age, and
not entitled to vote at the last cleo
tion in Kent. He is suspected of hav-
ting voted a Democratic ticket. p Ches-
terto,on Transcript.
No Democrat needs to be told thai
the Chesterto wn transcript" and the
Easton Ledger" are loyal to the Dem
ocratic Party, and those papers will
undoubtedly be surprised 10 learn that
no Democratic papers in Delaware
would have given the public the facts
in the above cases had they happened
in Delaware. The Democratic Party
practices bribery and corrupts the
Negro in Delaware, when it can, bal
no public acknowledgment of it is ever
made. The effort is always to make il
appear that only Republicans are guilty
of these deeds. It is refreshing to note
the honesty Of the Maryland papers.
1t will be noted that all the parties
connected with these transactions ar,
Democrats, even the colored voter. Mr.
Reddie ard Mr.. Bennett are promi
nent Democratic officials and they
were after the colored vote. Pric,
was their tool. He has dropped th,
suit. paying the costs, claiming tina
the, matter has been compromised out
side. The other parties deny that HI
has been paid anything, though the,
acknowledge the anti-elec.ion deal.
1t is miserable business and shOul,
be stopped everywhere, and in Delawar
and Maryland at least tie Democratic
Party is responsible for all Legislation
respecting bribery, and the lack o
legislation to suppress it. Iftheir paper
. 10 Delaware were rs honest politiciall,
; as their contemporaries In MARYLAND
! there would be hope that they woul,
realize the enormity Of their own sin
and set about correcting them.