Middletown transcript., 1896-11-28
MORE CoMPLIcArIoNs


spectOrs Of Kent county, one Demo-
cratic inspectof-Wm. II. Walker of
Dover-and Sheriff Shaw met in COM
pliance with the order of the court to
canvass the election returns of the
county. They were short one vote of
quorum. 1t was said that other Dem
ocratic inspectors were anxious to
complete the duties left unfinished by
them on Nov. 5th, but the politicians
succeeded in keeping them away from
the meeting. Ont man is said to have
been so wrought up that he cried. 1t is
the politicians who are back Of this
steal, men of reported character like
James L. Wolcott and John B. PEN
nington. They are respon sible while
honest men and reputable newspapers
hold their peace.
On Tuesday all the inspectors with
their attorneys were in court. The Re-
publicans were there to answer that as
law abiding ciS izens and officials they
had met under the order of the court
to do their duty but were prevented
because they had not quorum. The
Democrats made answer through their
attorneys that the inspectors were not
amenable to the orders Of the court.
claiming that the inspectors had not
been properly elected. 1t appears that
previous to 1883 inspectors land as
sessors) were elected in October at a
Little Election" In 1853 an act was
pass ed to elect these officials at the
general election. In 1891 the law of
1883 was amended, the amendment
having reference to assessors only, all
reference to Inspectors being omitted.
The Democratic attorneys held that
since 1891 there had been no legal elsc-
tion of inspectors hence they were not
required to comply with the order of
the courts. This was for the time
little bombshell. If t he inspectors who
had held the elections had not been
legally elected it was claimed there had
not been le ,al election in the State
since that Time and all had held office
Illegally and their acts were illegal, etc.
This would be complication indeed.
Upon this ground motion was made
to quash the writ. All day Tuesday
was used in argu ment. On Wednes-
day morning Chief Justice Lore
and Judge Cullen united in a
decision refusing to quash the writ
of mandamus, Judge 'Grubb dis
senting. He claimed the Sheriff should
have been made a party to the suit.
The Democrats then made their an
swer claiming bribery as the chief
cause for not counting the returns.
Such an answer would probably
throw out the returns in every
every election precinct in the county
and leave Kent county without an
election at all. The court observed |
Thanksgiving and assembled yesterday |
to continue the hearing. The case is
likely to be taken to the court Of APP
peals, let the decision bs what it may. 4
Before that has been rea ched the
General Assembly will have met and
# the present advice and feeling of the
Democratic leaders continues the Dem.
,cratic members from Kent will be
'eated. The Republicans in the Sem
tie, four members, will not sit with
Meredith, the Senator the Democrat
ire trying to seat from Kent, and
whether or no. the Republicans or
'anize Senate with Alice the Demo-
ratio Senate will probably be declared
Illegal by the Court of Appeals and no
Iction of the General Assembly will be
egal. This will be confusion worse
'onfounded. This condition is not
'nly possible but it is probable. 1t is
he result of partisanship run mad.
Where is the end and what is the
emedy?