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

the best solution Of the existing con-
tention that could have been devised. |
1t enables the convention to begin ita |
sessions in practical harmony, undis-
turbed by the fierce hostilities at.
tendant upon struggle for partisan
advantage.
In considering the action taken by
the convention, IL must be borne In
mind, first, that il Is body possessing
peculiar powers, as we'll as one vested
with unusual aud important func-
tions. 1t is a law unto itself, so far as
the determination Of Its membership is
concerned. and no act done in this con-
nection can be called into question by
any tribunal.
The convention assembled with
twenty members whose title TO their
seats was undisputed, and ten other
positions for which there were twenty
contestants. Certain it was that ten
of these contestants were chosen at the
election of November Sd, but which ten
could justly lay claim to a legal
election was an open question. Each
side claimed the merit Of regularity,
and it remained for the convention
to determine between the two
The twenty contestants comprised
ten Democrats and ton Republicans.
On one side, the claim of election was
made by virtue Of plurality Of votes
on the face OF the returns. On the
other side it was commended that this
apparent plurality had been vitiated
by gross frauds, Irregularities, bribery
and bold violations of the law. To
decide between these conflicting
claims would have involved partisan
determination OF the issue, and thus
the convention would have been cou-
frontsd at the outset with what it is
especially desirable it should avoid.-a
contest on purely political lines. In
order to evade this evil contingency, a
conference between the Democrati;
and Republican members whose election
was not involved in doubt was held,
and the result was an agreement to
settle the dispute by admitting one
half of each of the contesting dele
cations. Thus, the controversy was
disposed of in manner that ought to
prove acceptable to all concerned. 1t
does not in the least affect the pend
ing issue before the court, with re-
spect to the recent election in Kent
the court, no matter what it may be-,
can affect the action of the convention.
The convention has simply exercised
its undoubted right to determine the
qualifications and election of it's men,
, bers.
, 1t must also be borne in mind that
the contention between the two con.
/ testing delegations was radical. Each
, made positive claim to legal election,
, and each offered arguments in sup
port of such claim. Two bodies can
not occupy the same space at the sam,
time, but if it be deemed advisable no
q to compel one to give way to the other
! it can easily be managed by givinl
half Of the space to one body, and hal
to the other. This is what the con
: | NCutlOu DlLi III thb iubcTGbb VI uhE
mony, and no doubt with desire t.
deal fairly by both parties to the con
troversy.
= 1t is true that five of the member
t seated in accordance with this agree
: ment refused to accept the seat
J. rendered them, on the ground that
a they wore entitled to membership i
II the convention their five colleagues o
o the ticket we're likewise entitled, bu
i this is a matter that concerns thsI
e alone. 1t does not affect the iustnet
n Of the arrangement. 1t is probabl
W that on reflection they may decide I
ir return and accept their places in Ii
10 convention. II not, there will be tiS
" vacancies, which the convention doubt
I'd less has the power to fill.
10 However, the convention is now in goc
lg working order, with it's opening pr,
N ceedings unmarried by the fiert
10 political contention that was feart
n and expected. 1t has shown broad ar
IN liberal spirit in its preliminary pr
ut coedings that augurs well for its futu
On deliberations. The margin of II
n dominant political party is but two
n membership of thirty, and the spir
as displayed in the organization is su,
be as to give assurance that this marg
RI will not be called upon to gi
by potency TO any essential feature of Il
th new Constitution. The work of Il
as convention should be good work, o
ch that will receive practically t
lid unanimous sanction of all the member
ne In this event. there is small dou
sh that it will, if eventually submitted
,at the people, be endorsed by a lar
lis majority of the popular vote.
W. An interesting and significant featu
OF an analysis of the vote of tho rece
'"' election, as pointed out by the N
ver York Evening Post, is that the ]
g n electoral votes to be cast for Bry
in come from States whose total "
to aggregates approximately 1850, 700,
NO an average of 49, $50 for each electo
VS.. vote; while the States whose electo
md votes will be cast for Mckinley poll
VI. a total Of 0, 700, 0OO votes, an average
nd 30, GOO for each elbctor. Put in otl
are words, it required IL, 500 more votes
ms choose a Mckinley elector than
ne choose bryan elector. II the elect
III | were anno-tioned arcurdinu IN tho mn