Middletown transcript., 1896-10-31
UNTRUE AND UNJUST CHARGES.

The never ceasing cry of Whining
ton has been representation according
to population. In generous spirit
nearly twenty years ago the Republic
cans of New Castle county were al.
lowed increased delegation through
the influence of N. B. Smithers ian act
which he subsequently expressed regret
for), but the Democrats of Kent and
Sussex have never allowed that county
more than they had in their own dele
cations. The reason for this seems an
obvious outgrowth Of the supercilious-
ness of the citizens of Wilmington
that they are virtually the state. If
the Democrats Of Kent and Sussex
counties feel so, the Republicans of the
two lower counties have evidently
greater reason to arrive at this con-
clusion by using no other criteri on
than the present campaign. 1t began
with the state convention on the 18th
of May, when a gang of men from
Wilmington attempted to control the
convention, and failing irr this, bolted
and set up convention for themselves,
and as political force have since rec
0gnized the two lower counties only as
the tail to their kite. We are soon 10
have a constitutional convention. If
Wilmington wants to fix its status as
that of a wilful, spoiled child, it has
only to keep up its antics.
In the first place the people of Will
mington do not desire representation
according to population, but they do
consider it their right to have rep
resentation, which is just and equabls.
They should have a representation ap-
proximately in proportion to popula-
tion. As it is now, New Castle coun-
ty has but one member of the lower
house of the General Assembly, for
each 1883 of population; Kent coun.
ty one for each 1866; Sussex county
one for each 5521. In the matter of
senators New Castle county has one
for each 80, 394 of populations; Kent
county one for each 1G,SS9; Sussex
county one for each 1882. The in-
justice Of this is apparent. AS we
have repeatedly said this cornty does
not ask and does not expect to have
representation according to population,
but it should have fairer and bet
ter representation. These figures are
for the information of the Smyrna
Times, inasmuch as the ditor does not
appear to have proper conception of
the injustice which has existed ever
since the population OF New Castle
county increased and made the dis
crepancy in representation so marked.
But the worst feature of the para
graph quoted in the statement that on
May 12 last "a gang of men from Will
mington attempted to control the con-
vention," etc. The untruthfulness of
that declaration is 80 we'll known that
it Is scarcely necessary to enter de-
nial. The delegates from New Castle
county in that convention merely
asked that the rights of the county be
recognized by the convention, as had
been the custom time out of mind.
Rules and precedents we're set aside by
the delegates from Kent and Sussex
counties and the men from New Cas-
tie county we're hooted at and threat
ened with personal injury by body of
howlers who were not In the conven-
tion as delegates. Failing to obtain
the recognition that was due them the
New Castle county delegates and some
of the Sussex delegates withdrew.
What followed since is we'll known to
the voters of Delaware. The gentle
men who withdrew from that conven-
tion were in no sense "a gang" They
were men of good repute and men who
while insisting upon their being ac-
corded their rights, did not seek to in
timidate any OF the delegates from the
lower counties. The behavior Of the
delegates who withdrew was marked
with dignity and with keen appre-
citation Of the step they were taking.
1t i'll becomes supporter of the Un-
ion Republican state ticket at this
time to attempt to depreciate the
standing of the gentlemen who with
drew from the convention of May 12
by describing them as "a gang"
SO far as We are aware no one in
Wilmington or in New Casils cnuRty
has been crying representation ac-
curding to population" That has not
been made an issue, but he fact that the
delegates, afterwards resolved into the
Union Republican party. increased tn he
representation of both Kent and Sus-
Sex counties in their future c,nven-
tions, by twenty in each county, re-
vealed the fact that the long-estab
lished principles of the Republican
party Of Delaware-that just represent
tation in state conventions and in the
General Assembly should be secured If
possible-had been ignored and set
aside. Wilmington and New Castle
county, have always been in tie min
ority and the people here expect to
continue so, but they have the right to
demand fairer representation. That
is all they ask. An attack upon the
people of Wilmington and New Castle
county, such as the one we quote from
the Smyrna Times forms one phase Of
what has come to be known as Addicks-
ism. 1t is nothing else. It is untrue
it is ill-advised, it is contrary to one
of the vital Drinciples of the Ranuhlj.