Evening journal., 1896-11-10
DICKEY MAKES DENIAL.
Says That He Will Not Step
Down for Cheairs.
WANTS PROOF THAT BE IS Low

CHEAIRS WILL CARRY HIS CON-
TEST TO DOVER AND MAKE A
FIGHT FOR THEPLACE-DICKEY
SAYS THAT THERE AREoTHERs
BESIDE HIMSELF WHO MAY BE
LOW.
Yesterday afternoon the Democratic
County Executive Committee met at
the Young Mems Democratic Club and
heard the complaint of Woodward W.
Cheairs, of Red Lion hundred, that he
had been counted out by the Demo-
cratic inspectors of Wilmington.
Mr.. Cheairs was the Democratic can
didate for the Legislature from Red
Lion, and the unofficial count showed
that he was fourth from the lowest
man on the ticket, those below him be-
ig John Dempsey, of Mill Greek; David
X Donaldson. OF White Clay Creek
and John T. Dickey, OF this city. When
the official count was made it disclosed
the fact that Cheairs was low man. and
consequently defeated by j. Franklin
Eliason, of st. Georges hundred He
and his friends Immediately raised a
protest, claiming that he had been
counted out. They examined the official
returns in the hands of Sheriff Gillis
and found that in twelve OF the dis
tricts the returns had been dOctored.
Armed with this proof, they went be-
fore the County Committee and vigor-
ously protested against Democrats
counting out Democrat. At times, the
meeting became quite heated.
A 4t.-a.
ing Journal reported asked one of the
most influential members Of the COM
mlttee what the upshOt OF the whole
matter was to be.
I'VE decided that the only thing we
could do was to exercise our good of-
fees in the matter" he said. There
is no doubt that Mr.. Cheairs was
counted out, and that Mr.. Dickey was
the direct beneficiary of the fraud per-
petrated by his tOO-earnest friends in
Wilmington. but the committee does
not believe that Mr. Dickey cOnnived
with the men who were willing to take
such risks to serve his interests. AS
understand it, Mr.. Dickey has given as
surance that he will acquiesce in the
claim OF Mr. Cheairs to the seat OF
course there will be a contest at Do
yer, but it will be a mere matter Of
form. Mr.. Cheairs will claim the seat
in the House, and Mr.. Dickey will get
out OF his way and let him take It. Mr.
Dicley has acted most honorably in
the matter, and l believe that he will
carry out the understanding above out
lined"
I'VE shall not take the matter TO
the courts on mandamus or any other
proceeding" said one OF Mr.. Cheairs
close friends this morning. I'VE in
tend to take it to the Legislature
where it properly belongs. We believe
MIR. Dickey will do what is right in the
matter but we do not propose to take
any chances. We shall proceed just as
though it would terminate in an ear
nest contest and be ready for any
emergency which may arise"
Il don't know anything about any
such agreement" said Mr.. Dickey this
morning. "On the face of the re-
turns l am elected Let them open the
boxes and see who is the lowest man,
and go into the whole business. There
are four Of us affected. l do not know
who is the lowest, but I want to know
before l relinquish any rights I may
| possess. If the boxes show that l am
/ the low man ! shall be perfectly will
/ ing to get out. It is a question whether
! the Legislature will open the boxes.
AS far as going to the Legislature is
concerned / wouldn't give a picayune
for It, 1t would be dollars out OF
pocket for me-