Evening star., 1896-12-05
Mr.. WILLIS WILL CONTEST
He Will Ask Congressional Investigation
Into Delawares Election.
He Is Backed by the Union Republi-
can Party In His Stnte-Enect OF
Judge LOre's Decision.
Correspondence of the Evening Star.

Correspondence OF the Evening Star.
WILMINGTON, Del, December 4, 1896.
The contest which Congressman Jona-
than s. Willis proposes to make Of the seat
of Levin Irving Handy. the democratic free
silver Congressman-electo Of Delaware. Is
now the cynosure Of all eyes in the dia-
mond state. Mr.. Willis Is in real earnest
about his contest. and proposes to give Mr..
Handy a great deal Of trouble when he
goes to Washington.
In connection with his contest, Mr.. Willis
will petition Congress for an investigation
Of the election system in Delaware. His
petition has already been prepared. and 1t
covers four legal cap sheets closely type
written. In 1t he declares that Delaware
has not republican form of government,
and that elections here are not legally held.
To support his contention against the seat
ing Of Mr.. Handy, he declares that the
election in November was irregular, and
that in one county many republican voters
were fraudulently deprived Of their right
of franchise, and others intimidated and In
two counties Plaring frauds were commit
ted by which the republican candidates
were deprived Of the fruits of victory.
The leaders Of the union republican
party, whose candidate for reelection he
was, are behind Mr.. Willis in his contest,
and propose to go before the House COM
mittee. or give affidavits. If necessary, to
show the condition of affairs in Delaware
The principal object, Ii Is believed. how
ever, of Mr. Willis contest OF Handy's seat
Is to secure a congressional investigation oil
the situation In Delaware.
By the application for writ OF error the
democrats in Kent county yesterday sue
ceeded in practically postponing recount
of the vote Of Kent county. as ordered by
the court yesterday. and In this way pre-
venting the republicans elected In that
county to the constitutional convention and
the legislature from taking their seats.
The case will now come up in the court OF
errors and appeals for final determination.
but that court does not meet until after
the legislature will have assembled and
have chosen United States Senator. The
court of appeals is democratic. and in view
of this fact the union republicans are anX-
fous that Congress institute an investiga-
ton of the situation here as soon as possi-
ble in order that it may he in possession of
the true facts of the existing vexatious
condition of affairs in order to meet the de-
cision Of the court. which they expect will
reverse the decision yesterday.
In his decision yesterday in the Kent
election matter. Chief Justice Lore said
that il the democrats assumed to say that
the republicans had no remedy, and would
be obliged to accept the situation as 1t was,
then the state must certainly be in state
of revolution and anarchy. The remedy
that the republicans applied for was TO
have the vote recounted and the certifica tes
OF election given to those candidates legally
elected. The returns in Kent county show
ed that the republicans carried the entire
county ticket by from 800 to $50 majority.
but the democrats. who were in control OF
republican districts. and declared the demo-
cratic ticket elected by 40 majority. The
above point cited by Chief Justice Lore Is
being quietly nursed by the union republt-
can leaders. and they propose to have Mr..
Willis bring 1t out clearly in his petition
for an investigation.