Middletown transcript., 1896-11-14
VIEWED BY NEIGHBoRs.

AAC uliouOlpll0 Iu0o VI 1 uuI6'
day looking at our Delaware politics
gave its readers under the title of "the
Middle in Delaware" the following:
Between the Higgins and the Ad-
dicks Republican factions, and the
sound money and cheap money Demo.
Gratis of Delaware, they have gotten up
grand political muddle, and are all
tangled up like pile of eels. Legisla-
tive contests will be made in Kent and
Sussex counties, and it is quite prob
able that there may be a rump legisla-
ture organized by Addicks to elect
himself United States Senator.
It will be remembered that the last
Legislature, after a long and bitter
struggle, gave IA quasi election to Colo
mel DUPONT, but the legality of his
election as Senator was disputed. The
whole issue turned on the right Of the
President of the Senate, then acting
Governor of the State, to resume his
seat in the Senate and vote for United
States Senator. If that act was legal,
there was no election, as the vote of
the acting Governor left DUPONT in
the minority, while if the acting Gov
ernor had no right to vote as a Sena-
tor, DUPONT was legally elected.
The Senate during the last session
refused to admit Colonel DUPONT, but
the case is not disposed Of. The Sem
ate could, at its meeting in December,
admit Colonel DUPONT and thus end
the whole controversy, or it might de-
lay the admissi of DUPONT, wait the
appearance of new Senator to be elec-
ted by the coming Legislature, and
then decide between them, or if unable
to decide between them, the case might
go over to the new Senate.
AS long as the Senate has not ad.
mitted a Senator from Delaware, it is
within the power of that body to admit
any claimant it may prefer, as it is the
sole judge of the election and qualifi-
cation Of its members. If during the
coming session Senator shall be ad-
mitted from Delaware, that would be
conclusive, but if none shall be ad-
mitted during the coming session, the
new Senate would take up the question
de novo and admit either DUPONT or any
other claimant for the position. II |
there shall be a dual Legislature in
Delaware, and any irregularity in the |
election of the new Senator, the |
chances are that the United States |
Senate would not admit any one dur
ing the coming short session, and in |
that event DUPONT would likely be ad-
mitted by the new Senate to meet on
The 4th Of March, 1897.
There is another complication in the |
Delaware election that is not serious |
as to present results. but might be /
serious as precedent for the future.
The name of one of the Republican
Electors was improperly printed in
portion Of the State by adding "Sr.n
TO his name, while in the other por-
lions of the State the name was voted |
correctly. If the vote for this Elector
shall be counted separately as if cast
Tor two different men, the highest
Bryan Elector in the State would be
elected, but it is claimed that as the
evident intention of the voter was to
7ote for the same man, the vote should
Do counted and certificate given to
he Republican Electors whom the
,eople Of Delaware certainly believed
hey were electing.
There can be no doubt as TO the in
ention of the voters to vote for the
anne man for Elector, and if under
,he laws of Delaware the intention Of
he voter is vital question in determ-
ming the legality of the vote, there can
,e no doubt of election the of the entire
Electoral ticket. If, how
ver, the laws of the State are man
latory as to the correctness of the
'allot in all details, the vote would be
oun!ed for two different persons, and
hus give Bryan one Electoral vote in
he State.
Delaware has become one of the
nost demoralized States Of the Union
her political contests. and her people
re likely to see the climax of this de-
'oralizati0n and debauchery when the
ext Legislature shall meet. II In the
1rangles of faction and corruptionists
] politics the shame that has been
asst upon the State during the last
ear shall be continued in the next
the Senate would rescue
delaware from herself by the prompt .
Omission Of Colonel DUPONT as Senator !
mn. fhaf Ctoto