Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-08-06
rne Aaa,ok. PARTY q. the Electlon.

The decision OF the clerks OF the
peace to the effect that the Higgins
faction should be represented on the
the Republican, party OF Delaware, and
that the Addicks faction should adopt
another name and select another device,
is important and far-reaching in its
effects. 1t deprises the Addicks fac
tion of representation on the election
boards of the various voting districts
throughout the State. In Wilmington
these election boards are appointed by
the Department-of Elections, but IN all
othsr parts of the State their personnel
is determined by the political affilia-
tion of the inspectors-one for each
district--chosen at the previous cleo
| tion. The boards are composed of
the inspector as the presiding officer.
and two judges, one OF whom shall be
named by the inspector, and the other
by the defeated candidate for inspec-
tor receiving the next highest number
OF votes at the preceding election. 1t
will be seen. consequently, that out Of
| the board of three members. the in
spector has himself and the judge
whom he shall choose. -
This fact, to which public attention
was first called by the Dover Index,
involves still another condition, which
the Index cites, as follows:
The election law provides for the APP
| f.p N M ,f fue rntarp' No pf n q n
each district. The naming of these
officials is placed in the hands of the
election boards, each board choosing
its voters assistants. The statute
simply prescribes that these officers
shall be chosen from each of the tive
principal political parties" 7" By this
language quoted from the act il
would seem that each election board il
the judge as to who constitutes tht
two principal political parties;' anC
it will be seen that tho controlling
power of the board being in the hand
Of the inspector, that latter oificia
could control the decision of this mat
ter, and thus determine who the voters
assistants shall be.
As matter Of fact. however, th
decision as to who constitute "the Nv,
principal political parties' has alread
been finally settled and determined
, OF course, the Democratic party is on
, of them, and it is equally of cours
i that the Republican party is the other
i The only question is, who is the Re
publican party? This has been alrezd
/ answered. The national political su
preme court Of Republicanism at il
session in ST. Louis, decided agains
the Addicksites, and this decision ba
been upheld now by the only author
4 lied tribunal for such purpose in thi
a State, the three clerks of the peace.
d The election boards. therefore, wi
Q be composed Of Democrats and Reput
9 licans. The Addicks party will hay
u no more right to representation tina
y the Probibitionists or any other sic
' party organization. The same rule wi
Il be followed in appointing the registri
3 tion and election boards of Whining
;, ton. They will be composed of DEM
: Gratis and Regular Republicans.
ar These facts but emphasize the wi
10 dom of the decision rendered by Il
= clerks of the peace. Confidence in Il
Y. conduct and result OF the election vi
g. be largely increased by the absence
le any Adaicks influences among tho
ts who may have charge of it.