The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-16
THE SUSSEX FIASCO.
The Democrats Attempt to Steal the Levy
Court OF Sussex County. A Con.
spiracy that Failed.

1t would be in perfect keeping, for the
Legislature when it meets in January to
abolish tho Levy Courts In Kent and Sus.
sex counties. Tho people OF Delaware
that Is the Democrats, do not believe In
local solf government by tho people. Their
acts in placing nearly everything in our
city government under commissions at
tcs5 this fact. Their belief is If the Dem
ocratic party is not in control that the
Republicans have no business to occupy
any of tho Offices, and accordingly legs-
late to that end.
The hue and cry going up from the
Domocratic papers In the State over the
act ion Of the Levy Court Of Sussex county
In refusing to seat Willard H. Handy, who
was appointed by the Governor to take
the seat of John w. Green, of Seaford
hundred. because he had removed from the
hundred Is in keeping with the Demo.
cratic press of Delaware. The Democrats
stole the Levy Court of Kent county, and
on tho Republicans carrying it to the
courts for decision ii was delayed. which
shows with what complacency the bench
Viewed the matter.
The Mandamus proceedings are yet In
waiting to bo decided.
A correspondent residing at George
town. ho says the Democrats were foiled
in their little game Of stealing q majority
OF the Levy court.
The Governor presumed to oust John
W. Green from the office of Lovy Court
commissioner from Seaford Hundred, by
issuing commission to Willard H. Handy
for that office and as ve are Informed pur-
poses to follow that step II he had not
already dono so, by ousting w. J. Pennl.
well the Republican Levy Court Commits.
sioner from Gumboro hundred; by ap.
pointing Democrat to fill that office,
thus stealing majority Of the Sussex
County Levy Court.
This little scheme was to avoid the ne
cessity OF resorting to the drastic and OBJ
jectionable measure contemplated by tho
Democrats, by legislating tho Repub.
lcan majority in the Levy Court out OF
existence
John w. Green never removed his resi-
dence from Seaford Hundred but sold out
his milling business, and Is still q resi-
dent of the hundred be was elected to rep.
resent in 1894
The Democratic Clerk of tho Peace i'm
properly placed Mr.. Handy's nAme upon
the roll of members Of the Levy Court.
The legal and proper roll Of members of
the Levy Court contained Mr. Green's
name as Levy Court Commissioner from
Seaford hundred, and was On motion re'in.
stated thus retaining the statu quo.
To the credit of four ont Of five Of tho
Democratic members of the Levy Court
but one vote was cast in favor of Mr.
Handy, In the face Of this fact the i'm.
maculate Every Evening sets up the fol-
lowing howl Of Indignation: There was
no scheme for "the removal of Green Ho
removed himself by changing his residence
from Senford to North West Fork hun
drcd. The law is very plain upon the sub
jeCt Of residence, being contained IN Sec
3, chapter s, Revised Code, relating to the
Levy Court, rs follows:
No person shall be commissioner for
hundred unless he reside and is a freehold
or therein. If commissioner remove
from hundred, or cease to be freehoiu'
er therein, his Office shall thereupon be-
come vacant
Proof of the vacancy occnsioned by
GREEN'S change of residence having been
presented to Governor Tunnel, tho latter.
as was his duty under the law, proceeded
to fill tho vacancy.
In refusing to recogi nizo tho appoint.
ment, the Republican members of tho
Lovy Court were guilty of open violation
of law.
The ncxt Leglsla ture can apply tho
remedy by abolishing tho Levy Court,
with its partisan Republican majority,
and substituting a body Of five commits
sioners in its stead Violaters of law have
no right to hold public office,
The above is from paper that pretends
to advocate honesty and purity in politics.
Like the highway man nothing. Is honest
but that which comes his way. Democracy
in Delaware stands for but one thing and
that is get all you can no matter how dis-
reputable the means. The end justifles the
means This Sussex steal is in Keeping
with tho attempted steal in New Castle
county, when Republican mai ority OF
over 1900 Republican votes was attempted
to show Democratic majority, but which
failed and tho poor dupos were punished
by being fined 500. For this decision
Judse Cullen was shclved and retired on
a pension of $500 for five years. For hon
csty in politics Delaware takes the cake.