The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-18
POLITICAL NOTES. :
A Better Ballot Law to be Given
the Notes.-The Constitutional
Convention Besieged to Put in
a Clause Favoring Local Option
GREATNESS Soon Fades When
the Law Gets After the
Thoughtless.

The big blanket ballot which our leals.
latars gave us is receiving some attention
again nc the hands Of our legislators al
Dover Two ballot bills made their ap.
pearanoe yesterday morning In the House,
and they will receive careful attention
from the Democratic members, who say
they are in favor of fair and honest cleo
tions.
The voters assistant which the Demo
Gratis blanc the Union Republicans OF
Kent and Sussex counties for using with
such good results AZ the lats election, al.
though they were cheated out OF their
victory Is to be wiped outi The Demo.
Gratis after having given us this use
less officer Of elections, now contend that
the voters assistants arc q source Of fraud
at elections.
10 avoid blots In marking the ballots
1t Is now proposed to use an indelible
pencil for that purpose. 1t will be a
miracle II a law is devised that will pro
teot the voter at the polls. Their greatest
thing. has been how to keep the Demo.
Gratis In power, and every subterfuge has
been resorted to with that end in view and
only that end. All the talk about honest
elections, count for naught when election
day rolls around.
10 give us an honest election lot there
be four Commissioners Of election, instead
OF three as that body Is now composed
Let 1t be two Democrats aud two Repub-
licans. Then let the election officers be
divided up equally between the two
parties
Then only will wo have se.nblance of
honestly conducted elections. Actions
speak louder than words. It's pity that
there should be so much said on dishonest
elections when all of the machinery for
Nnnhnptinn than, how laap In, bn I,
OF the men who are now trying to devise
soino other means whereby the majority
shall mob be given chance to rule. ~
IL Is pretty nearly time that our law
makers were doing something to earn
their pay, A few bills have besn passed
changing some roads and school districts
in the swamps of our State. They have
alsu elected u United States Senator who
ear ned his reward duringth late election
IN Kent county.
The Democrats SEQ that the faithful are
al says rewarded aud that Is saying more
than the Republican party does Tor the
men who labor FOE It's advancement.
Mr., Dempsey stirred up quite an honet's
nest yesterday. when he introduced a reso.
luLloh lr the House, inviting the Hon.
james d. Mcguire of California to address
tho assembly on taxation. The House
would have nome Of his single tax doc.
triae5 eApouud6d before them and voted
tho resolution down.
-. Ed 'or Powers Of the dcfunct Economist
who was indicted for libeling candidate
Slaughter during the late campaign failed
to answer TO his name when his case Camo
up III The upper court, ami his trial has
gone over until the May term OF court. He
will either make his appearance when his
name Is called at the May term Of court or
forerelt his bail. 1t remains to be seen
what the outcome of this famous libel suit
vii! result in. The life of his paper was
short and erratic. But there are others.
The liquor men were given u respectful
hearing before the Constitutional Con.
ventlon on Tuesday aud say they feel
greatly encouraged at their reception.
The proposed remedy in the hands Of
the Constitutional Convention does not
offer any better safe guards to be thrown
around the ballot'box than have hereto.
fore existed. The next Legislature es.
peclally If 1t be Democratic will be asked
to take action on the election laws tho
same tbs has tho Legislature that met in
1873, and the one now IN session. The
Constitutional Convention hopes to be
able to solve the enigma but will they &C.
cOmplish it2
A committee composed Of Messrs e T.
Warner, George w. Todd, H. +. Pickles,
Alfred Gawthrop W. 4. Cam, Jonathan
Rhoads, J. r. Tatun. George c. Hall and
DR. L. ). Murray visited Dover on We'd
nesday and spoke before tho Constitu.
tlunal Convention for the insertion Of a
clause In the new constitution to give the
right to vote Oh local option throughout
the State.
Funny things happened in the proceed
ings Of the Legislature, One of these was
on Tuesday, when Senator Alrichs by
mistake introduced bill to give the Della.
ware Industrial School for Girls an appro.
priation of 81, 100000. 1t was seen in time
and the Statu Treasury saved from bank.
ruptCy.
Some mems heads swell when given
a little authority. Rr There are plenty Of
them In our city. 1t is u pity that they
can swell themselves up like the toad and
then burst. The world would DO better
without them
1t hrgins to look as if the biblo upon
which the witnesses In the Court
take tho oath to tell the would DO
done AWAY with in the near future
Such bill has been introduced in the
House by Representative Chears. 1t will
save the wear ana tear OF conscience Of
olitlolanS on election day, who are requir.
I'd To take an oath on assuming their
duties
Tho Governor it is said is not ayerse to
making re- appointments to office and it is |
Tor this reason that COlen Ferguson Clerk |
II tho Orphans Court has got expectations |
It succeeding himself for another term of |
i've years. All tho sane Mr.. Crockett of |
is making hustling canvass
or It, lie Is nova trustee of the poor. |
ho Levy Court has been in session two |
Jays and promises to be kept busy the bal.
ince of this week going over tho books Of |
no different county Assessors Consider |
Ibc complaint is being made Of assess
nents being raised.
All the pretty girls CGn be seen at the !
Shields Library Fair, sixth and THtnall.