Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-21
STILL COUNTING ON CORRUPTION.

connection with the scandalous Bug
geation hv gave voice to--is thus TO.
ported by the Sunday Star. in answer TO
tho question Of a reporter: How about
tho party naylng the voters reeistra
ton foe under tho provisions OF tho new
CONSTITUTIONS"
"why, that will DO easy. There ia
no law to ,lebar mo from loanlng 81 at ,
@ nor cent interest 10 every man who !
wants TO borrow it for the purpose OF |
paving his registration fec. Why, my |
dear sir. l would DO protected hy the |
mans note and he would not DO Obliged
TO pay tho 81 and interest to me. Tall; |
about not being ahle to USE money IL
Ia easier than ever when you know your |,
people.
Even tho suggestion Of such vsnality
is deserving of severe condemnation,
il not actual punishment, Ihg peuple
of Delaware recently held C0nstitu
tional Convention, ia which some of
their best and most thoughtful citizens
gave serious attention to tho matter of
SECURING Il free aud inGorriptible suf-
frage, in order that all future elections
might correctly record the honest Henti
ment of the waters of tho State. And
got hero comes venal politician Of low
Instincts and vicious mind. with
dgliberate suggestion Ut meana OF cir.
cimyentIng tho reform etIorts of the
nakora Of our Consultation, and accom-
pliRhing tho very evil ends that thoy
legislated against. Surely, such man,
after seeing his hideouH suggestion in
print, should at loBst feel much ashamed
OF himself. Ii Is IA matter of regret
that he cannot bB considered us an
actual violntur of the law, as he ia
already in mind and intent, and DO
punished accordingly.
But We arc not 30 sure that the sug.
gestion OF CHS corrupt minded Repub-
Iican viii accomplish tho desired end.
The Constitution covers the ground
very thoroughly. Section 3 Of Article
v. providing: "No person who shall
receive or aGuept, or ulTer to receive or
accept or shall pay, transfer, or deliver,
ar offer or promise to pay, transfer, or
deliver, or shall contribute, or offer or
promise to contribute to another, to
be paid or used, any money or otlior
vHiuable thing as Il compepsaton, in
basement or reward for tho registering
or abstanipg from registering Of any
ono qualified to rogistor, or for tho
giving or withholding, or in any manner
influencing the giving or withholding,
vote at any general, special or MUM
cinal election in this state, shall vote
at such election; and upon challenge
for any of said causes, this person so
challenged, before thu officers authorized
for that purpose shall receive his vote,
shall awear or affirm bsfDro such officers
that he has not received or accepted, or
offered to receivs or accept, or paid,
transferred or delivered, or offered or
promised to pay, transfer or deliver.
or contributed, or offered or promised
to contribute to another, TO no paid or
used, any money or other valuable thing
aB a compensation, inducement or re.
ward for tho registering or abstainns
from registering Of any one qualified to
register. or for the giving or withhold
ing. or in any manner influencing tho
giving or Withholding, vote ut ouch
election.
We think that careful persual OF
this section by this corrupt Union Re.
nuhlican will convince him that II
covers his suggestion Of taking tho notes
Of corrupted voters for one dollar each.
1t will at loast open tho way TO action.
The applicants for registration may he
challenged. and proceedings may bt
taken against those who furnish tht
money, under Section 7 of the sam,
article of tho Constitution, which readI
us folows
See. I. Every person who, either il
or out of tho State, shall receivD ur nc
cept, or otTer to receive or accent, ol
shall pay, transfer or deliver, or ofioI
Or promise to pay. transfer or deliver
or Bhall contribute. or otier or promisI
10 contribute, TO another to be paid u
used, any money or other valuable thinI
as u compensation, induuameDt or no
ward for the giving or withholding, o
In ha .riu in,
ar Withholding, n vote at any general
special, or municipal election in thi
State or at any primary election, con
vention or Inseting held for tho purpos
of nominating any candidate or cRndi
dates to lie voted for at suCh general
special or municipal election; or who
other in or ous OF the state. shall max
or become directly or Indirectly part
IN any Eet or wager Impending upon tn
result OF any such general, special
~ municipal or primary election or con
vention or meeting, or upon ynt
thureat by any person; or who, aitho
in or out OK she State 6hnll, by the US
or promiHu of money or other valuabl
thing, or otherwise, cause or attemr
to cause any officer of election or regis
tration officer to violate his otlicit
duty; or who, either IN or out Of til
Dlubot buHllt ny tnu upu VI llohtno :
money or other valuable thing iniluonc
or attempt IL influence any person TO /
registered or abstain from being regli
tered or who, being an officer uf eleutio
or registration officer, shall knowingl
and wilfully violate his official duty {
who, shall by force, threat, monaco or il
limitation, prevent or hinder, or attemI
TO prevent or hinder, any person quail
fled for registration. from being regt
tered, or any person qualified to yo
from voting according to his choice
any such general, special or municip
election, shall be deemed guilty OF
mislemeunor, and shall bo fined not le
than ono hundred dollars nor more tha
five thousand dollars, or shall be IN
prjsoned for q term not less than OF
month, nor more than three years, {
shall suffer both iino and Imprisonment
within Hald limits, at tho dissertation
the court aud, if "a male, shall furth
for term of ton years next followir
his sentences, DO incapable Of voting
amy such general, special, municilr
or primary election or convention
meeting; but the penalty OF dlsiral
chisoment shall not apply to any reIs'
making or being u party to any bet
wager. depending upon the result
any such general. special, municipal
primary election or convention or NEE
ing.
We are OF the opinion that tn
Union Republican and his friends HI
hotter not attempt this dollar loan wi