Evening journal., 1897-01-04
WATCHFUL DEMOCRATS
They Will Carefully Consider
Republican Suggestions.
DIR, E. ". COOPER SMELLS A MOUSE
MR.. SPRUANCE SUGGESTS A
THREE-MO CITIZENSHIP
AS A QUALIFICATION FOR
VOTING-CHANCERY ON THE
HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

Special Correspondence Evening Journal
DOVER. Jan. 4.--Ther'e is no doubt
that the two brainiest men whom the
Republicans have in the Constitutional
Convention are Hon. William G. Spru-
ance and Hon. Edward G. Bradford.
They are not only brainy but also ex-
ceedingly shrewd. Their long exper-
ience at the bar has taught them the
use of words. both veiled and unveiled,
and the important bearing that a
clause, word or punctuation mark often
has in determining the real meaning
OF a law. whether organic or statutory.
They believe with Talleyrand, the emil
nent French statesman. that words
were made to conceal thoughts
Both Of these Republican delegates
were ardent advocates of non-parti-
san convention. They came within one
vote of it by entering into the Kent
county compromise, but it is evident
that Mr. Spruance, at least, is not al
together IN favor of a nOn-partisan
Constitution, and some of his Demo-
cratic colleagues on the committees of
which he is chairman, have had their
eyes opened since the committees got
fairly to work
Pending the report of the committee
on governor and other executive Off
GERS, he suggested in committee that
the acting governor should not partici-
pate in legislative matters. which was
"A cut at Acting-Governor Watson. and
which might also morally affect the
status of Colonel Henry A. DuPonts
claim to a seat in the United States
Senate. Some of the Democratic mem
bers voted for his suggestion, but
trhfp tho uapaa of In. IL NN Common
Democrat, of North Murderkill hun
dred, was called he saw through the
ruse and called the attention OF his
Democratic colleagues to it. and they
reversed their votes.
Then as chairman of the committee
on elections Mr.. Spruance suggests
among other things, as qualifca-
ton for voting citizenship of three
mOnths.t This means that n foreigner
must have received his final naturaliza-
ton papers at least three months be-
fore the election. 1t is no political Sc
cret that the large bulk OF the foreign
vote goes TO the Democratic party, and
its workers do everything in their
power to get such foreigners to re-
nounce allegiance to the mother coun-
try and become citizens of the United
States. Heretofore they have been
naturallzed clear up TO election day, but
II seems to be part of the Republican
plan to cut the Democratic party out
OF the benefits derived from such
eleventh-hOur naturalizations, and the
Democratic members are now fully
alive to the fact.
mMost of the report of the committed
on elections is a mere matter of legisla-
tien, and carries with il no penalties
for violations of the provisions
ANOTHER SUGGESTIVE sUGGES.
TION.
Another peculiar thing connected
with the work of the convention so fan
is that the report of one committe,
provides that the chancellor shall be ;
member of the Board of Pardons. Will,
the one-judge system, which the Re
publicans are endeavoring to hav,
adopted, provides that the Office o
chancellor shall be abolished. If ther,
are many more Inconsistencies of thi,
character II is likely that a committe,
on comparison and revision will be ap
pointed.