Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-07
TEE LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES
rcon,Inued from t,rst page. j

and as dangerous to the community as an
intimidated or cocrced one. BY 1t, self
government is poisoned at its fountain,
and proud and self-respecting citizen
,ship, so essential to free government,
made impossible.
No one doubts the immortality OF these
practices, or that their continuance will
sap the robust manhood Of any community
in which they are permitted to exist. To
stamp out this immortality, the law Of our
State should lend its strongest sanctions
The briber and brihed are alike unworthy
TO exercise the high privilege of citizenship
In free State, and the law should create
and enforce public opinion, which In its
turn will support the law. in making those
guilty of either giving or receiving bride
ms a consideration for vote, live under
the stigma of having committed a crime as
heinous as any denounced in our Statute
Book.
No law which would have the effect of
Furnishing the bribe-taker, and allowing
the bribe-giver to go scathless, would be
adequate for the grave condition 1t is re-
quired to meet. or respond to the just de-
mands made by the aroused conscience of
the people of our State. No time should
he lost in listening to wordy elimination or
rccrimination between the members of OPP
posing parties. That would only please
those who are willing that these abhorrent
practices should continue.
If in the days when the disease was less
aggravated there were those who either
did not see. or closed their eyes to its dan
gerous character, surely now that its raw
ages have extended to such frightfnl ex-
tent as TO threaten all wholesome political
life, men of all parties who love their
State and recognize common peril. must,
and we believe WILL unite in eradicatng It.
A thorough consideration of the reforms
In our ballot law suggested by the expert
ence Of its practical operation, is duty
not likely to escape your attention. If the
present law passed to secure a perfectly
secret ballot, and thus minimize the OPP
portunity for bribery, has in practice
measurably failed in accomplishing that
admirable purpose, amendments of the
law should be so framed as to cure its de-
fects in that regard. Especially il II is
found that part of the machinery Of the
ballot law itself. has been made an instru-
mentality of fraud and corruption, should
that part be done away with.
Amendments to. the law, denouncing
Justification of returns made by election
officers, or others, to the boards of cam
vass. may be found necessary on examina-
ton of its provisions. No effort should be
spared to make swift and sure the punish
ment of those who can gain their own CON
sent to destroy the record of the peoples
will. The integrity of the certificates OF
The votes cast by the electors. must he
maintained ut all hazards and at any cost.
IL that is endangered or made doubtful
then indeed free self-governing people
ceases to exist.
The confidence which has hitherto been
reposed, in the honesty and self-respectine
character of those who guard and keep the
ballot box and the returns, between the
time of signing the certificates, and the
reading of the same in the board of can.
vass, must not be, destroyed or impaired
If any, however few, have betrayed OF
violated it, law should not be wanting fol
their condign punishment.
Bespeaking for this important subject
your earnest and patriotic attention, i leave
1t in your hands, with full confidence that
You will respond 10 the urgent and obvious
call of duty that it makes upon you.
William 4. Watson.
Dover, Jan. 6.-The organization OF
the General Assembly yesterday
attraced many politicians and curious
people to the State House, and in view
advisable to admit only members of the
two houses and such other persons ne
were necessary for organization until
organization had been effected.
The Senate proved the greater
attraction. The following mem bers
and members elect wert present
Messrs. Pyle, Handy and Alrichs OF
New Castle county; Harrington, Fenni
more and Meredith Of Kent, and W.
Il. Moore, John NJ. G. Moore and G.
Fisher Pierce OF Sussex. Clerk Hast.
ings of the last Senate was also present.
Mr.. Fennimore called the Senate te
order, and immediately Mr.. Handy
nominated Mr.. Alrichs and Mr. Har.
rington nominated Mr.. Pyle for tenn
porary chairman. Both nominations
were made almost simultaneously. Or
vote being taken Mr.. Pyle received {
votes and Mr.. Alrichs 4. Messrs Pyle,
Harrington, Fennimore. Meredith ano
W. 7 Moore voted for Mr.. Pyle ano
Messrs. Handy, Alrichs. John M. G.
Moore and g. Fisher Pierce voted fol
MIR. Alrichs. Objections were Offered
by Messrs. Handy and Arichs, but Mr..
Pyle was declared by Mr.. Fennimore,
who had put the motion. to have
received majority of the votes. anc
tiDIltlidtcIy dttbT btlnR ubUlHTbt
elected Mr.. Pyle took the chair. The
Republicans contended that Mr.. Mere
dith had no right to vote, and that II
view OF that fact but four votes hat
been cast for each candidate for tenn
porary chairman aud that there hac
been no election. the contention
were not sustained, although Messrs
Handy and Alrichs continued 10 pro
test.
On motion OF Mr. Harrington, i
was decided to elect temporary secre
tary. Mr.. Harrington nominated Mr.
Fennimors and Mr.. Handy nominated
John NJ. G. Moore. As Mr. Hanb,
broke in on Mr.. Harrington, his nomi
nation Of Mr.. Moore was put as al
amendment to the nomination of Mr.
Fennimore by Harrington. The amend
ment was put and lost, and the motor
to elect Mr.. Fennimore was carried
After the question had been decided
Mr.. Handy called for the yea and ma,
vote, but the motion was not enter
tanned.
Mr.. Handy insisted on his demant
for the yeas and nays. He put up
stiff fight for recognition, notwith
standing that he was almost alon
in the matter. He was declared on
Of order when he began to make al
address.
On motion Of Mr.. Harrington tn
,a.t;H,,f.a ~ N, an, hars ataat $500.