Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-24
Ex. Postmaster Daniel F. Stewart was

Ills Term OF HerVlCe Will VlrbuHlly eAp'"
with the clops of tho present special
session of the Legislature.
Senator elect Stewart is known as an |
Addicks or Union Republican, bnt some
Of the Regulars. finding that Shcy had
no hope of electing man single
banded, fall into line with the Ad-
Ciicksitea and voted ACCORDING to the
dictates of ths Addicks leaders,. no
puhlicans identified with both factions
OF the party were active and succeeded
In getting out large vote, while many
Democrats, who did not fancy the idea
of opposition to Tbumns L. Meldiu,
the regular Democratic nominee, lost
all interest in tho contest and re-
NAMED awny from the polls. For this
reason only light vote was polled by
the Democrats. or course, there wero
some workers for Mr.. Weldin and also
some for Mr.. Haughey, who exercised
themselves on behalf OF their respective
candidates, hut in some places Demo-
Gratis absolutely refused to go to the
polls and cast their bailots knowing
that there was very little at stake and
that it was virtually useless to take the
trouble in view of the apparent ANAL
gnmation 10 the Republican ranks for
the time being. This accounts for tine
numerical showing OF the Democratic
vote.
The Prohibitionists had placed
Richard W. Brown in nomination, hut,
of course, had no intention Of making
any sort OF fight. 1t was mHtter OF
principle with them and the cold water
leaders felt IL duty to place a ticket
in tho field. The vote, naturally, was
small.
The election, on ths whole, was IN
yventful. This is due largely to the
general lack Of interest. In the city
there was no excitement OF any moment,
and at some Of the polling places there
were times when the election officers
had long waits. There were very few
unpleasant conflicts, aud, as far as is
known, nothing serious occurred in any
of the polling places in the county.
The Department OF Elections and
Police Department hal taken every
prscautiun to have the election con
Quoted properly and in accordance with
law, and their efforts were admirably
rewarded. The members of both de-
partments deserve credit for the SUCCESS
and ouietness Of the whole affair.
Mr.. Stewards majority was ], l37.
The total Democratic vote was 2,961,
as against 9.632 in 1896, while tho Re.
publican vote was 4,05S, as against
l2, 263 at the election in 1896. The
figures given for 1896 represent this vote
cast for Presidential electors
At night a telegram was received
hy The Gazette announcing that nj
election had been held in Blackbirt
hundred, the reason given being tina
the Democratic inspectors failed to pu
in an appearance.
Various schemes were used in thi
city by the Republicans To capture tn
unwary voter. A number OF ticket
were circulated at some OF the pollinl
places which were calculated to de
ceive They were headed 'Democrati
Ticket" and hors Daniel f. Stewart
name, In nearly every case when tn
vote WINS counted the election officer
decided that they were illegal ballots
and we're thrown out
In the Twelfth ward, after the windo'
went down citizen attempted to g
inside the polling place In order to vii
ness the counting OF the ballots ii
was prevented from doing so by aomt
body inside ard serious trouble wa
threatened. Officer McGarvey, who va
in the vicinity. summoned assistant
and trouble was averted.
The Board of Canvass OF electio
officers met at the Court House at noe
Tuesday to make formal presentatio
of the returns of Mondays speci
election, In addition to the otlice
there were present Receiver of TaSl
Horace G. Rettew, Col. d. T.. Barnard
Winfield s. Quigley, Deputy Marsh
Clark, Col. Charles NJ. lIeitch, Walt
II. Hnyes. Capt. Edmund Mitchell, Jr
Francis S. Bradley, City Treasurer y
II. Curry, Assessor Thomas s. Levi
and otherrs. Philip Q. Churchmt
and Walter ii. Hayes wore on hand
give their advice, but no Democrat
lawyera appeared until the board hi
nearly completed its work. There "
little difference OF opinion in q
board, one question arising as TO openil
the ballot box OF the SECOND ward,
the absence OF tho inspector, and tn
was done ON motion, without disser
In the Fifth ward. Al Haughey vol
had Eeen thrown out as irregular.
@ Sheriff William X. Finn called t
board together about five minutes aft
70 o'clock. Tins roll of hundreds O
wards was answered by all hut abo
half a dozen inspectors, and they
appoared before the conclusion of I
WORK, with the exception OF the Blat
bird hundred inspector, it being
ported that no slectIon was held the
Robert Affair was appointed clerk
behalf of the Republicans and James
BRADY, OH behalf of tho Democrats.
assessura announced the votes in tn
respeGtive hundredH or wards.
Assessor Ruth reported that in
Fifth ward, Al Iaughey votes had bt
thrown out because they did not c.
tain the words "in lien of Robert
Hanby." The sheriff remarked &
the inspectors at the polls were
Judges on such points. Ono of the
spoctors said that On that reason all
1augheY votes in North Christie
- hundred might have been thrown @
But they had been counted, and "
allowed to stand.
The Second ward inspector was
I, sent when his nnme was called
Sheriff Finn asked il the board wo
have the ballot box Of that ward open
Some question arose as to whether
action would be legal. Doubts v
set at rest by the reading OF seci
OF the law allowing the board to opt
box in the absence of the inspec
The box was then opened, and tue
certificates therein found to agree. )
afterwards the inspector arrived
read his certificate, which agreed
the other two.
After all tho returns had leen
ceived, the clerks totalled them, an
a few minutes the total vote was
nounced.