The sun., 1898-10-23

questions Of the day, yet it should be re-
membered that Mr. Handy has been
most active in defending Democratic
principals and promoting the welfare OF
both instances being given as the same.
The intent of the voters counts for mllch.
It should be final and conclusive.
Under the provisions OF the election
law there is no provision whatever,
made for making corrections IN tickets
after they are filed with the Clerk OF the
P.ace-a lapse that should be promptly
remedied when the General Assembly
m, cts. If the error had not been discov-
cred until the tickets we're printed, it
would be another matter. The Union
Republican committee has also filed with
the Clerk OF the Peace, since the error
was noted, a certificate setting forth that
where the name OF Samuel N. Knox"
appears in the nomination certificate it
should be Samuel NJ. Knox. Thus the
Clerk of the Peace has information upon
that point. The clerk, in view OF any
law to the contrary, could very properly
make the correction before the ticket is
printed, and he would be justified, in
view of the circumstances, in so doing.
But he is. of course, bound by the law
on the subject, and the matter of errors
was never contemplated by the General
Assembly.
So far as the charges of bad faith are
concerned we have not the slightest
idea that anything of the sort was at
tempted. 1t was one of those mistakes
that are frequent in everyday trans
I NJ, Il 10
and rewritten. 1t was simply clerical
error and nothing else. But the Repub-
lican voters need have no anxiety in the
matter, as the two Republican tickets to
appear upon the official ballot are to be
identical and the voters have only to use
the column marked Republican, and
headed with the emblem of an eagle.
That would obviate the possible danger
of an unseemly and unwarranted contest
should the votes cast for samuel N.
Knox" and Samuel NJ. Knox so divide
the total Republican vote as to give the
Democratic candidate an apparent plu-
rality. In addition, it must be remem-
bered that, under section &, of article s.,
Of the Constitution, the Superior Court
will be the actual returning board and
no injustice would be permitted bv the
court. The Constitution says:
The said court shall have all the jnris-
diction and powers now vested by law in
the boards of canvass, and such other
powers as shall be provided by law.
Thus the court has full power in the
matter, and the intent of the voters being
clearly determined in the two certificates,
both of which gave the same residence
for the candidate for State Senator in the
First district, no technically would
stand in the way of the intent of the
voters being recognized. 1t is, therefore,
very small business for a Democratic
paper which continually shrieks for fair
ness in matters political, to say that,
should the votes for Mr.. Knox be divid-
ed sufficiently to show plurality for the
Democratic candidate: an that event
the State Senate, should it prove to be a
Democratic body, in the exercise of its
undoubted prerogative in the premises,
would declare Mr.. johnson to BE- the e-
gally elected State Senator from the first
district"
This is clearly a bid for more Demo-
cratic sharp practices. Technically the
Senate wonld have the right to take such
a step, but morally no reputable man
would engage in such small business.
Of course, our neighbor would be willing
to capture the Senate or secure another
Democratic member by just such an I'M
just proceeding. Were there more than
one Samuel M. Knox in the city, and
were the residence of the candidate not
specifically set forth in both certificates
Of nomination, there would possibly be
some doubt on the subject. As it is,
there can be no doubt and the votes that
may be cast for Samuel N. Knox" will
be recorded for Samuel M. Knox, the
man for whom they will be intended.
But Democratic newspaper, of high
moral ideas, that practically sanctions
such all arbitrary act as the one sug.
gested, stoOps to the same level as the
most inscriptions Democratic trickster
in the State
1t will he recalled that at the election
of 1896 there was a mistake in printing
the name of one of the joint candidates
for Republican Presidential Eector, and
in both New Castle and Sussex counties
the name was printed James G. Shaw on
one ticket and James &. Shaw, Sr, on
VIC OtileI tlCket, DuI DOln names were
intended for the same man. In Kent
county the name was printed in one way
only. When the vote was counted it
was found that the joint candidate had
received about the same number OF votes
under each ofthe two names. Had il
been taken as two men, John Fl. Rod
ney, a Democratic candidate, would have
been elected. Governor Watson, how.
ever acting in spirit of perfect fairness
and taking into consideration the clear
intent of the voters, decided that James
&. Shaw had been elected and he was
awarded his certificate. Governor Wat
son, at the time, was commended for his
action. 1t was based upon right and jus.
tice, and honest citizens were satisfied.
The precedent set by Governor Watson
is one that can well be accepted and
should at once suggest itself should &
i. similar situation be created in the future.
-Np"i"y Ne~s'
Mr.. Handy has made most creditable
representative of the people of Delaware
in the Congress cf the the United. States