Smyrna times., 1898-08-10
THE WORK OF
REGISTRATION SATURDAY.
Challenging on the New Oath.

Saturday was the first day of Regis
tratiOn of voters for the coming cleo
tion in Delaware. The work was mea-
greas to numbers. In the Eastern Dis
trict there were 33 names registered as
against 80, two years ago, and, in the
Western District A, as against 116, the
first day two years ago. This is big
difference and arises possibly, in part,
from the early date this year, August
9Th, while the first day two years ago
was September 18th. Another mater
ial difference is that last year there was
nothing to pay, while this year reg
istration fee of $1.00 had to be paid.
The Board of Registration for the
Eastern District was composed of j.
Fletcher Truax, registrar; John T.
Garrison and H. L. Smith, assistants.
Western District, G. Davis Brown,
registrar; Geo. W. Gordon and Ephraim
Lower, assistants.
The day passed without material in
cident, yet there were several that in
dicated the changed condition that
comes with registration under the new
constitution.
VIM. A. FAIRIES was the first man to
be challenged. He insisted on know
ing on what ground, saying he had
neither under the old or new law, at
tempted to hinder, bribe or interfere
in any way with the franchise of q
voter. AS his team was waiting for
him, he deferred the finishing of reg
| istration to subsequent meeting of
the Board.
In the afternoon, in the same Dis
trict, VIM. H. Baggs was challenged
by r. Y. Wallen. Mr.. Baggs asked on
what grounds he was challenged. Mr..
Wallen said his charge was simply
statutory, that he had no specific
charges. Mr.. Baggs denied that he
had in any way violated the constitu-
tion in a single provision and took the
oath. MIR. Wallen was the next
man to offer his name for registration
and was promptly challenged by Mr..
Baggs. On being questioned for his
reasons, he replied on the simple
ground that Mr.. Wallen had challeng-
ed him-statutory. Mr.. Wallen took
the oath.
In the Eastern District, when Thomas
Jefferson came to register, he was
challenged by Wilson Z. Cavender
When questioned on what charge, Mr..
Cavender hesitated to name any than
statutory. Mr.. Jefferson demanded 9
specific charge of violating the law, re.
marking to Mr.. Cavender, 81 have
never bought vote and that is more
than you can say" Mr.. Jefferson in.
sisted that suspicion" or some reason
should be put opposite his name, but
the Registrar objected to any other
word than statutory" and he took
the oath.
DIR. T. @. Moore was challenged by
Mr.. Cavender, giving his grounds al
in the other case-statutory. The doc
tor insisted on being specific, saying
he had not violated the oath as pre-
scribed in the new constitution. After
some parleying Mr.. Cavender named
the fifth section. "Ah! now you are
getting down to it" said the doctor
'I want something definite" and b,
took the oath and registered. "Now,
said Mr.. Cavender, 81 want you t,
challenge me-" II decline to exer
r else my constitutional prerogative,
: said the doctor, without somethins
J specific to offer. "
, There were only one or two coloret
men in either district, who went befor
} the Board. One of these was John +
: Hawkins, who has constant employ
ment the year round at good wages
, paid weekly. Notwithstanding thi
fact, he was put through a series 0
questions as to who gave him the dol
: lar to register, by what means he go
! the money and &c.
q From the small number of name
3 presented, as might be inferred, th
registrars and challengers We're ia
q from being busy, and there was mucl
! time for talking, which went on a
! pleasantly as if they had been in at
tendance on o Spanish bull fight.