Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-28

Registration and the Primaries
Workers and voters of all puhtical
parties must bear in mind the changed
condition of affairs political in the
pending campaign. Under the new
Primary Election law. no one can vote
at party primary without being
registered, and the party primaries
will therefore take plncs during after
the first three dhys Of registration,
which will 10 Saturdays, August 9th,
18th and goth.
The attention OF Republican politi-
oians and voters is particularly called
to this important matter. A Primary
Election law is no now thing in New
CASTLE county although the present
law is far better and more effective
than anything in this Inns ever before
lttempted--but somehow or other Re
publicans have always entertained the
dslueion that the law applied to Demo
cratic primaries only, and did not affect
the primary contests OF their party.
And 30, while Democrats mads some
prstence OF observing the law, the Re-
publicans absolutely ignored IT and
held primaries at which illegal voting
ana ballot box stullng reignsd supreme.
The present law, however, ID severe in
its provisions against such frauds, and
10 SO manifestly in favor Of making this
party primary a fairly honest expression
of party sentiment, that 1t will be
generally approved by all yotere.
The Democratic party, as We before
remarked, did make pretencs-in
some instances very oomm0pdable--of
observing the old Primary Election
law, and IL is underHiood that the solid
sentiment of tas party 10 in favor Of
observing the present law TO the letter.
In addition. We understand, there is a
determination on the part OF the party
nation that the Law will not be re-
spected--to see that IL ia strictly OBJ
served or the offenders made to suffer
the extreme penalties This is an atti-
tude In which tine party authorities
will be sustained by the best party
sentiment, as well as by the best Renti.
ment of the whole people, and they
should not ialter 10 their determina-
tioD, no matter what opposition they
may encounter.
1t being eettled fact, therefore,
that Democratic primaries will be con
Quoted with full regard to the provis-
ions of the Primary Election law, it
will he well for Democratic voters to
familarize themselves with the require
mems of that law. lite main provision
so far as the voters are concerned in
fact, the only ons in which they nre
vitality interesied-is that only persona
qualified to vote at the general election
shall be permitted to vote at the party
primaries. And, in order to satisiac-
torlly establish this qualification, 1t is
further provided that before he can
vote at the primary election, the
voter must register for voting at the
general election.
Hers is u wise provision. anu one
that, in connection with other safe
guardB Of the law, ought to make .
party primary as honest in it's manage
ment and result as the general election.
1t will be we'll, therefore, for Domo
Gratis to remember that registration il
necessary before they can vote at tn,
primary elections They may get regis
tered on the first three Saturdays o
August, the 9Th, 18th and 10th, auC
the Democratic primaries for New
Cattle county have been set for Satur
day, September 10th.
Democrats should carefully conside
this important relation of registration
TO primary sloctions. Unless they ge
regiaierad on one of the first thre
Saturdays in August, they cannot yot
at tho primaries of September 10th, a
which candidates fer sheriff, coroner
and other county Offices will be noun
mated. Republicans also should ra
member this new political condition
although it is not yet known whethe
the Republican politicians intend I
pay any more attention to the ne,
Primary Election law than they did t
the old one.