The sun., 1898-11-13
NOVEL POLITICAL MEETINGS
Delaware and Maryland Demo.
cratic Speakers Snapped
at Delmar.
TOWN SITUATE ON STATE LINE
Delaware Political Platform on One
Side Of Street and Maryland on
Other-One Brass Band and
a Gathering of About
100 People.
TOWN SITUATE ON STATE LINE

The swapping OF political speakers be-
tween two States is quite unusual, yet
Delaware and Maryland to-day stand
distinctively alone in this popularity.
Delmar was the scene Of the exchange,
and it is being argued in that quiet
country town, now that the election is
over and the result known, just which
State got the better of the exchange.
Monday afternoon proceeding election
day has become famous in this State as
the day on which country folks in the
two lower counties shall be entertained
from gaily bedeckt d platforms by home
talent orators of no mean ability, with
the occasional addition of foreign
speaker if the treasury OF the campaign
fund permits.
This day of speech-making, with its
large sale of liquor, generally plays an
important part in the battle of ballots on
the day following, sometimes by reason
Of the strength OF some particular speech
and other times by reason of the large
sale of liquor.
Many Of these days have been cele-
brsted in the little town of Delmar, in
Sussex county, but last Monday produced
such an extraordinary proceeding that
the ,townspeople have caused a detailed
account to be placed on the town record.
Delmar is situated upon the State line
which divides Delaware and Maryland,
forming the southern boundry of the
former State. This division line runs
through the center of the town, thereby
causing some OF the residents Of Delmar
to be citizens OF Delaware, while others
are citizens of Maryland. Last Monday
two platforms for speakers were erected
in Delmar, one upon the north side of
Main street, which is in Delaware, and
one on the south side of Main street,
which is in Maryland.
The erection of the two platforms was
for the occasion of two Democratic
political meetings, one by Delaware
Democrats, in the interest of Delaware
State and county candidates, and the
other by Maryland Democrats in the in
terest Of Maryland candidates.
One brass band attended, its expenses
being paid for by the combined Delaware
and Maryland committees. The meet
ings opened and State and national is
sues were presented to the crowd which,
for some unknown reason, was rather
slim, numbering only about 100.
The crowd passed from State to State
and back again, dividing its time equally
among the two meetings.
Finally the Delaware speakers had
finished and but short time thereafter
the Maryland speakers were through.
The crowd did not seem satisfied. and
still hung around the two meeting
places. A consultation Of Delaware and
Maryland speakers was held and it
being ascertained that neither aggrega-
ton were abe to present any new facts
to their constituents it was decided that
the Delaware speakers should mount the
Maryland platform and the Maryland
speakers should get upon the Delaware
platform and harangue the Diamond
State crowd.
The two States swapped speakers and
the two meetings reopened. The day
was a success The brass band was paid.
The crowd of 100 was delighted.
And the election took place next day.