Smyrna times., 1898-10-19
THE CURIOUS UPS AND
DOWNS OF POLITICS.
How Bad Politics May Act an a Boomer
anQ.

A Wilmington paper, the Sun, has
the following in relation to politics in
Delaware, that to say the least, pre-
sents situation that may be curious
to the reader. Starting out with the
proposition of Republican succeeding
Hon. Geo. Gray in the U. S. Senate;
it says:
''That the Democrats stand to loose
the Congressman is evident, and John
II. HOffecker, the candidate of a united
Republican party, will be elected over
l.. Irving Handy, the present Con-
gressman.
The placing of two Republicans in
the U. S. Senate, is to be accom-
plished in this manner. Assuming the
election of Republican Legislature,
and such an assumption is clearly a
fair one, the election of Republican
successor to George Gray is assured.
''But first, before the election of
Gray's successor, comes the DISPOSE
tion of Senator Kenney The action of
the Superior Court in Kent Co. caused
the vote polled at the general election
IN 1896 to be recounted and properly
signed by the Democratic inspectors
who held that election, which act they
had refused to perform.
The count was made and revealed
the fact (though already known that
instead of the Democratic candidates
to the last Legislature having been cleo
ted, on the contrary, the successful
men were the candidate of the Repub-
lican party. However, owing to the
refusal of the Democratic inspectors to
tolerate the Kent county returns, the
Democratic candidates took the vacant
seats in the last Legislature, and the
Republicans were fiagrantly robbed of
their election. That seated in the Leg
lslature seven Democratic representa-
tlves and one Democratic senator.
"kent county was not the only
place that fraud existed. Sussex
county had her share. Eight Demo
Gratis from Sussex county took seats in
the Legislature on n claimed Demo
cratic majority of 276 for the county as
made by the Board of Canvass. Ex-
Congressman Willis, however, made a
claim of fraud, and upon a Congress
sional investigation it was proved that
IN the place of a Democratic majority
OF 296 the true vote showed a clean
Republican majority of 255.
''This investigation and the recount
IN Kent county, ordered by the Super
ior Court of Kent county, establishes
the fact that the last Legislature in
which the eight Democratic members
from Kent and the eight Democratic
members from Sussex sat was illegal
and that the so-called "Rump' Legis-
Iature convened by the Republicans at
Hotel Richardson, Dover, who were
rightfully elected, was the only legal
Legislature.
'"The Democratic or illegal Legisla-
ture elected Richard r. Kenney to the
United States Senate. The "Rump"
or legal Legislature elected J. Edward
Addicks to the United States Senate.
The action of the Kent county court
establishes the fact that J. Edward
| Addicks was elected United States
Senator by q legal Legislature and
that Richard r. Kenney was elected
United States Senator by an illegal
Legislature and one never authorized
by the people.
''That was the situation which now
leads to the present speculation which
proposes to depOse Richard r. Kennev
and seat j.. Edward Addicks in the
| Senate.
81. Edward Addicks, as declared by
the action of the Kent county court, is
the legally elected U. S. Senator who
should have the seat now occupied by
Richard r. Kenney. The supposition
now is that with this fact established
by the courts of the State, Addicks will
go to Washington and reopen his con-
test for the seat now held by Senator
kenney. In his first contest he lacked
but one vote of obtaining the seat and
now with the courts of Delaware at his
back, and with congressional change
In his favor, there is not q doubt b1t
that the United States Senate will rec
ognize the legality of his election and
unseat Senator Kenney placing Mr..
Addicks in the seat.
"There is yet third outlook in the
situation. Senator Kenney is on trial
before a United States Court for COM M
plicity in the robbery of the Dover
bank and if convicted therebv loses
his citizenship and becomes no loneeo,
United States Senator. Tn t5ot
event the man elected by the com;n@
Legislature on the strength of tbes
Kent county recount wonId axna, Sne
lence no contest for the seat. poi