Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-11
A Very Llgnt registration.

Less than Thousand citizens OF VIII
mington registered on Saturday, the
first day of registration. Throughout
the county and State the registration
was correspondingly light
The exact reason for this apparent
4 indifference cannot easily be explained.
1t is probable, however, that a great
part of il was duo TO the extremity
warm weather. With the thermometer
in the niueties, aud all of ones nature
protesting against the slightest I'M
necessary physical exertion, 1t 10 scarcely
reasonable to expect men to take upon
themselves the effort and trouble in
volved in getting registered, particularly
as there are other registration days to
follow, when pleasanter weather con-
ditions may naturally he looked for.
The small registration was also due
In some measure to lack of public
interest IN matters political The
interest in the war has overahudowed
the political campaign this year. and
the latter has thus far attracted the
attention Of leaders aud Office seekers
only. Now that the war is apparently
at an end, tbs people may he expected
to turn their attention to politics.
Another cause that contributed to
the email registration, and that may
continue TO do so to the end, was the
exaction of the registration fee of one
dollar. Men do not oppose the fec 80
much as they do the fact that the poll
tax-the former prerequisite to voting
--atill remains. aud they protest against
being required to pay n registration
fee and poll tax also. The remady
for this complaint, however. is in the
futnrs-an amendment TO the Constitu-
tion doing away with the poll tax.
But. although, the registration was
small, it was thoroughly honest. We
do not believe there wac the sliRhtes,
attempt TO set aside the excellent pro-
visions Of the law governing this i'm
portant matter. Every citizen who
registered did 80 OF his own prompting
and furnished his own money in pay.
ment OF the registr alton fee. 1t ID
altogether likely that this respectful
observance of the law will continue tc
the end In fact, il ia too dangerous
to do otherwise. no matter how willing
certain interests might be to advance
the registration work by underhand
means. The probabilities of detection
and punishment are too sure.
Few good citi1ens. however, vii
quarrel with this condition of affairs
There are four more days Of rsgistra
tion to come, and tho interest ma,
naturally be expected to increase al
the time for the election draws nearer
But. even should the registration b,
small at the end, there will be consola
tion in the fact that 1t will be thor
oughly honest one. With this resul
secured, the people can afford to avail
the outcome OF the election without seri
GUS misgivings
Mr.. William II. Green of PhiIadel
phia has brought suit against tn
Western Union Telegraph Co., TO
damages due to the refusal of tho com
pany's agents to transmit Telegram
for which he rendered the regular tolls
because be refused to pay cent for tn
stamp which the War Revenue law re
quires to be affixed to all kilograms
Mr.. Green took this action as ties,
and he will have the good wishes O
hundreds of people throughout tn
country who have TO deal with th
telegraph. The law imposes the tax 9
ono cent per telegram upon this tel,
graph companies, but the companit
by requiring the sender of messag
either to aIlix stamp or to pay a
extra cent for the stamp, in whic
event the company's agent will grac
ously afiix it. The evident intent
the law was to tax the telegraph con
panies, and not the people, and NJ
Green's efforts to bring the matt
before the courts, for q decision upt
this point, will lbs generally oomniendet
Who is entitled to the credit of etfec
ing the agreement between the two r
publican factions in New Castle count
for concert of action with respect
county tickets Not Fred Il. Bac
that's certain; nor ex Senator Higgin
nor Mr.. Morse; nor Colonel du Pom
nor j. Edward Addicks. William
Hilles III credited with the Republics
Voters committee movement, whit
served as medium for bridging Il
gap between the two factions, hut it
said that the actual credit for tbs q
complishment goes even beyond hir
Certain Republicans have a shire,
opinion that the real manipulation
this harmony move has an Office
Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, a
that he is, by all odds, the biggest a
braiuiesi Republican in Delawal
after all.
Admiral Cervera. though n prison
OF war ut Annapolis. is fairly ov,
whelmed with Invitations to vi
various places as an honored guest.
has already accepted some Invitation
and will doubtless DO permitted
accept all he pleases to. When no q,
away in response to one of these
vitations, he is pafoled for q ii
sufficient for the purpose, and,
course. makes it point to ret,
within the allotted period. In all otI
respects he 10 as free as the aver,
American citizen. Tho admiral
doubt thinks thero may be many