Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-27
Tho Question of Intent.

into consideration when ballot is
under dispute. The law as very wisely
expounded by most courts is that the
intent of the voter must be respected.
If, for instance, a voter should ignor-
antly vote for Samuel en-" Knox for
State Senator in the First district,
meaning thereby to vote for Samuel
I'M" Knox, his vote should be counted
for the latter. If, however, he should
deliberately vote for Samuel en-"
Knox, meaning thereby to vote against
Samuel I'M. +" Knox, his vote should
not be counted for Mr.. Knox. The
question in this case would be how to
determine the intent of the voter.
Under the existing circumstances,
this intent would not be hard to deter
mine. Two hostile factions of the
Republican party filed tickets which
were presumed to be precisely alike.
They might as we'll have been filed as
one ticket. But they were not, and
the Union Republican ticket contained
the name of Samuel en- Knox as
the candidate for State Senator in the
First district, when his correct name is
Samuel an" Knox.
This looks on its face like an ordinary
mistake, but there are many circum-
stances that go to prove that it was an
intentional act, designed to secure the
defeat of Samuel M. Knox, the Regular
Republican nominee. The incident
| preated a erraaf oon,,,oot;n, Tho ITn;nn
Republicans, through their organ in
this city, attempted to dispose of it
as "mere technicality, but the
other Republicans would not have it
that way. Finally, to allay the clamor
occasioned by their evident treachery,
the committee of the Union Republi-
cans issued a card, advising all their
followers to vote the Regular Repubh-
can. ticket in the First district, on
which the name of Mr.. Knox appears
correctly spelled. If the mistake in
his name on the Union ticket was an
"error," 'mere teehnicality, as
they claimed, why this action? 1t has,
on the contrary, every appearance of a
deliberate attempt to defeat Mr.. Knox
through political trick, which might
have succeeded had it not been so
promptly exposed by Every Evening.
The organ of the Union Republicans
contended that it was mere mistake
and even yet is not disposed to give up
the contention.
Still another discrepancy between the
tickets of the two factions has de-
veloped. On the Regular Republican
ticket, tho pane Of the candidate for
State treasurer appears as Lewis Heisler
Ball. On the Union Republican ticket
it has been certified to as Lewis III.
Ball. This difference, however, is one
that could be easily be attributed to
a mistake, as it doubtless was. 1t does
not bear the appearance Of deliberate
Justification of candidates. name, as
in the Knox case. Either ticket Gun
be legally counted for DR.. L. Heisler
Ball, as he is familiarly known, the
regularly and separately nominated
candidate of both factions for the office
of State treasurer. The intent of the
voter here is clearly distinguishabIe.
But the Knox caseis vastly different.
Many Republican voters of the Third
Senatorial district are deeply incensed
at the irresponsible voters OF the dis
trict, who forced upon their ticket the
name Of Webster Blakely as candi
date for State Senator. Ordinarily,
MIR. Blakely might make an acceptable
candidate, but the fact that he was
accused in open court Of selling liquor
on Sunday at his hotel in Rising Sun,
and that on the strength of this charge
the court refused to renew his license
for the sale of liquor, makes his can
didacy obnoxious to the reputable Re-
publicans of the district. They4iold,
and justly, that man who violates
the law should not be chosen as q
maker Of laws. This feeling is apt to
cause Mr.. Blalsely many Republican
votes, but if he is defeated, those who
forced him upon the ticket will have
to bear the blame.
---
Republican committees and Repub-
lican organs seem determined to play
ducks and brakes" with the names
of Republican candidates. In addi-
ton to the Knox incident, the official
tickets have "Lewis Heisler Ball" and
Lewis IL. Ball" as the candidate for
State treasurer. The Morning News,
in the ticket at the head of its
editorial columns, prints it "Louis''
II. Ball. Which is right? Is the
whole thing a scheme TO muddle the
voter and insure the defeat Of candi-
dates obnoxious to Union Republicans?
-----~--.-----
The pamphlet laws of the adjourned
session of the General Assembly have
not yet been issued. The printer must
be very slow,a ample time has elapsed
since the Legislature ended its session
for the performance Of such work.
About these election times the pos
session of the pamphlet laws would be
very desirable.
1
ayisitor Sudeiy Treated.
Philadelphia Ledger.
John Montgomery, aged SO years, a
resident of Delaware City, came to
this city on Tuesday to see the sights.
He made the acquaintance of man
and woman of Kensington, who in
duced him to drink Intoxicating LIQUOR.
After he had suceumbed to the effects
OF the drink he was relieved of his
purse and other yaluables. When he