Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-19

an exceedingly difficult matter for the
Regular Republicans to comply with
the law strictly in holding their primary
election ON Monday August Goth, at
which delegates are to be elected to the
State convention TO be held at the
Grand Opera House in this city on the
following day, Tuesday, August 21st.
The primary election law, which
applies to New Castle county, stipulates
that the qualifications of parsons who
vote at primary election shall be
"such as the political party, organiza-
tion or association authorizips such
election may prescribe and publish,
and in default of any prescribed or pub
lished rule, the past usage of such
political party, organization or assooia-
tion shall be recognized and adopted,
and ignorance of such past usage shall
be no defence against any of the penal
ties of the act. - 1t also provides that
"As each person shall apply til vote at
any primary election the officers thereof
shall examine the voting books of
qualified voters for primary elections
and If they find thereon the
name of the person applying to vote,
and be satisfied that he is the person
whose name is so registered, they shall
enter the word voted after his name.
and such voter shall not be permitted
to vote at any succeeding primary cleo
ticn held by any other political party,
organization or association. The entry
of the word voted as aforesaid shall
he in such manner as to indicate at
what primary election the voter has
voted. No person whose name is not
contained in the voting books of quail
fed voters for primary elections herein
provided for shall be allowed to vote
or participate in any primary election
hereafter held.
1t is plain, therefore, that the voting
books of qualified voters must be at the
polling places while the primary cleo
tion is being held; for If they are not
there the law cannot be complied with.
The law requires the Depai tment of
Elections in Wilmington and the sheriff
for that portion of the county outside
of the city to deliver at each registra.
tion place, prior to the first registration
day, two books, which are to contain
the same names as those recorded 10
the register. to be used nj primary cleo
tions, as indicated above. As only per-
sons who are registered in August can
vote at primary elections, the law pro-
vides that the primary election books
shall be compared and certified on the
last day of registration in August, and
those in Wilmington returned immedi-
ately to the Department Of Elections
while the registration officers in the
districts outside of the city are given
more time, the law stating that "It
shall be the duty of the registrar,
within one secular day after the Ger !.
LITIGATION by the board Of registration,
as herein required, to deliver to. the
sheriff of New Castle county, who shall
safely keep the same, the two voting
hooks Of qualified voters for primary
Saturday. August 18th, is the last
registration day in the month, and as
the registrars outside of Wilmington
are given one secular day thereafter in
which to return their books to the
sheriff, that time will not expire until
night on Monday. August Goth, the day
fixed by the Reg, for their prima-
| ries. According to the law, the prima-
ries must bo held between / o'clock in
the afternoon and O'Clock in the even
ing, and ty way of preparation, the law
provides that the respective PARTIES
having the custody of the voting books
of qualified voters for primary elections
| 1.-THE Department of Elections for Will
mington and sheriff for the county out
side of the city, 81 4 shall on or
before y O'Clock Of the day fol holding
such primary election for that political
party, organization or association, de-
| liver the two voting books of qualified
voters for primary elections provided
| for in this act for each general election
1 taf rt nnau m totn al In, he
primary election district, TO the in
spector of such primary election in the
hundred or election district OF the
| county to which such voting books of
| qualified voters for primary elections
shall apply. And it shall be the duty
Of said inspector to have the same at
the place OF holding the primary cleo
ton at the time of opening the polls on
| primary election day. IL any inspector
shall refuse. neglect or fail to have the
said voting books of qualified voters for
| primary elections ut the place Of hold
ing the primary election at the time
designated in this act, he shall, upon
conviction therefor, be adjudged guilty
of misdemeanor, and shall be pun
ished for each such offence by imprison
ment in the county Jail for a period not
exceeding 80 days, or by a fine not ex-
ceeding 500, or both. "
The law also says: ''If the sheriff Of
New Castle county or the members Of
the Department of Elections for the
city of Wilmington shall wilfully
neglect, refuse, or fail to deliver to
each inspector of primary elections the
voting books of qualified voters for
primary elections In his or their
custody, for each general election dis
trict that may be contained in the
primary election district for which he
Is appointed, then IN that case the said
sheriff or any member of said Depart
ment of Elections strengthening, failing
or refusing, shall, upon conviction
therefor, be adiudged guilty of mis-
demeanor, and shall for every such
offence be punished by imprisonment
in the county Jail for period not ex.
ceeding one year, or by fine OF moi
more than 5000. or both, and such con
viction shall of itself work forfeiture
of his office. :"
Sheriff Taylor and Clerk McCIoskey
of the Department OF Elections have
given the matter some thought and
there is no doubt but that both will dc
all in their power 10 have the books
delivered in time to hold the primary
election, but as the rural registrars
have all of that day in which to deliver
the books to the sheriff, Monday being
the first secular day aftor Saturday, q
great deal of efiort will be necessary on
the part OF some of the registrars ID the
extreme districts and also of the sheriff
to have the hooks at the polling rlaoes
in time for the election. After the bucks
are received by tho sheriff 1T is In.
cumbent upon him TO get them to the
primary election inspectors, and SOME
quick work will be necessary on that