Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-01
DEMOCRATS IN GOOD SHAPE
Indications That They Win
Garry Sussex County.
ONLY ONE THING CAN PREVENT
That is a Barrel of Republican
Money.
Republicans Have Had Trouble in Keep
ing Their Goiored Voters In Line Ever
since the First Day of Registrauon--In-
toresting Review of the situation.

Ing Their CoiOred Voters In line Ever
Since the First Day of Registrauon--In-
toresting Review of the Situation.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal.
Lewes, Oct. 80. "A careful survey OF
the political situation in Sussex county,
made after talking with the leaders Of
both parties, ana stated without any
partisan feeling, would indicate that
the Democrats will carry the county
next week by 400 or eco majority.
There is only one thing that can make
the result otherwise. That one thing
will be barrel of money!
Thure has not been au election in
many years when the Democrats of old
Sussex have been 10 such good shape
as they are at this time. The party
leaders are unanimous in this opinion,
and even the Republicans admit that
the Democratic organization is COM
plete. One Of the best informed Demo-
Crafts of the county, in reviewing the
situation, stated that in no prev ious
campaign within his recollection had
the Democrats, individually and col
lectiysly, stoud SO well together as they
do today. That this PARTY strength will
manifest itself at the coming election
there is no good reason to doubt.
Tho Republicans have had trouble in
keeping their conted voters in line ever
since the first day OF registration, and
to-day there are more negroes not regis
tered in Sussex county than in any
previous campaign since ths blanket
ballot came into use. For this trouble,
the Republican leaders have themselves
largely to blame. They have promised
the negroes almost everything under
the sun when they wantt d to get them
to vote, and alter the votes were in tho
ballot boxes they failed to live up to
their promise. This is not mere Demo
cratic talk" 1T is true, ard there il
ample evidence Of il today in the larg6
number of negroes who are not on the
registration lists.
An interesting three.corner fight is
being waged in the Second Representa-
tive district, the centre OF interest
being at Bridgeville Cornelius Swain
of the Regular Republican faction and
Layton, an Adlicks adherent, are 10th
aspirnnts for legislative honors. 10
say that the fight wakes warm, ia put
ting it mildly, or course, both sides
are after tho colored vote, and neither
is lacking in energy to get it. Meet
ings are held almost nightly, aud the
line between the factions is as tightly
drawn as il ever was between the two
great parties. Each element has it's
headquarters, and each is getting out
of the situation all there is in it. They
have their cigars furnished by the box,
and other luxuries arc not lacking.
This is not mere talk. There ia owl
denee of 1t in the fact that every col
ored man in and around Briogeville
carries cigar in his mouth and any
number in his pockets. They realize
that they are q very decided factor in
the legislative fight, and every mothers
son of them will hold out for the
highest price. Meanwhile, the Demo
Gratis are making the most OF. the situa-
ton, and will pull big vote. The
district gave good Republican ma
iority fonr years ago, but whether it
will do the Same this election is not SO
certain.
In the Third Representative district,
which includes Seaord the Republi-
cans long ago gave up hope of victory.
The colored element have not forgotten
the treatment they received four years
ago, when they were promised $40 and
$50 for their votes, aud then, after
they had voted, we're put off with 81,
| and some even with the half of that,
1t is probably a fact that the per-
centage of negroes not registered IN
the Third district is larger than any
other district in the entire, State. 1t
is not due TO any lack Of energy by the
Republican workers, but to the manner
10 which the colored men were treated
four years ago. The registration shows
one negro for every white Republican
10 the district, and one to spare, there
being lSa negroes and Isl white Re-
Eublicans registered. 1t is only q
| question, Of how much the majority
will be with the Democrats. Couserya.
tive estimates PLACE it at l75. Four
years ago it WAS 49, A colored preacher
went down to Seaford to labor with
the negro element and endearoi to get
them registered. 1t is told that in
enc Of his exhortations he made the
statement that ANY negro who voted
against the Republican ticket deserved
to be shot dead ana his soul preached
toto hades," and added that he would
be very willing 10 do the preaching in
such case. Even this unique doctrine
IN Republican politics failed to move
the negroes to register, much to the
regret Of the leaders of the party with
which they have heretofore affiliated.
AS stated in the beginning, this only
hore the Republicans can have in
carrying Sussex county on Tuesday
next will be by the wholesale purchase
of votes. And they will find in the
event that they resort to that method,
that nothing short of the proverbial
"barrel'' win enable them to accom-
plish that end.