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

Flooded With Money by the union ne
pubiicans to Debauch the Voters.
The Democratic State Central Com |
mitee, at meeting held at Dover, Thurs. |
dny afternoon, instructed Chairman |
Salisbury to issue the call for the
State convention, which will be bold
September 18th.
il was decided to hold the next meet
ing of the committee at Georgetown
August I'd.
The committee issued the following
appeal:
ITO the good citizens Of the State
OF Delaware: The next election will
decide whether hereafter our State shall
be- fit for decent and honest people to
reside in, politically speaking, or
whether we shall BIZ SO humiliated that
her name shall become typical OF cor
ruption in politics and her. past honor
able record for the Integrity, patriotism
and ability of her sons shall be forever
obscured and forgotten.
1.-THE conditions which threatean us
have not been produced by a Della
warean, but the pretentious ambitions
of political freebooter have brought
upon us political perils Of shameful
character, which few years ago could
scarcely have been imagined.
1.-THE recent Constitutional Conven-
tion IN this State felt compelled to in
sert provisions IN our new Constitution
to prevent practices which were tend
ing to subvert our State government
and destroy wholesome political life.
These provisions, IL properly invoked
and enforced, are sufficient to retain in
the control of the incorruptible and
honest people of our State its political
affairs and its political honors.
'This committee is determined, il
properly supported, to see TO it that
our Constitutional provisions against
bribery and corruption at registrations
and elections are not disregarded and
set at nsught before it is too late and
their enforcement placed in the bands
of a Union Republican AZ attorney
general, owing his political advance
ment to the disregard and violation OF
these provisions.
"We have no money, and even the
meagre amount necessary for the ordi-
nary purposes of a political campaign
can scarcely be obtained.
''This committee is not even the re-
oipient of funds to ensure proper roliti-
cal activity in the different counties,
but we believe with the proper support
of the good citizens of this State, with
out regard to party in this time of
grave political peril, we can probably
avert the dangers to which our little
commonwealth is exposed.
1t is almost boosted political secret
that this State, and particularly the
close legislative districts, are 10 be
flooded with money by the Union Re-
publicans to debauch the voters; we
cannot, and we would not If we could,
contest this election using like methods,
and we appeal to all good citizens to
afford US the opportunity to offer
rewards for the information leading to
the arrest and conviction of Union Re.
publicans guilty Of bribery, sufficiently
large to excite the oupidity of anyone
approached, and thus render it unsafe
for any tool to risk himself within reach
of the law.
subscriptions will be conditional
on obtaining convictions, and will onl,
be called for proportionately as rewards
are paid.
1--WE should also have a sum, moi
evidence and the best legal talent
obtainable to assist the attorney
generals Office in the prosecutions
which may be started. Only such
amounts will be used as are economi
cally required, and we propose to max,
special deposits of these funds with
trust companies in Wilmington ant
have public audit Of our expenditure
at the end OF the campaign.
IF the criticism is made, as i
doubtless will be, that these reward
are only to be offered for the conviction
of Union Republicans, our reply is tina
we are striving against the only rea
danger; we seek to improve actual con
ditions and not to achieve theoretica
purity of elections. We propose TO pre-
vent or punish political crimes O
threatening magnitude and not the dis
connected acts Of Undertaking, witt
which the ordinary legal machinery
sufficient to deal, and we will only b
too happy If. as result Of our efforts
there shall be organized nom parrish
committee to relieve US of the labor
to which we will earnestly devote our
selves il supported in our efforts
1.-THE rewards we hope to offer wi
be 5000, $4,000, $1,000, $1,000 an
$1,000 for information leading to til
arrest and conviction Of the first fiy
cases respectively, and $500 for each {
the next 10 oasss.i
THE danger With which the Unto
Republicans threaten the peace, happ
ness and property Of all Delawareans
very real, and we confidently appeal |
all good people of the State for the
support and encouragement.
By order OF the Democratic Sta
Central Committee Of Delaware,
Willard Salisbury, Chairman.
Attest: q. y. Clifton, Secretary.
Address P, o. Box $40, Wilmington
Del.b 4ttst @t