The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-05-04
WANT FAIR
PRIMARIES

Honest primaries was the watch wore
at the special meeting of the Citizens
Republican Committee held in the Nc
Ney Building last evening. All of tn,
candidates had been invited to attent
the meeting, the object being to arrang,
to have at least two watchers at ever!
polling place in the city at the COMING
primaries.
Ex-Coroner A. d. Vandever preside,
and stated that all of the candidates ha,
a right to have watchers at the various
polling places. They cannot be put on
If they bear the proper credentials. HI
declared that watchers were neccssar,
in order to avoid Il repetition of the Sec
ond ward affair.
Daniel Ross candidate for mayor. salt
he had no doubt the movement was It
protect candidates like himself. In his
application for a place on the ticket he
had been urged on by some friends anC
not by any member of the Republican
Joint Committee or any other c,m
mittce. He had. however, been assured
by members of the Joint Committee that
he would have fair show. and If the
committee had any special candidate he
did not know it,
He said he was get-together Republi
can and favored harmony and wanted
it in city and State as soon as it could
be honorably and reasonably attained.
Mr.. Vandevcr said the Citizens Com.
mittee had no fault to iind-with the
JOINT Committee.
Mr 30 l., IT,,
Vandever remarked that he knew the
candidates had missionary work to do.
Robert Adair, candidate for city So
licitor, who had entered after the meet
ing had been called to order. was asked
to make some remarks. Mr.. Vandevrv
explained to him that the committee de-
sired the candidates to select men for
each polling place to see that there was
n fair count.
candidate because he thought he had
enough friends to warrant him making
the fight. He endorsed the committees
plan to secure honest primaries.
EX-Connciman Henry Wentworth
Zebley. who is a candidate for president
of Council, made few remarks in com.
mendation of the committees plan.
John +. Lynn, candidate for city So
licitor, said that every one in the room
knew there were unfair things done in
the last election in the Second ward. He
was in the Citizens Committee when
it was first formed.
Homer Simmons, candidate for Coun-
ell from the Fifth ward. said he was
in favor of honest politics.
David Il. Smith, candidate for Council
from the Sixth ward. said there should
be fair and square election.
Jacob s. Beetem. candidate for Council
from the Seventh ward, declared that
they all desired honest politics.
At this point Mr.. Lynn asked il they
had formulated any plan as to how the
watchers wcrr to be compensated. Mr.
Nandevcr said that the committee felt
it would be better to get men for watch
crS who would act voluntarily as they
would likely do better work then men
who had to be paid.
Names of proNosed watchers would be
submitted to the committee and from
them will he selected a list of watchers
who would he agreed on by the com
mittee and the candidates. the idea be-
ing to secure two men for each polling
place. He said there were some wards
where practically no watchers were
needed and mentioned the Eighth ward
as one of them. There was more need
of them in the Seventh, Fifth, Twelfth
and Second wards.
George Cameron said there was no
need of watchers in the Fourty-fourth
district Of the Eighth ward.
Henry G. Downward, candidate for
city treasurer, said that the election
should be fair and remarked that he
believed with the man who said that any
one tearing down the American flag
should be shot on the spot and favored a
similar treatment for anyone tampering
with the ballot box.
A. G. B. Anderson candidate for Coun-
Gil from the Twelfth ward, spoke about
unfair practices in politics and some one
asked when they had stopped.
Anderson replied "sincc the last nomi-
nation.' He stated that the defeated
candidates would fell less sore and moth
ing to fret about il they knew the cleo
ton was conducted fairly.
Henry c. Conrad. candidate for mayor.
and Seth III. Feaster, candidate for city
treasurer, arrived at the meeting shortly
after it adjourned. Other candidates
also called at the committees rooms dur
ing the evening.
The members Of the committee were
mu'h pleased with the results attained
by the meeting.
Quite Il number Of Republican meet
ings were held last evening. Daniel Ross.
Seth II. Feaster and William Rodgers
were among the speakers at large meet
ing on McCaulley street below Lombard
street. Seth II. Fcaster was one of the
speakers at a meeting held at No. Sls
Windsor street.
John r. Lynn and others spoke at a
meeting at Second street and Grant
avenue.