Evening journal., 1901-02-19
CIGARETTE BILL SCANDAL
NOW CONVULSES THE MEMBERS
OF DELAWARE LEGISLATURE
Senator BraSure Accuses Union Republican Attorney Of
Playing Him False, DiScreditiDg His Bill and
Lobbying Against II in House

pieFdheu1 only one vote, Iuat OF MT.
Finn, being recorded against it.
Senator Brasure had been working
among the House members all the morn
| ing. endeavoring to counteract the inhu-
ence Of the Tobacco Trust lobby. which
worked under the direction of William +.
Smalley, the trusts legal representative
in this State. lie found his task hope
less one. and was present when the bill
was reconsidercd. The action Of Speaker
McCommons, Representative Moore and
| Representative Layton, all Union Repub-
licans, in deserving him, a stalwart sup
porter Of Addicks, made him exceedingly
angry.
His resentment was intensified by
learning that Frank II. Davis, the Union
Republican attorney for the Legislature,
who drew the anti-cigarette bill for him.
had been lobbying against it on both the
Union Republican and Democratic sides
Of the House. and that he had told Rep
resentative Hope. Union Republican
member from Kent county, that "the bill
was unconstitutional. wasn't worth a
|d-m and that it ought not to pass"
ADDICKS AND GIBBS.
The next thing that shattered human
faith in mankind was the rumor that Ma
tional Committeeman Addicks, TO please
his friend. National Committeeman
Gibbs. said to be a friend Of the Tobacco
Trust, had taken a hand in the fight
against Senator Brasure, and sent or
ders TO Dover that the bill must be re-
considered, recommitted and ultimately
killed. There was no one in Dover who
could verify this rumor, hut it went like
wild-fre, and made the air blue.
But Mr.. Davis, the Union Republican
attorney for the Legislature, was in town
and Senator Brasure sought him out and
charged him with not only discrediting a
bill he had drawn himself. but also with
lobbying against it,
HOPE FACES DAVIS.
81 can bring You a man in two minutes
who will say that you told him that my
BILL which you drew, was uhconstitu-
tiOnal, not worth a d--n, and that he
ought to vote against it" said Senator
Brasure
Il can't remember saying that to any
one" said Mr.. Davis.
We'll. just wait a minute and I'll get
the man" declared the senator.
He brought Representative Hope into
the presence of Mr.. Davis. and the rep
resentative declared that the charge
made by Senator Brasure was true.
Mr.. Davis then admitted that he did
say to Representative Hope that the bill
was unconstitutional and not worth a
d-n," but he attempted to qualify and
justify his assertion.
1t is said that Representative Hope
told him that he was a nice attorney for
the Union Republicans TO have to depend
upon if that was his idea of the bills
drawn by himself at the request Of mem
bers.
But that was not all that added to the
fire Of Indignation burning in the breast
of Senator Brasure. 1t was learned that
Mr.. Davis had lobbied with Representa-
tives Aron and Gooden against the bill
and that he had gone personally 20 Clerk
Of the House Deghton and requested
him not TO message tho anti-cigarette
bill back to the Senate after its passage
so that it could go to the enrolling clerk.
but to hold it in the House until its
friends could obtain a reconsideration of
the vote by which it was passed.
All Of these things contributed to make
up the sensation of the session. and when
Senator Brasure left for home last even
ms hN htE ana an ANAg AAallt OF ulllN. anu
Mr.. Davis and his friends were endeav-
oring to work the Union Republican at
torney out OF an unpleasant and pre-
carious situation.
BETRAYAL MAY REACT
What makes the situation particularly
grave is that Senator Brasure has been
a thick-and-thin supporter Of National
Addicls in his senatorial
pretensions, and - he can be convinced
that the gasman has played him false on
this, his pet piece Of legislation. it may
have a decided effect on the senatorial |
ballot. for the senator from Sussex is not |
a man TO submit tamely to being made /
the plaything of Addicks for the conven-
fence and pleasure of National Commit !
teeman Gibbs or any other national COM /
This scandal connected with the anti |
cigarette bill may have far-reaching re-
suits before it subsidies.
This substitute has been prepared byl
he opponents Of Senator Brasure for /
his cigarette bill:
Section THAT from and af- /
.er the adoption of this act, it'll
snail be unlawful for any person CT
persons to- maliciously or illegally sell 1
)r give to, or purchase, or procure for. |
Or furnish, CT in any way assist, dill
'ectly or indirectly any minor underi
he age of p yeals, in obtaining Gig
lrettes, cigarette paper, or cigarette
obacco.
Section 2-That any persons violat-
ng the provisions of this act shall. for 7
very such Offenge. be deemed guilty Of
misdem1anOr and upon conviction |
hereof shall be fined not more than I
1850. or be imprisoned for a term of I
lot mere than three months and stand
ne hour in the pillory and be whipped .
With ten lashes, in the discretion Of 4
he court.
Section S-That in any prosecution
lnder the provisions of this act, the
'ath of the minor shall be received as
evidence against the ac-
sed. The informer shall receive s25."