Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-11
Voters Assistants Not Wanted.

Voters Assistants Not Wanted.
asferring to the communication sent
IS Gov. Hum by WILLARD Salisbury,
chairman of the Democratic State Cen
trsl Committee, relative to the law
Bsoviaing for the appointment of voters
assistants at the general election, the
Philadelphia Ledger editorially says:
: Willard Salisbury of Delaware,
qAsirman of the Democratic State
Central Committee, has done we'll to
bling the subject of ballot fraud before
the people by addressing an open letter
10 Gov. HUM. The Delaware Legis-
lature of 1901 was noted for two acts,
one good, the other bad. 1t decided to
have two vacancies in the Senate rather
than elect Addick3, and on the other
hand il passed law empowering the
governor to appoint voters assistants
70 be stationed in the voting places.
This law was enacted for the sole pur-
pose of aiding the oorruptionists who
csc trying TO debauch the State to reap
che results of bribery; and as all penal
ties for disclosing how a man voted
we're omitted from the act its objects
we're manifest, even il there were not
Other convincing evidence Of its fraudu-
lent intent
The act also seems to violate
tle new Constitution, and Mr.. Sauls-
bury asks the governor to declare
whether or not he will execute thor
oughly vicious law which seems to be
unconstitutional. The governor does
not possess judicial functions, but an
excellent Delaware law provides that
whenever the governor requires it, to
enable him to discharge his duties
faithfully, the chancellor and judges of
the Supreme Court shall give him,
in writing, their opinions touching
the proper construction of any pro
vision of the Constitution, or the
constitutionality Of any State law.
Gov. HUM was, when elected, regarded
as an Addicks man, or as leaning
toward that faction. Since his cleo
tion, however, he has shown signs of
impatience at being regarded as mere
factionist, bound to do the bidding of
that organization. He now has an OPP
portunity to show that he is an enemy
OF fraud at the polls by at least asking
the opinion of the judges on Voters
Assistant law, which is distinctly
designed TO debase citizenship.
We hope that Gov. HUM will care,
fully read this comment upon the
situation. 1t is arrogantly claimed by
the Union Republicans, who want the
voters assistants for purposes that ar,
well understood, that Gov. Hum will
disregard Chairman Saulsbury's com
munication, and appoint the Addickl
Republican vote-buyers regardless o
the grave question raised as to the
constitutionality of the law.
We cannot believe that Gov. Hum
will act in this manner, solely for tn
purpose of obliging a corrupt set o
politicians and opening the way 70
them to engage freely, and without fea
of punishment, in the criminal bust
ness of buying votes. He has hereto
fore given positive evidence that ne
not the mere tool of Addicks Republi
canism that certain impudent leader
OF this faction of party arrogant
assumed him to be Immediately afte
his election. To. supinely admit thei
ownership of him and his high offic,
in such an important matter as Ii
one now demanding his official consir
GRAFTON, would be a painful surprise {
thousands of good citizens who hol
him in high esteem.
The situation is this: A law whir
requires the governor to take offici
action, and which bears upon the fal
Of the printed pages in which it a
pears positive evidence of having been
manipulated as to make its penal Or
visions imperative, has been challeng
on the ground that it is in defiance of n
Constitution, and therefore of no effec
He has been asked to do what d
Constitution authorizes MIN to do
submit the question to the honorat
judges OF our courts for their Opinion
and to obtain before taking acti
what the Constitution requires the
honorable judges to give him-the
opinion as to whether or not the law
in conflict with the Constitution.
Should Gov. HUM refer this qut
tion to the judges and be guided
their opinions in his subsequent offic
conduct, he will simply do what is rig
and proper, and will be sustained
sound public sentiment. But WI
public opinion will say IL he ignol
the protest and proceeds to act unc
the questionable law, as the Uni
Addicks Republican politicians so i
pudently and so confidently assume
will do, may easily be imagined.