Evening journal., 1903-04-22
rhe erIbery Law Of peIaMare.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
Governor HUM. OF Delaware. has es-
sayed 20 make defense Of his remarkable
and disgracefui action in refusing to ap-
prove the repeater of the Voters Assist
ant law, which has been a ready and
potent means of delivering the corrupt
vote Of the State TO the highest bidder.
The certainty that this scandalous and
base law nullihed the secrecy Of the Aus
trallan ballot. and insured to the cor
rupters the votes for the money expend-
cd has reduced vote buying to a system.
Representatives of fhe decent people OF
tho State pleaded with the Governor 10
approve the repeater; a few representa-
tlves Of the creatures who profit by the
odious traffic were the only ones who
wanted the law retained. Hum stands
with the corrupters against every decent
element in his Commonwealth.
And his reasons for his course are pain
ful. lie sent detectives about in the lower
counties. he says, to find out what the
1 people thought OF the blanket ballot, and
the voters were ''appallingly ignorant of
the ballot; therefore the assistants should
be Retained. What nonsense ds this? Are
there no sample ballots, and cannot the
dullest voter be taught TO vote the Ad-
clicks ticket by very slight instruction
There Is only one way, however by which
the briber Is sure that the elector votes as
he is hired 70 do, and that IS to watcf
him vote. The Governor also advised th'
Legislature to pass stringent laws prohib
d siding the voters assistants from divulginl
how any elector actually voted. His adyic
, was unheeded, and he will, therefore, no
disturb a vicious act. As # any law o
that sort would have the remotest inhu
ence on the class of traitors who are en-
d gagged for hire in the regular business o
corrupung the voters of the State.
II the law ds so bad that stringent law
are needed to punish the assistants 70
n exercising their influence or for divuls
= ing the secrets OF the booth, was there nc
n a strong reason for repeating the law
Reduced TO the simplest terms, the Coy
ernor refused to get rid of an odious la
81 because some futile remedies proposed
S. himself were not adopted, and he declare
l. that. rather than let an occasional boot
7 run the risk of making a mistake, he VI
!. continue a law which permits the bougl
voio TO ncutralize and nulllfy the co
e scienuous and intelligent vote OF Del
wares honest citizens. The Governor
making pisiful exhibition Of himself al
we much prefer that Addicks State Sen
tor AR. Conner. who says for the Brbe
ar law;
If ''rhe voters assistant system aga
comes IN and commends itself for fairnes
1t insures delivery Of the goods When
OF buy o horse. I want my horse"
is Conner IS preferable TO Hum. He max
a. no pretenses; he wants the State to
7e 20 the highest bidder. and he says so.
n- us. he cornsels. get utterly rid OF the 7
!, i.ion OF manhood suffrage and self-gover
ment; let there be fair field and no fay
T. and the man with the most money W
ty rule the state. 1t belongs TO him, becau
In he has che most and Is willing 10 spend
~ But HUM wants 10 defend the 4
=, sis.ants law. and to make 1t appear III
u he Is az the same time DOING his duty
Sc his State. az accordance with his oarh
b. office. The Delaware people should 8
b. rid Of Hum,