Middletown transcript., 1905-11-18

When the devil was sick, the devil a
monk would be,
When the devil was well, devil Of a
monk was he.
The Democratic Party is sick,
very sick. 1t has been kept
away from the public crib so long
that it is nearly dead. Conse-
quently, it is in order for that or
ganization to pass resolutions,
and call attention to how good it
is, and will be, provided that it is
only allowed to again occupy GER
tain fat offices. The Democratic
League of Wilmington, which
has an enviable record of this
sort, having endorsed by resolu-
tions, everything from free sill
yer to a gold standard, has re-
Gently heard speeches on the
evils of vote buying from Josiah
Marvel and others, and has sol
emnly come to the conclusion
that the way to stop the evil, is
for the Democratic Party to stop
it. Nothing could be truer.
That organization is responsible
for the beginning and is RESPONSE
BILE for Ihecontinuance. Speaking
locally, there has not been an
election in st. Georges Hundred
in the memory of the oldest read
er of THE TRANSCRIPT that the
Democrats have not used money,
and in no inconsiderable guam
tity. 1t has only been few days
ago that a prominent contributor
to the fund used last November,
was heard to say that he had
given 5000, to help elect certain
candidate.
So, we say, that the way to
stop the use of money at the
polls, is for the Democrats to
call halt. If they have the
nerve to do it so far as their own
campaign goes, they can stop it
for all others. 1t is penal Of
fense, and not tried before u jury,
to use money to influence votes.
If Mr.. Marvel or any of the other
speakers or auditors knows of
any money being used, he or they
can procure the arrest of the
guilty party, and his speedy trial,
unless he or they are afraid that
some one else knows of like Of
fenses committed by Democrats
who are friends of Marvel or his
associates. There is the rub.
The evil has so grown, that every
one has some close friend whom
he knows or has good reason to
believe is likewise guilty.
But, a decided move, honestly
made by either one of the parties
can break up the practice. The
one who takes the initiative must
do so in the determination of los.
ing the election, but also Of prose
cutting all offenders. Then and
only then, will success crown the
effort and the ballot be free and
equal. If it were not for the rec
ord Of the Democrats made
through many years Of following
the practice of vote buying in
many forms, It would be the best
situated of all the organized par
ties to accomplish the result de-
sired. 1t has not won an elec-
tionfor years, and has no chance
to win one unless the Two Repub-
lican factions throw away their
''sure thing" by having separate
tickets. This is not at all likely
in 1906. The Democrats are, by
their past record, so discredited,
however, that no one now takes
their resolutions and platforms
seriously. The hope for free
and fair election in Delaware lies
now, as it has always done, in the
action Of the Republican party.
When the two factions finally
cease their quarreling, and get
together to win a two thirds ma
jority in the Legislature som e.
thing can and will be done to so
simplify the voting and at the
safe time surround the act with
all the safeguards necessary to Sc
a secret ballot. We can see no
hope of better things at the hands
of the present management of the
Democracy.