Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-06

The feeling against bribery at elsc.
tlous has been found. by Every Even
iuq reporters. to be decidedly stroug.
sspecially with some of the most promi.
pent men in politics, and, while some
manifest an unwillingness to sign an
anti bri berry pledge, which the report-
srs have presented to them, there are
few who are not willing to discuss the
1ubiect, and as a rule they put them
selves on record, in what, they say, as
being opposed to running elections
With corruption funds.
William s. Hilles, one Of the LEADING
Regular Republicans in the State. ex-
messed himself very forcibly when
spoken to on the subject by a reporter
Of Ev ~ Evening.
81 am heartily and actively in favor
Of anything which can 1e done in order
70 prevent in the future OF to Iunish
in the past the violations OF the laws
Of this State against bribery or any
other form Of political corruption, -
sai1 Mr.. Hilles. 81 have not signed.
nor do | propose to sign, any agree
ment that | will not violate the laws
Of the State Of Delaware IN this OF any
other connection. In my judgment
there is nothing added TO my Obliga-
tiou or TO that of any other person TO
obey the laws Of his State by the sign
ing Of any such paper as the one which
has been shown to me.
Not only as a citizen Of the State
an / bound to obey these laws, but 10
Q peculiar way, as a member Of the
pro ession to which / belong. | have
8 like duty entirely independent Of
that which l concerye to be, possibly
the higher and more important obliQa.
tion, to the m raj stand ard, based
upon my knowledge Of right and
wong.
You cannot express too strongly my
RbhoFrenos to this or any other form Of
corruption which not only nullifies the
benefits Of democratic government, but
must necessarily lead to the destruc-
tion Of the body politic. -
Mr.. HANDY's VIEWS.
Ex Congressman l.. Irving Handy,
who was the Democratic candidate Tor
attorney general at the last election,
declined to giRn, but made a slate
ment, which was az follows:
While not desiring to discourage
any sincere effort 10 exterminate or
check election bribery in our State, /
do not el the call to sign the pledge
you offer. There is no need for me to
make a new 1eliverance on the subject.
ln committees, ia conventions, on the
stump, by personal effort and in every
possible way / have for many years
fought With all my power against vote
buying in Delaware. Not always
agreeing with Every Evening in pub
JIG matters. haze always admiredland
agreed with its persistent WariaI
against corruption funds and noliticsl
bTlbe-giving. Ii may not be forgotten
that in 1901 ran for the Office of al
torney general, basing my appeal TO
rue voters on a solemn promise that /
would, II elected, prosecute with IN
nagging zeal and determination these
who contributed corruption funds and
those who distributed such funds to
venal voters. / believed then and /
believe now that the attorney general 8
once is the strategic point IN the bat.
We foi pure elections in Delaware. l
90 not remember ever to have signed
any Kind OF a pledge in my life; that
Is not my way. But every hope
enerish for the future welfare Of our
state IL enlisted On the side Of pure
and clean elections. L want to see cur
eeonsttutioral provision on the sub
lect enforced to the letter and spirit,
no matter who has to stand trial or 60
70 jail. What l say is not intended as
any reflection on Attorney General
hlehards, or his predecessors. -
a staunch Democrat of the old
school who has signed the auti-hfibery
pledge and extends his hearty sym
palhy to the movement is former Rep
Iesentative Robert Q. Justis Of Mar
tbAlltun.
others who have recently signed the
pleage are as follows: Former Deputy
attorney General Thomas Davis,
IIoimer Secretary of State J. Harvey
Mhiteman, Christopher l.. Ward, eE-
Attorney General John Biggs, Thomas
= bayard and William H. Kurt,
Bpemocrats; and Charles NJ. Curtis,
Republican.