Evening journal., 1906-08-13
Monday, August I3, 1906.
DENoUNcEs HIS OWN PARTY.


TN the course OF his speech at the Democratic
4 meeting at Bavarian Park Saturday evening,
Thomas F. Bayard made bitter attack upon
Governor Lea for the position he is taking in re-
gard to the voters assistant law He said that
the state constitution which the Governor has
sworn to obey, provides among other things that
he shall faithfully execute the laws of the state,
and yet in the face OF such provision, he claim
ed that the Governor should not execute and
carry out the provisions or one of the statutory
laws of Delaware Mr. Bayard nor no one else
will contend, for minute that the voters assist
ant law is not still one of the laws OF our state,
and whether good or bad, must be enforced by
the executive until it is taken from the statute
hooks
Surely it is somewhat remarkable to find a
Democratic political speaker attacking law
passed by a Democratic legislature, and also at
tacking Governor who finds himself in the
awkward position Of being compelled by his
oath to enforce that law. The voters assistant
law was enacted by a Democratic legislature is
a partisan and unfair method of enabling the
Democratic party to continue its hold on the
state For years that party worked successfully
ment of citizens and the presentation of tax re-
ceipt in order to vote. The operation OF that law
fraudulently dsfranchised thousands Of Republi-
cans every year. and on the other hand fraudul-
emily enfranchised thousands OF Democrats. So
iniquitous unjust and unfair was it, that it was
causing riots and bloodshed in different sections
of the state, and the leaders of the Democratic
party, realizing its Nervousness and that II had
been worked to the limit, found themselves COM
PEELED to abandon it. and as a substitute the
voters assistant act was devised, and which was
intended to give, in another way, to the Demo-
Gratis, the same advantage over the Republicans
that they had under the tax receipt law. But, Il
turned out as such things frequently do, that the
Republicans elected Governor, and thereby got
control Of what was intended by the Democrats
to be partisan election machipery and forced the
Democrats into the very treadmll that was built
and intended for Republicans Then, OF course,
the law was terrible in the eyes of Democrats,
and they have been bowling about it ever since,
and are now demanding that Governor Lea vio-
late his oath of office by ignoring law of their
own making.
In another part Of Mr.. Bayard's speech the
dollar registration fee provided by the consti-
tuition of the state was denounced as most ini-
quitous and vicious requirement Again he seem
ed to be not aware of the fact that the constitu-
tional convention was controlled by the Demo
crafts and therefore his own party is responsible
for whatever iniquity or viciousness there is ir
that registration fee requirement.
Taking only these two instances the voter:
assistant and the constitutional registration fe,
provision, both of which Mr. Bayard so earnestly
denounced as a sample of legislation enacted by
the Democrats, we cannot see even how Mr. Bay
ard, to be consistent, could possibly support o.
vote the Democratic legislative ticket this fall
One of the speakers at the meeting was fai
enough to give the Republicans credit for favor
ing an amendment to the constitution abolishins
the registration fee. An act for that purpose wa
passed by the last Legislature, and if the Repub
Hcans control the next Legislature, it will b
passed again as is required by the constitution
If. however, the Democrats should control tn
next Legislature, we are not so sure but that tn
hope Of securing some partisan advantage from
the dollar registration fee, which they put in tn
constitution. would prompt their opposition t.
the amendment already proposed and passed b,
the Republicans at the last session of the Legis
lature.
From a Republican point Of view, Mr. Bayard'
speech all right, and much Of what he SAT-
will be heard from Republican platforms thi
fall, If not from him, at least from others VIII
will be no less sincere and honest in their desir
20 safeguard the interest nd welfare of the oeo
pie of our state.