Smyrna times., 1906-05-30
GOVERNOR LEA CALLS EXTRA
SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
WILL CONVENE IN DOVER TOMORROW AND
WILL BALLOT FOR SENATOR JUNE Eth
Legislature Will Discuss Other Subjects but the
Main Purpose Is to Pill the Vacancy at
Washington and Harmonic Factions.

Washington and Harmonic Factions.
Governor Lea Monday afternoon set
at rest all doubt as to an extra session
of the Legislature being held by issu-
ing proclamation convening the body
at Dover tomorrow, Thursday at |
noon. While the primary purpose for
which the General Assembly will 60
into extraordinary session is the cleo
ton of United States Senator to fill
the existing vacancy, the proclamation
stipulates that the lawmakers shall |
meet and ''act upon matters and sub
jects of legislative business. Coin
cident with the issuance of his pro-
clamation for the extra session the
Governor issued writs directed to the
Sheriffs of the three counties COM
manding them to call elections to fill
the vacancies in the Legislature on
such dates as they may deem proper.
In looking up the Law it was found that
the Governor has no power to fix a date
for special elections, the selections of
a date being vested in the Sheriff of
the county in which the vacancy exists.
There are five vacancies in the Third
Distr let of Wilmington, in which Rep
resentative M. Howard Jester, after
the last Legislative session, was ap-
pointed assistant postmaster of Will
mington; in Kent County, where Sen
ator ]. t. Reed and Representative
Stevenson have died, and in Sussex
County, where Senator D. o. Moore
was appointed postmaster of Laurel
and Representative Harry Marshall, of
Georgetown, was appointed Govern
ment veterinarian. AS a matter of
fact the Legislature will have met and
disposed of its business and adjourned
before special elections can be held to
fill the existing vacancies. Under the
law the third and fourth Saturdays be-
fore the election must be devoted to a
registration of voters in the districts
having vacancies. This, with the can
vass of the votes cast, would require
five weeks to elapse before the special
elections could be held. Meanwhile
the Legislature could elect a Senator
and be thing of the past, which
would obyiate the necessity then of
conducting the elections to fill legisla-
tive vacancies. This singular condi-
ton is brought about by the vesting OF
power to convene the Legislature in
the Governor and the fixing of special
election dates in the Sheriffs under q
statute.
Mr.. Howard Jester Springs a Surprise.
A surprise was sprung Monday after
noon when Mr.. Jester resigned from
the assistant postmastership of Will
mington and announced that he woulC
participate in the session of the Legis
lature. He is a Regular Republican
and strong Dupont advocate. 1t i
expect that the Democrats will attacl
his eligibility on the ground that hi
acceptance of the Federal Office worke
forfeiture of his seat in the Assembly
but, after all, the question may com
down to the Legislature, which is cor
trolled by the Republicans, passing
upon TESTERS eligibility and assurin
him his seat. With Jester sitting i
the Legislature the Republicans wi
have twenty-nine members in join
session, two more than constitution
quorum. 1t will require fifteen vote
to elect. No date has been set for
Republican caucus for Senator, br
there will probably be a meeting
the Republican Assemblymen IN Dow
on Thursday night to shape their pr
gram. TESTERS vote added to those O
ready lined up as secure for Colon
DUPONT will give the latter sixteen
the twenty nine votes. or enough
assure his election as the senatorl
candidate. To these it is report'
there will be several accessions fro
the Unionists, who supported Mr.. a
dicks in the last session, which m
swell Colonel DuPonts following
twenty-one men on the first or secol
ballot, provided the first ballot IN ca
Gus is complimentary.
Harry A. Richardson May 0et inc r'u'"
Should Addicks develop unexpec'
strength at the caucus, but la
enough votes to win. it is updersto
that his advisers will bring forwa
Harry A. Richardson. Dover N
lionaire, as a compromise. rms
what the Dupont men have most
fear.