Evening journal., 1908-06-03
URGE REFORMS
In THIS STATE
Icontinued From First Paxe.)

they can enforce it. The good people
are prone to take the mere political
word Of some slippery fellow whom
they would not for moment trust in
business. Just put it down that the
man is secretly against you, when he
will not come out openly for you. He
that is not for you is against you, ]
believe the Good Book says.
The local option people have been
fooled once. Don't be again. Just re-
member what Artemus Ward said
that any man who will stand still and
let the same mule kick him twice in
the same place is worth more for that
purpose than for anything else.
Elect Honest Officials.
1t is equally important to elect the
right State officials. They enforce the
laws, or do not do it. They can. If
they desire, bring the law into such
contempt that the people may repeal
it as a failure. They should repeal
the officials instead of the law! Tn
fortunately, 1t is easier to get than to
get rid of bad officials. The best way
for the people to get rid of them is
not to elect them
If the good people of our State will
organize in thorough and practical
fashion, and go at this matter in ear
nest, you can force both parties to
nominate only good men-and elect
whom you will.
Governor Appoints the Judges.
DO not forget that the governor YOU
are to elect has the veto power. 1t
takes two-thirds of the General As
sembly to pass a measure over his veto.
If he is solidly for local option, ne
alone may be able to defeat an at
tempt to reverse the popular decision,
If the vote happens to be close. If
he is against you, his veto may pre-
vent the passing of legislation to
strengthen your position, even If you
have a majority of the members The
governor is as important as the Cen
eral Assembly Yes, far more so.
DO not forget that the governor we
elect this year appoints the Judges who
are to pass upon the acts of the Gen
eral Assembly and of public officials
for twelve long years. He has it in
his sole power to destroy all you have
gained, simply by appointing the
wrong men as judges. From the de-
cisions of such judges on these local
matters there is no appeal. There
fore, in effect, the man we elect gov
ernor this year is virtually the exec
utive, the legislative and the judicial
departments of our States. How vita;ly
important that we chose a strong, up
right man, absolutely loyal to the peo-
pies cause, Independent and fearless,
honest to the very core of his being
with no entangling or embarrassing al
liances that might swerve him from
sincere fidelity to the people and to
the grave local problems. Such ques-
tions as local option, right and op-
portunity of the people to have a di-
rect voice In their own affairs, reason
able and constitutional regulation OF
public service corporations with due
regard to their legal rights and in the
interests of the people) the just rights
of labor, and other matters of present
and future Importance to the pubic
welfare.
These facts make the coming election
the most important election of a de-
cade to the people of Delaware In It.
self, this creates a great moral crisis,
one which the people will this year
settle for good or for ill., It is our
fight You have the power to decide
il right. But the opposition is organ
lied, vigilant, experienced and power
full. The people must organize, and
quickly. The campaign last year
taught you what you can do If you
go at it to win.
Must Control the Convention.
State officers are nominated in State
conventions. You must control those
conventions. That is your fight. 1t is
useless, it is folly, to allow the opposi-
ton to control both conventions and TO
nominate two sets of bad or doubtful
men-thus giving you only the choice
of two evils" You good people can re-
verse this and control both conven-
tions, if you go about it right and do
il quickly. But you must expect to
fight for it. Is it not worth the effort,
when your personal interests, the hap
piness of your homes, the welfare and
honor of our splendid State for the
next twelve years. are at stake?
Kent and Sussex, you alone have the
power, for delegates from your cour-
ties will be a majority in each con-
vention. VIII you rise to the occasion
as you so splendidly did last year?
You see this election is even more int
portant, vital to you. have had the
pleasure of knowing so many of the
people of these two counties. and see
ing their high character, intelligence
and sagacity, that l am confident you
viii organize and win again. / will
gladly help you to the extent of my
ability. 1 will follow your lead, for
know you are right and in earnest.
All Laws Must be Enforced.
There is an honest difference among
men as to drinking beer and liquor and
as to the wisdom of local option. But
there should be no difference of opin-
ion over the question of enforcing local
option while ii remains on the statute
books All laws look alike to justice.
Public officials take an oath to strictly
and impartially enforce all laws, against
rich and poor and corporations alike.
They should do so-or resign or be re-
moved. If It were left TO each man to
ignore any law he might not deem wise,
all laws soon would be a dead letter.
Successful disobedience to one law en-
courages the violation of other laws,
and tends toward anarchy.
Rich and powerful law breakers =
men or corporations-are the worst
anarchists we have. They laugh at
the law and escape it's just penalties.
guided at every step by eminent and