Evening journal., 1909-02-03
VOTERS ASSISTANT
REPEALER TO DIE
Probability That Measure will
be Killed When Called up
in the Senate

Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER Del, Feb 3-Now that the
Connolly voters assistant repeater BIN
has passed the House by strict party
vote, Il Is expected 90 meet snag In the
Republican senate II can be put down
as a pretty safe bet that the repealer viii
not have the easy time In the Senate that
It had in the House. md that 1t will be
killed there by a party vote. The Republi-
can policy was outlined IN the House yes
terday-tbat the abolition OF voters as
sistants will not be done hy the Republic
cans so long as the Australian ballot sys-
tenn is used I'm Delaware. The outcome
OF II an. II is reported, probably VIII be a
simpliied ballot bill TO be suggested by
the Republicans with provision for as
sistance to voters in certain cases.
While the Democrats In the House were
sure OF a majority TO pass the repeater
some Of tho Democrats members could
not resist the temptation 10 break into
speech. Representative Connolly started
the discussion This is tho bin that made
Delaware Infamous" was the startling as
sertion with which he started OF. and
caused some Of his auditors 70 try 70 re-
call when Delaware became Infamous. 1T
has long been the talk that the Infamous
voters assistant bill should be repealed,
continued Mr.. Connolly. "and therefore
the bin speaks for itself and ! leave it TO
the individual judgment Of the members"
Mr.. Spruanoe's Position.
Representative Spruancc. Republican.
defined his position regarding the mea-
sure. 81 think that as long as we have
the Australian ballot system we should
have voters assistants" said Mr. Spru-
ance. lie stated that it had been alleged
that voters assistants assisted In the cor
ruptlon Of voters. II am opposed 10 po-
litical corruption OF any kind" continued
Mr.. Spruance. "and n there arc any
errors in the law that ought TO be cor
rected to prevent wrongs due to voters
assistants violating their oaths I viii vote
10 correct these errors. But 1 think that
the voters assistants are needed so long
as we have the Australian ballot system.
1T may he true that part Of this pro.
test we hear might be satisfied II part OF
the ignorant but honest voters did not
cast their ballots II often happens that
an ignorant voter on picking up the lead
pencil in the booth becomes possessed OF
a mental obsession. makes two crosses or
] MARKS InclFd4 u NIf anu N''NHANN Nt'AH
confused as he attempts to mark his ball
lot properly. II any measure could be in
troduced bv which the Australian ballot
could be done away Wit. the reason for
voters assistants would disappear and
for one would be glad 10 see them go"
Mr.. Spruance told Of the great number
OF spoiled ballots rejected az the city cleo
ton IN Wilmington when there were no
voters assistants. and said Il showed that
many voters needed assistance under the
present law.
NJ R-o~k~on's Attack.
Representative Brockson, Democrat IN
taking the floor. said he was surprised
TO hear Mr.. spruance advocate the reten.
tion Of the voters assistant law. Mr.
Brockson said It was not a party cues.
tion. as its repeal had been advocated by
men OF both parties lie traced the history
I OF The voters assistant law the first vot
ers' assistant law having been passed b,
the Democrats, and the present law hav