Evening journal., 1910-06-24
COUNCIL OPPOSES
APPOINTMENT
Adopts Resolution COndemning
Selection of Craig as Second
Ward Election Registrar
REPUBLICANS THINK
ACTION UNWARRANTED

ACTION UNWAkkANIED
city Council last night passed a resolu-
tion condemning the action Of the De-
partment Of Elections in re-appointins
Richard Craig. colored. registration and
election officer in the Fourth district Of
the Second ward over which district there
was much talk during the contest pro-
ceedings heard by City Council last July
An aye and nay vote was taken and re-
suited IN all the Democratic members
voting I'M the affirmative and the Repubii-
cans in the. negative.
Tho resolution was presented by Mr.
Dempsey OF the First ward who said
that Craig's re-appointment was n notice
to the public that the samo conditions
would exist in that district next fall as in
the last city election. He thought that
Council as the Representatives Of the
people should deal with the subject and
stamp its disapproval of the action Of
the Department OF Elections
Mr.. Benson of the Seventh ward and
Mr.. Bilderback, OF the Ninth ward held
the opinion that Council had no right to
tell the Department OF Elections what il
should do. III the party submitting the
resolution has any complaint to make, -
said Mr.. Benson, 'r' should 20 before the
Department Of Elections with it,"
Mr. Dempsey said he agreed with Mr..
Benson on that point but thought that
Council should take some action in the
matter.
At this juncture Mr.. McNIullin, OF the
Twelfth ward offered an amendment TO
Mr.. Dempsey's motion TO adopt the reso-
luton by adding that copy Of the reso-
luton be sent TO the Department of Eiec-
tions. which amendment was adopted
along with the original motion.
| Mr.. McGovern, OF the Eleventh ward
made the remark that Craig should be
removed from the office. and If neces-
sary. to resort to the law for an injunc-
tiou TO prevent him from serving az an
election officer and also to impeach the
Department of Elections
The resolution follows:
Whereas, II has appeared in the press
of this city that the Department of Elec-
tions has reappointed Richard z. Craig
to be one OF the election officers OF the
Fourth district OF the Second ward OF
the city of Wilmington. and
Whereas, the said Fourth district OF
the Second ward is a notorious colored
district which under the leadership OF
Jack Goodwin and Richard Craig, for a
decade past. has been the hot bed of reg
istraton and election fraud and has, ow-
ing to the domineering. threatening and
riot melting influence, principally Of the
said Goodwin and the said Craig. beer
made dangerous place for any citizen to
venture to restore order and see a fair
election held. and
Whereas, the Council in the recent con-
tests between Almond and Ross. and Al
len and Rash, after a full investigation
OF all the facts OF the case decided that
Almond and Allen were elected to the Of
fee to which they were nominated bas
ing their conclusions on the rank fraud
committed in the Fourth district Of th'
Second ward.
Whereas. information was filed by thl
iattorney general before the court of New
lCastle county at the September term
thereof, 1909. for fragrant election frauds
in the Fourth district Of the Second ward
and the said Craig was only saved from
prosecution by the majority decision o
the Court en- Banc in holding that n,
legal election had Teen held I'm this cit,
Whereas. All the above matters wer
known to the Department OF Elections be
fore and at the time Of the appointment
Of Craig. therefore. be it
Resolved, BY the Council that the Coun
Gil hereby does severely condemn the De
partment of Elections for said notorious
; ~ unfit appointment and in said ap
pointment it can but see a determine
ft,kn F,n 90 -
! ment Of Elections to further countenanc
the carnival OF registration and electio
frauds I'm said notorious district OF III
Second ward. and be II further
Resolved. That the Council as represer
tatives of the people OF the city, in the II
terest OF a fair registration and a fal
election, and IN the interest Of decenc.
peace and good order. and perchance HI
man life. request and demand that n
Department Of Elections remove the sal
Craig from said office and appoint in hi
= place a competent and honest man, wh
e viii discharge the duties Of his office az
4 cordng TO his sworn oath, and in a,
q cordance with the laws Of this state.
s Department Takes No Action.
o J. IT. Lewis, OF the Department
, Elections when seen today relative /
10 lily Nouhcii dCtAol ldsl ulBul IN cor
demning that department for rear
pointing Richard e. Craig, colored. q
z a registrar and election officer in n
% Fourth district OF the Second war
r said that the department had not y,
Il received any communication fro
4 Council relative to the matter.
!. He was asked whether Craig. in vie
I, OF the Councils action, would be r,
= moved, and replied that the board wi
: not meet again until next Tuesda
a evening and he did not suppose an,
J. thing would be done between now al
that time.
He did not think a special meetir