Evening journal., 1910-11-30
DON'T NEED The
REFERENDUM HERE.
At Least That Is What Kent
County Folk Agreed on
in Debate

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, Nov. 30.-The mega
tive won a positive victory in the de-
bate In Dover last night on applying
the Initiative and Referendum to Del
aware. The negative contention was
that Delaware did not need this gov
ernmental reform at all. that it would
be confusing and unproductive of any
good and that IL might open several
dangerous doorways.
The victory of the negative side was
not easily won, for the affirmative of
the question was taken, single-handed
by George II. Fulmer, of Dover, mana
ger on this peninsula for the Bell
Telephone Company. Mr.. Fulmer
brought out some OF the most power
full points Of this reform where Il is
operated in ten of the States of this
country. He pointed out with skill
how voters are so scrutinizing the
laws submitted to them that even
When a scheme is devised to reframe
bill. writing il in the negative
where IL was originally submitted in
the afiirmative-particul to catch
the voters-that they invariably pick
ed out their proper side and voted ac-
/ cordfngly.
Frank Whelen, in leading the mega
tive, declared that this so-called re-
form would overwhelm the voters of
! this State. He decried the Australian
ballot and demanded to know why a
Legislature could take It upon itself
to disfranchise the / 500 voters in this
State who spoiled their Australian
ballots trying to vote them in the
last election.
Oregon mystifed it's people, de-
clared the speaker, "by calling upon
them to vote at this election on thirty
three bills. The State published at its
own expense a 192-page book giving in
detail the bills and measures, about to
be voted on, distributing the book
among the voters. Now now many of
those voters sat down and read that
l92-page book?"
The speaker declared that this State
would certainly be flooded with propo-
jitions and measures from Dina's Cor
ner to Sycamore until the voter would
go to his district boss and say vote
me-" It would not destroy leadership
or boss rule, for if a boss wanted any
thing he could easily call a public
meeting at Star Hill or elsewhere and
get his voters in line and get his mea-
sure started.
Thrown before the meeting the
question was discussed by Dr. James
d. Carroll, William Uhlig, Past De-
partment Commander Jesse HeIlings
or the G. A. R.. and others, practically
all OF the speakers favoring delegated
authority in the Legislatures, the Sc
lection of good men, and opposing the
stripping them of power" and the
practical elimination Of the executive
authority, giving the veto power to the
masses Of voters. Life is real. life is
earnest" said one speaker. and men
VIII not stop their busy avocations TO
study the merits and dement's of
many-sided questions.
Former Mayor William G. Postles.
retired farmer and man of affairs
~ l.. Ridley, a plumber; Edgar 10.
Clements, nurseryHan; Professor
Wesley Webb, of the State Agricul-
tural Department, and Z. B. Louder
oough' newspaper publisher, were the
judges.
The people took much interest in
the debate and large crowd was
present. 1t was given before the
brotherhood of The Peoples Church
IN the new Assembly Room at the
church, but women were invited.
The next debate before the Broth
erhood will be Shall the Women be
Admitted TO the Elective franchise"
a woman has been selected to lead
this debate-Mrs. Lila w. Aron. of the
state W. c. 7. L., and she will choose
her assistants on the affirmative. Sec
retary Of State William T. Smithers
was selected to lead the negative.
All hands agreed to keep sweet"