Milford chronicle., 1915-01-08

On MONDAY night DeIOre Lne meeClng
of the biennial session of the Delaware
Legislature. the lobies of the various
hotels in Dover were only moderately
filled with politicians from various parts
of the state. The prominent Republi
cans were in evidence, and the Demo
cratic members s'seemed without enthus-
iasm, even though an attempt was to
be made to reverse the decision of the
people and get control of the State
Senate by the Democratic Party. This
was to have been accomplished by the
unseating of Senator Frazier and the
seating of his opponent George Waldo
man of FELTON,.
The republican managers held eau
cuses and laid their plans for the organ
ization at the Hotel Richardson.
On Tuesday at noon while the House
was organized without hitch, the Re-
pubhcans electing Re epresenta tive
Grantland. of Wilmington, Speaker and
the rest of their slate, the Senate was a
scene of disorder for hours. After
Lieutenant Governor Ferguson had
called it to order and Rev. Benjamin F.
Thompson, of Dover, had offered prayer,
Senator Walker placed in nomination
for temporary secretary, Senator Fur
Miss, one of the Democratic hOld-overs,
and SenotOr Gormley nominated Henry
D. Boyer, of Smyrna, Democrat.
The Republicans claimed that no one
but member of the Senate could act
as secretary and the question also was
raised as to who constituted the Senate,
to which reply was made by the presid-
ing officer that hold-over members
formed it until new members were
sworn in. An appeal from the decision
was attempted by the Republican men,
bers, but was not recognized, the Lieu
tenant Governor claiming that the ap-
peal came too late. He declared Boyer
elected temporary secretary after he
had received a majority of the votes of
the hold-over Senators.
TWO PRESIDING OFFICERS
The Democrats then presented the
contest for the seat of Senator Frazier,
a Kent county Republican; George
the defeated Democratic |
and though Republican men,
Oers frequently interrupted the tenn
porary secretary, as it had been estab- |
ished that the Senate was sufficiently I
to proceed with business the |
reading was concluded and messengers |
from the three counties were notified /
that the Senate was ready to receive
he certificates of election of the new
members. They were produced, read
and the new Senators sworn in.
Senator Hotfecker, Repub lie an,
moved that a recess be taken until the
afternoon and Senator Gormley, Demo-
rat, moved that the Senate at once
axe up the Kent county contest. Mo
ion after motion was made. attempts
o obtain recognition by the Republi-
ans being defeated by the Lieutenant
Governor, who claimed that Senator
frazier had no right to vote on the
natter. The Democrats insisted on the
ontest being heard and on roll call, the
Jerk refusing to call the name of
'razier. the vote stood to 6. Lieu
enant Governor Ferguson declared the
esolution to have been adopted and ap-
ointed Senator Carter to notify the
-ent county Sheriff to produce the bal
IT boxes of the two Representative dis ,
ricts forming the Senatorial district, !
ne seat for which was in dispute.
With this procedure, the nine Repub- {
cans, including Frazier, attempted TO I
rganize the Senate, the Democratic ;
lieutenant Governor Ferguson refusing !
, take any part in the proceedings. +
hey elected Senator Walker president
70 TEN. but when he was escorted to the 4
lair Lieutenant Governor Ferguson
fused to vacate his seat and Senator
arris stood beside him and conducted
Ie rest of the election of officers. d
REST TO THINK IT OVER.
Senator Barnard claimed that, be-
use Lieutenant Governor Ferguson
ID refused to put the question of the
ection of Senator Walker, his seat v
as vacant and he had no say in the
Senator Gormley in oi
rmed Senator Barnard, that if the
eutenant Governor had failed to per- D
rm any of his duties, impeachment
were in order. William
III, of Delaware City, was declared pl
scted secretary by the Republican b.
smbers who then took a recess, the &C
members remaining in their
ats, presided over by Lieutenant al
vernon Ferguson, for a time, and
en- declaring a recess. al
When the Democratic Senators re- Sc