Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-08-05
POLITICAL.
THE SITUATION In SUSSEX
The FaotionaI Fight for the
Sheriffalty Nomination.
HOUSTON VERSUS SHORT
Talk of an Independent Movement
and What the WhirIigig of
Time Has Brought About
.. Who viii be
Senator 2
IN THE REPUBLICAN CAMP


tion for sheriff is likely to assume seriou,
proportions. The bitter fight betweer
Houston and Shert, of Dagsboro hundred
is becoming more bitter every day. and II
is about certain that the first cannot and
probable that the latter would not, be
elected.
The county convention will not be held
until after the State convention, ed the
snare which is threatened may be avoided
by the advice of the party leaders when
they meet at Dover. 1t is now proposed
that all of the candidates now in the field
Withdraw, and that no active canvass be
made at all, leaving it with the wisdom OF
the county convention to nominate such a
candidate as it may think best.
movement with this object is being
started, but it meets with firm and un-
compromising opposition from every one
of the candidates. Sussex politics are SO
personal and so active, always, that a
proposition of this kind, even to save the
party from defeat, is hailed with little
favor, and the probabilities are that the
fight will go on as actively as before the
peace commission" now proposed, was
thought Of
The sherif's Office in this county is a
valuable one, probably the most valuable
in the county, and the officer, generally
speaking, as most Sussex politicians are,
being frugal and industrious person. is
looked upon as fixed" for lie, when he
has completed his official two years of
money-making. Ex-Sherif Sharp, for
instance, or ex-Sheriff Truitt, or ex-SherifT
Gray or, indeed, any of the gentlemen
who have retired from the office, are well
off in this worlds goods, all their means
having been accumulated from the sheriffs
little back office in the Court House.
More trouble to the Democrats has
grown out of the personal wrangles for
the nomination than from any other
cause, but the fight this year is more for
midable than ever before. Even the pro-
moters of the proposed "peace commits
sion" are not sanguine of the success of
their plan, but it will be seen in short
time whether the contest for the nomina-
ton is to be of the party or of persons.
Joseph Phillips, of Dagsboro hundred,
who has been all along looked upon as the
likely candidate of the Republicans, is not
willing to accept the nomination, so some
OF his friends say and it has been quietly
talked of among shrewd Republicans here
that If Mr.. Bacon, of Laurel, who has
been for years stanch Democrat, but
latterly not working in the party traces,
would accept nomination as an inde-
pendent candidate, he would be ratified
by the Republicans.
What changes the whirligig of time
does bring about The Republicans in
time past have never had more uncom-
promising enemy than Mr.. Bacon. Dur
ing the war he was a genuine "sympa-
thizer," and since, has preached that
Republicanism is the sure way to political,
personal and religious damnation. They
now propose to make him sheriff. 1t is
not known yet If Mr.. Bacon will accept
the nomination. If he should it will intro
duce an additional element of interest in
the canvass.
The difference between the Sheriffalty
and the State Senatorship is that the one
is an office of valuable emoluuents, while
the other is entirely place of honor and
distinction. The contest in the canvass
for the positions is suggestive of the
characteristics of the thrifty politicians of
the county. Everybody wants the one,
while there is such disinclination to take
the Senatorial nomination as to embarrass
the party. In a former letter intimated
the possible Democratic nominees for the
place made vacant by the expiration of
the term of DIR. Hopkins, of Milton, inti-
mating that Mr.. Tunnel, of Lewes, would
not accept the nomination, an expression
of opinion from Mr. Tunnel himself, who
told me that he did not think he would
accept nomination.
Senator Conaway, however, who is not
given to careless statements and is a most
reliable and discerning politician, said to
me the other day that he thought il MIR.
Tunnel We're nominated he would accept.
There appears to be no doubt that if Mr..
Tunnel would indicate a willingness to
accept he would be nominated; and, from
MIR. Copaway's manner and conversation,
as well ms from other evidence, | am
inclined to believe that he will be pre-
vailed upon to serve as candidate.
Should he, however, positively refuse to
run, the convention will name either Mr..
Horsey, of Laurel, or Hon. j. W. Causey,
of Cedar Greek.
Mr.. Causey has already served one term
in the Senate, and is one of the best
known of the public men of Sussex
county. He was. while Senator, the lead
ing spirit of the Senate, and is an upright
and able legislator. He has been spoken
't WY iAbhAA1hAi1 hb CHINl-
date for Governor. Mr.. Horsey is also a
gentleman who would do credit to the
position, although not SO widely known as
either MIR. Causey or MIR. Tunnel. He is
relative of Hon. j. II. Moore, the
Speaker of the Senate in 1877 Mr..
Uausey does not seek toe nomination. but
his friends are to have the benefit of his
sagacity and influence in the Legislature
thia mi, 4.
important one.
The statement made, as coming from
Mr. Smithers, that he is willing to sacri-
flee his personal inclination to refuse the
Congressional nomination if it will heal
the dissensions in the party, is regarded
among Republicans here as significant;
and, while they are not SO happily united
and harmonious as their friends in Kent
are reported to be, they are all willing to
be satisfied with Mr.. Smithers as a candi-
date. MIR. Burton, who was after hot
contest, elected at the last State Conven-
tion as delegate to Chicago, said to me
yesterday that he was willing to accept
Mr.. Bradford, who is to be offered by Mr..
Higgins and Mr.. Pickles as their candidate
for Congress.
Mr.. Burton belongs to the Cannon wing,
and this would appear to be boom for
Mr.. Pickles in this county, but Mr. Burton
has since qualified his acceptance of MIR.
Bradford by declaring that if he was not
acceptable to his friends 10 New Castle"
which means Mr.. Bird and the opposition
TO MIR. Higgins, he would not support
him in the conventions; and, if Mr..
Smithers will accept the nomination-ss
it is now openly declared he Wilt would
be madness for the other wing to put up
anybody against him or to flight him" as
they declare they will. From conversa-
ton with the prominent Republicans here,
l should Judge that Mr.. Smithers' friends
could count upon Sussex as ''solid" for
him as Kent would be.
In speaking of the differences in the
party, ex.Attorney General Moore gives
about the best reason why ne will not take
part in the contentious, / have yet heard.
| Said he, 81 have taken no part in these
quarrels, and shall not take any part in
them. 1t is quite likely that have we'll
defined opinions as to the merits Of the
quarrel, but it does not become me to ex-
press them. l decline to engage in it
because l cannot see but that if l should
take part it would be simply as puppit
in the hands of other men, and this | am
determined not to be. II my voice and
influence could close the breach they would
be gladly offered, but so long as other men
want to make use of me for the advance
ment of their ends l will keep away for
instance, suppose / should side with Mr..
Higgins, would have to follow after
him and do as his party desired, and not
as would most wish myself; or,if should