The Wilmingtonian., 1886-05-29
The Coney Island Deal.

the Gubernatorial nominee, The heads or
chiefs Of these factions were j. Turpin Moore
of Laurel, and Charles G. .Stoekley of George.
town. The former was backed in his aspi-
rations by the Family" in Sussex, and also
by the Family and Wocott in Kent, and
would undoubtedly have won the prize, and
the Family and Wolcott would have con-
tinued firm friends, had it not been for the
cowardice of the Chief himself, who allowed
himself to be switched off the track by the
adherents of Stockley in New Castle. Stock
ley himself had no following in Kent but
in New Castle he was solid. There were the
ofiice-holders who were seeking reappoint-
ment-Holcomb, Cochran, and Maxwell.
They knew that reappointments were unpop-
ular in New Castle, and that there was but
one way by which they could attain their
desire, and that was by dicker with some
one of the aspirants. In looking around
their choice fell upon Stockley as the like
iest one to comply with their demands.
| They therefore called council of their
| friends to meet with the leutenants of
| Stockley from Kent and Sussex. They did
not want Rehoboth or any other place
within the jurisdiction of Delaware, but
| tooL etaan,ar aud ranairad 70 ranay leland
within the limits of the great State of New
York, where, being hundreds of miles from
home, they hoped 10 cover up their tracks
and hoodwink the people. But at the
same gathering by the seaside their were
present parties who, while not asserting to
the bargain and sale of officers in New Cas-
tie County, did not dissent, but kept their
own counsel, and upon their return home
gave it to the winds, detailed statement OF
which, so far as it was known to outsiders,
appeared at the time in the columns of the
State Sentinel.
By that dicker, that bargain and sale, it
was provided that Holcomb should be reap.
pointed Recorder of Deeds, that Cochran
should be reappointed Clerk of the Peace,
and Maxwell reapponted Prothonotary
These were three Of the contracting parties
In consideration Of the promises, they aut
their friends agreed to deliver the vote o
New Castle Couty to Stockley for Governor
in the approaching State Convention. The,
also further stipulated that VIM. j. Whiteley
should be Register of Wills, who woulC
without doubt have been appointed to tina
office had not vacancy occurred in the Ju
dietary Of the State. Upon the happening
of said vancacy, Whiteley was appointed
Associate Justice, and Ten-cent Grubby be
came Register of Wills of New Castle Coun
ty. They did not merely dicker for tn,
, offices themselves but they also dickered fo
the power itself, by which the offices wer
to be dispensed. They stipulated for tn
Gubernatorial succession, that the Admins
tratiOn should use its influence, its patronag
in promoting the nomination of the mai
! whom the office. holders should name Thei
s choice at the time was j. Wilkins Cooch, bu
! upon the publication of their schemes in til
1 newspapers of the State, lie became to
{ heavy to carry, and, in looking around fc
/ an available candidate, their choice fell upo
DR.. Black.
i A rather singular combination of circum
b. stances took place by which Dr.. Black
: name was brought forward Geo. Gray ha
: been reappointed Attorney General Gee
Gray's wife was sister of Doctor Black
. Alexander B. Coopers wife was not siste
\ of Dr. Black, but he himself was Deput
d Attorney under George Gray. Rict
# ard G. Cooper belongs to the Cooper famil
e of Kent whose connections comprise NJ
e less than one-t third of the people, and vii
v were represented III the State Senate b
If Samuel B. Cooper, late Speaker Of that bod,
II and by Alexander B. Cooper the preser
e Speaker, as well as by his brother DR.. Wn
II. Cooper, holding over member Of Ken
J. Out Of this family arrangement, this intei
t. marriage aud relationship, was born IL
ID name Of DR.. Black for Governor But Il
ID diokering for the dispensing power in dolr
,e out Executive patronage did not stop her
s. They also stipulated the successor of d
h Black four years hence, which happens to
g DR.. Z. w. Cooper Of Kent, who also happel
r. TO be "A brother to Geo. Gray's wife's bro,l
rs er-in-law, Richard cooper, and Geo. Gray
re late Deputy Attorney General, Alcxand +
Cooper, and also a brother to DR.. II. "
is Cooper, the holding over Senator for Ken
A If you will look at this arrangement marrow
IN y, scrutiniz9 it closely, think you will di
ID cover an attempt to set up political arst
he cracy in this State. This is what consi
h, tutcs in part the "Coney Island Deal al
he which the people of this State will ba call,
ch upon shortly to pass judgment.
)n That the contracting parties to that ID
in may not say that it is all humbug, let us a