Smyrna times., 1888-05-30
An Open Bolt in the Democrat Party
THE BEGINNING OF A DESPERATE
SENATORIAL FIGHT.

The Democratic County Meeting. at
New Castle, Saturday afternoon. was a
daisy. In fact, it was a whole bouquet
of daisies, bright, vivid, and beautiful
as sample of the greatest "Donnv-
brook fair" gathering of the Democ-
racy ever seen in Delaware. 1t ex-
ceeded even the famous Republican
loVe-teast' at Dover, in 1880.
1t had been apparent for several
days that there was to be a great bat
tie when the clans met at New Castle
on Saturday, and there was blood on
the face OF the Democrat c moon. AS
the day approached the signs became
more and more portentious, and in the
morning there was seen a marshalinp
OF opposing forces that meant war to
the knife. 1t was a battle royal. and
the chief prize, although it was con
cealed beneath the pretext of a fight
for the Wilmington Levy Court nomi
nation was the next United States SEN
atOrship from this State. This was Mt
the bottom Of the struggle for the con
troll OF the county executive committee.
With the passage Of the excellent
law that now regulates all primary
elections in New Castle county. the
old occupation Of the County Execu-
tive Committee departed. No longer
can nomination election officers be APP
pointed for the sole purpose of count
ing in certain candidates. regardless of
the votes cast. The safeguards of the
law give all the candidates an equal
show, and it makes no difference now
which candidate has the royal favor of
the County Committee.
Where, then, is the great advantage
III the possession of the Committee?
1t IS this. There are to be chosen
from the county in November. seven
Representatives and one State Senator
who will have a voice in the election
of United States Senator, to succeed
the Hon. Eli Salisbury Mr.. Sauls-
bury Is candidate for re election, and
the Hon. James l.. Wolcott, of Dover,
is his principal competitor Both have
able lleutenants, working hard for
them. Now, there are eleven hun
dreds in that county, and only EIGHT
members of the Legislature to be elec-
ted. The County Executive Commit
tes apportions these legislative candi-
dates among the different hundreds,
deciding which shall have a candidate
and which shall 60 unrepresented. A
committee controlled by the friends of
Mr.. salisbury would give representa-
tiOn to those hundreds likely to be in
his favor and cut out those presumed
to be in favor of Mr.. WOlcOtt: while |
the friends of the latter would do ex-
actly the reverse. This plan was fol- |
lowed by the County Committee two
years ago, when Black bird and Bran |
dywine hundreds, both Lore strong |
holds, were denied Legislative candi- |
dates, and Mr.. Lore thus deprived of |
two votes he otherwise would have |
secured. And this is what lies at the |
bottom of the fight for the possession |
of the County Executive Committee
FOR LEVY COURT.
But the masses were aroused, as far |
as Wilmington was concerned, over |
the fight for the Levy Court nomna-
tion in Wilmington. The candidates |
are Levy Court Commissioner Henry |
d. Hickman and John Pyle, and each
has many followers. But the party
leaders behind Hickman are working
for WOlcott, while many of those who |
led the rank and file of the Pyle forces
are for Salisbury. The large attend
ance from other portions of the county
was induced by the Senatorial issue
and the general interest in the
meeting.
AN ENORMOUS ATTENDANCE.
In point of attendance the meeting
far exceeded any ever held in New
Castle. Two special trains ran from
The first, chartered by
the Hickman men, left at II .15 O'Clock.
with nearly 800 men in four cars. The
second, in which the friends Of ex-
Sheriff Pyle took passage, comprised
five cars, crowded with between 400
and 500 persons. Several hack loads
came from North Christiana hundred.
carriage loads came into New Castle
from all directions, and the north
bound Delaware Railroad train, which
ran in two sections, brought between
100 and 500 from the lower portion of
,he county, about $50 coming from
The city of New Castle
at least 300, and altogether
here were about 1000 wrangling, but
Democrats, ready and
anxious for the fight that was brewing.
Charles II. McWhorter opened pro-
seedlings by nominating Sewell G.
3iggs for chairman, this being the first !
move Of the Pyle contingent. Francis
?. Kane on behalf of the Hickman J
orces, nominated Edmund Haman.
| vote was taken and Mr.. Justis de-
ided that It was in favor of Mr.. Biggs.
Then pandemonium reigned for
while. The Pyle crowd cheered and 1
he other side jeered, while the noise y
nd confusion were almost deafening. u
alexander Comegys, for the Hick-
nantes, demanded a division, which :,
emand McWhorter met with an as
ertion that the division should have n
cen called for before Mr.. Justis an d
ounced his decision. Then, for fully t
fteen minutes there was nothing but
leering, shouting and waving of hats
was impossible to transact business.
HICKMAN MEN BOLT. D
jefferson B. Foard, of Middletown re
arted the Hickman bolt by q motion ! "a