Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-10
THE oLANs AZ DopER.
How the Grent Senatorial Fight
Goes On-Smithers i'm tiie Field 10

Goes On-Smithers im tile Field 10 |
stay.
Special Correspondence of Gazette and Journal
DovER, Jan. 5.-This has been o week
Of great political interest in Dover, and
the senatorial question is the absorbing
topic of discussion. Everybody talks
about it, and the political wiseaeres have
settled it in advance dozen times, only
no two of them sgres upon their predic-
tions Of the final outcome.
The most perplexiDg feature of the
situation is the candidacy of Hon. N. b.
Smithers; for he is candidate, beyond
q doubt. It is given out by various per-
sons that Mr.. Smitbers does not desire
the office, and would not accept 1t, but
this opinion is entertained only by those
with whom 'the wish is father to the
thought" MIR. Smithers ia in the race
and does not propose to draw himself
out. Only last Monday night, during
tine progress OF the House organization
caucus, he unbosoTned himself freely to
prominent Republican of Wilmington,
who paid him friendly visit. 81 do not
ask for the senatorship,n said Mr..
amithers, in effect; ''in fact, my personal
inclinations are against accepting it. l
am welded to my practice, my Law office,
my comfortable home, and the easy,
| pleasant existence that am enjoying
here. / would not willingly surrender
all Of these for the discomforts Of public
| life ut Washington. But IL the Republic
| can party considers that am the most
! fitting man upon whom to unite the con-
| tiicting fact;ons-the one compromise
candidate whose selection would tend to
| unity the party and settle the contest
without leaving any gtieyous political
sores to be healed, then am willing to
accept.
This is Mr.. smithers' position, and
backed as he is said most positively to be,
by two and possibly three votes, it is
very natural and tenable one to hold on
| to. A candidate go we'll politically
situated as he ia, with two or three votes
behind him, is formidable power in
ouch fight ns the Republican party OF
Delaware now has npon its hands.
The talk of the candidacy Of State
Senator A. i. Richardson 10 not INDUCED
in by the authority of that gentleman, ,snd
ia really against his protest. It is the
work Of the enemies OF George V. Massey,
Esq., bnd is persisted in solely wish the
hope OF iniuring his chances in tho fight.
The man who 10 largely responsible for
the Richardson talk is Beniah WGtgon,
ESQ.,, who is terribly disappointed be-
cause the Kent representatives, after
MoKendree Downham was first nomi-
mated for speaker of the House, refused
to press him for the clerkship. Kent
could have had this position then, and any
mau her representatives united upon
would have been nominated. But Kent
did not want the clerkship and refused tc
name anyone, whereby Mr.. Watson CON
s,dsrs that grievous injustice was done
him. He charges this action to Massey't
dictation and in revsnge is doing all in
his power to secure Massey's defeat fol
Ssnator. His idea of booming Richard
, son is to convey the impression tina
, Massey's support by the Kent delegation
is very weak and unreliable, but MIR
: I z Riahssasap quickly quickly prt his foot nnn,
this scheme by unequivocally declaring
that he is not and will not be candidate.
Despite this declaration the Richardson
card is still being worked, but its real OBJ
ject ia plainly apparent and 1t 10 having
no effect.
Another interesting feature is the knife
to-hilt fight between Higgins and Treat
Higgins believes that Treat is acting
treacherously in being candidate after
he had promised to support him, but
with his usual lack Of diplomacy he Il
fighting Treat viciously instead OF en-
deayoring to compromise with bim. 1t IL
charged that even while he was pledgint
his support to Higgins, during the lat
campaign, in return for Higgins con
tributions to the Republican corruption
fund in Sussex county, Treat intrigued
with the Sussex candidates for the Legis
lature aud induced five of them to pledge
themselves to vote for him for senator II
the event OF Republican success. Natur
ally, Higgins is mad, and his friends are
now fighting Treat more viciously thei
any other candidate. A diplomatic com
promise by which Treat wouid hav,
agreed to throw his influence in Higgins
favor in the event of his own chances
appearing hopeless, would have mad
} Higgins q formidable candidate. But
angered by Higgins savage assaults
Treats friends are also on the war-path
and their cry now is 'tanything or any
body to beat Higgins" Not a vote tina
, Charles II. Treat can control will ever b
cast for Anthony Higgins.
The candidates are sill expected to opel
headquarters here on Monday, and ther
: Is talk that the caucus will be called 70
3 Wednesday night. The second adven
of the irrepressible Addicks, he Of th
! dashing manners and purse weighte
! with millions, is awaited with eager in
) terest. His flying visit of Tuesday lasi
t and the lavish hospitality he then dis
l played, only served to sharpen tn
| appetites of those who then me
: him for further acquaintance wit
such an enchanting gentlemen On
such CrDsus of candidate. He vii
!, find plenty OF willing hands eager t.
I tighten his bulky purse of its store Q
t wealth, and plenty of men with the mos
. positive ''pGlls" on all the Republics
{ legislators will stand ready to deliver th
goods OF his fest for cash oonsidera ton
But how the legislators will treat Addioks
candidacy remains to be seen. at an
: rate he is adding zest aud an interest t
the senatorial canvass which will caus
: the name OF Addioka to be long re