Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-19
REPUBLICANS in DESPAIR.

chine Would Trade HIM on Remorse-
lessly-Demoorats Confident OF Success.
neutrality-suspicious. Of Gazette and Journal
GEoReETowN, July 12-Republicans
of Sussex county, particularly those
who pin their political faith to the coat
tails of Senator Anthony Higgins, have
been thrown into CONSERVATION by the
announcement that Joshua II. Marvil, the
wealthy basket manufacturer of Laurel,
will not accept the Republican nomina-
ton for governor. II was supposed that
the slate had been completed for a
ticket composed of Marvl for governor
and Preacher Willis for Congress, and
the leaders were consoling themselves
with the reflection that while they
might have chosen men more liberal,
yet they might, with their usual facility
for bleeding" candidates for office, sue
coed in getting fairly generous contri-
button out of Marvil, and in inducing
the ambitious and susceptible Willis to
do his financial best in aid of the battle
for the success of the Republican party
in Delaware next fall.
But their rosy visions have now
turned TO feelings Of gloom ana DESPAIR.
1t is doubtful if Mr.. Marvil would have
consented in any event, but when the
news Of the practical nomination Of Ebe
w. Tunnel of Lewes by the Democrats
was announced, Marvil and all the
other Republicans Of Delaware were
thrown into panic. They recognized
that the candidacy of Mr.. Tunnel dis
sipated their last hope of Democratic
dissension, and that there was not the
remotest prospect of success. And so
Mr.. Marvil hastened to announce,
Your candidate | cannot be-" while
the leaders began flouldering around to
hunt some one else to fill tho gap.
The Republican designs on Mr.. Mar
wills barrel having been thus frustrated,
they have, 1t is understood, turned their
despairing eyes upon that Republican
war horse and most accommodating
Sussex county politician, DR.. Hiram h.
Burton of Lewes. Ii the Republican
leaders felt at all confident of electing
their ticket they would never place DIR.
Burton at its head, Notwithstanding his
popularity and good standing among
the Republican voters OF Sussex lie is
one OF the men on whose support they
count at all times, no matter whether he
Is honored with political preference or
not, and 50 they ignore him when they
start into campaign hopefully, resery-
ing the nominations fol those whom
they hope to pull" financially or pla.
cate for future use. And SO, notwith.
standing the fact that it was long
an open secret that DIR. Burton would
like TO have the Republican nomination
for governor this year, he was coolly
slde.traCked to make room ior the barrel
and hu al fsun IiAnfa
now that the latter has been scared off
by the fear that all the campaign con
tributions he might make would not
avail to elect him, the deceitful leaders
come to DIR. Burton and beg him To lead
their torlorn hope. Whether he will
consent to accept this secondhand
favor, after having been treated so
shabDily, remains to be seen. 1t Is re-
ported that he went to Wilmington last
night and had All interview with Senator
Higgins. DIR. Burton has helped Higgins
politically before this, and he may con
sent TO pose as the martyr for this Occa-
sion.
Some Of DR.. Burtons sincere friends
in Sussex county do not wish him to
accept the nomination, as they feel
morally certain he would be remorse.
lessly traded off by the Higgins hench-
men, IN their desperate effort to elect
the Republican legislative nominees,
that is, supposing these nominees to be
in favor of the return of Higgins TO the
Senate, and not committed TO some
other aspirant. And even in the latter
event they do not doubt that the trade
would be made all the same. But as to
Higgins they are absolutely certain. 1t
Is no secret here that some of the anti
Higgins leaders in New Castle county
recently considered, with great serious
ness, the proposition to force the nOmi.
nation OF John @. Higgins, the Senator'S
brother, for governor, in order, rs they
said, to have candidate whom An
thony Higgins could not trade OFF to
further his own chances" They had
no love, for John O., simply desiring to
tie the hands of the Senator's adhurents,
but il is said that they were dissuaded
ny the apparent certainty that even
with such a nomination the trading
would 80 on all the same.
The prevailing impression down here
Is that II DIR, Burton thus consents 10
act as Higgins second choice for the
gubernatorlal nomination he will "get it
in the neck" on election day, when the
Higgins heelers get in their trading
work, just the same as any other caudi.
date would. The machine is for lIin-
gins first, last and all the time, and
while the leaders are disappointed at
not being able to realize by Maryil's
barrel, they now grasp despairingly at
the st'aw of Burton's good nature and
his availability as the basis for HiG-
gins trade.
So, unless there is an unexpected
change in the programme, the Repub.
lican ticket will be Burton and Willis
1t is not an altogether encouraging
ticket, but it is the best that can be built
up under the cloud of dread that has
enveloped every aspiring Republican
since the strong and harmonious situa.
ton OF the victorious Democrats became
apparent. And if Burton and Willis
are willing to accept the sacrifice, there
VIII be no Democratic tears shed over
their fate.
In Democratic circles, there is not
only the best Of feeling, but the conf.
. dent assurance of victory. Even the
desperate efforts to secure a Higgins
victory by trading of Burton, and
Willis, too, if necessary, for votes for
the legislative nominees, will not work
in this contest. Sussex Democrats look
upon this as Democratic year, aud feel
that II their work is seconded by Kent
and Now Castle there will be no doubt
as TO the result. ~
DIR. BURTON IN WILMINGTON.
DR.. Hiram K. Burton of Lewes was
in Wilmington on Thursday. He made
a brief call on Senator Higgins ut the
latter's law office, and then took his
departure TO call on other friends in this
city.