Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-13

In great political fight, like the one
which now rends and tears the Repub-
lican party in Delaware, those engaged
in II can not always see the true stu
alton, and when they do see it they are
not always willing to let the public into
their confidence. To claim assurance
of victory is a part of the fight. So
many men love the winning side, that
the leaders on all sides feel it wise to |
keep stiff upper lip and claim that
they are bound to win.
Therefore, the claims that Mr.. Higgins
and his friends put forth that he will be
chosen on the first ballot in caucus, and
the boast of Mr.. Addicks that he has
mo chances but certainty of election"
must be discounted all around. Those
who remember the claims of the con-
testants six years ago know that both
of these gentleman are capable OF put
ting on bold front in Senatorial
fight. Mr.. Higgins made something Of
then, but when the balioting came
he had only single vote. Although he
was finally elected, his support did not
\ materialize until after some 40 ballots,
and then as result of an accident,
| growing out Of an unforeseen situation
4 developed by the contentious of the three
candidates who had real strength-Mr.
Massey, Mr.. Treat and Mr.. Smithers.
During the same fight Mr.. Addicks,
who was the humorous element ut that
a, rth ,iyr nd VNta ola
During the caucus he got nothing more
substantial than laugh when his naInc
4 was incidentally mentioned. Nobody
ever thought of voting for bin.
While nothing definite can be gath.
cred from the conflicting claims of the
two sides concerning the number of
votes each commands, VIC can learn this
much from them, viz. that each man
is determined to fight to the end and
that the feeling of each toward the other
is ugly and hot.
Mr.. Higgins has no second choice.
He is for himself first, last and all the
time. Personal ambition dictates that
much. The only secondary motive he
has in the fight at all Is to beat MIR.
Addicks at any cost Personal hate
dictates that.
Mr. Addicks also has no second choice.
lie really wants to be Senator. A
month since some people fancied that his
Senatorial aspirations were mere feint
and that the real oject of his contention
lay elsewhere. Everybody knows bet
ter than thatnow. Driven into corner
he might make deal with some down,
the-State man by which he could name
the Senator now and become the Scna-
tor four years from now. But he will
never consent to Mr.. Higgins re.elec
ton.
AS to voting strength, Mr. Addck;
has five votes in Sussex and one in New
Castle sure. Mr., Higgins has six in
New Castle sure. That leaves sever
votes to be accounted for. Two of then
are in New Castle county. OF thos,
two one may 60 to Mr.. Higgins and tn
other will be most likely to go to Nj
james Pennewill of Dover, if thu
amiablc gentleman can screw hi
coming an out and out candidate. II
wants the plum badly enough and Nj
Massey wants him to have it, but he
one of those good souls who do not ill;
TO play when the game is rough. BIT
he is likely to be Il candidate at last, i
which event he will get the one yot
in Kent sure. Of the four unaCcountc
for in sussex, Mr.. Addicks will probabl
get one and the other three will {
to DR.. Hiram Rodney Burton.
The present situation points to for
candidates when the voting begins an
the votes will probably be divide
among them as follows Mr.. Addioks
Mr.. Higgins Z, DIR. Burton 8, and NJ
Pennewill2
In view Of the feeling cnEcuderel al
of the situation in the State, tile prob
bilty is that Mr.. Higgins and NJ
Addicks will defeat one another. Evr
il one of thcm-and it matters II
which one should carry the cauet
tue fight would probably he carried
to the floor of the Legislature, But it
more likely that neither of them c
carry the caucus.
The choice is more apt to fall on
Burton or on Mr.. Pennewili. In t
contest that is likely enough to devel
between those two gentlemen,
Burton has double advantage. In
first place, he comes from a cout
which has nine votes in the cauc