Evening journal., 1895-10-25
AS VIEWED AT DOVER.
Nicholson Almost Conceded
as the Next Chancellor.
GOVERNOR wATsoEs POSITION
He Wants Man who VIII Suit the
People NJ Well As the Lawyers-rhan-
oellor woloott Is Keeping HAuds on
Publicly Declares Hts Iatention to
Resign.

Publicly Declares His iatention ia
Resign.
Special Correspondence Evening Journal.
DovzR. Oct 20 Chancellor Wolcott
has pubhcly declared that he will resign,
but has not, as yet, designated the precise
date IL Is sufficient 10 state. In the face
OF iumors which have been current for
several days, that he has not yet placed
bis resignation In tbs hands OF Governor
Watson, and will not do 80 for several
days
That Attorney General John r
Nicholson will be his successor seems to
be- generally conceded, sven by the
friends OF Hon Eiward Rldgeiy, OF this
town, and Hon. john @. Rodney, OF
Wilmington. IL Chancellor Wolcott
ever attempted 90 exercise control Of the
governor IN the matter OF the appoint
ment OF his own successor, he has re-
llnquish all effort In that difec ion.
Ia fact, no one but rumor mongers have
ever credited him with playing such q
dlsoreditable part
The two leading candidates. Rodney
and Nicholson, ocsupy peculiar positions
In the matter Of Endorsement. Niohol
son. Kent man, has captured the bulk
OF Nav Castle recommendation, while
Rodney, New Castle man, through
Ridgely, has a majority OF the Kent
LAWYERS with him That Is. that Rod
ney'H friends, by tbs uee Of RldRely e
name, have prev ented Nicholson from
getting an endorsement which he would
otherwise have.
'Tha. G,vornor Watson will not be
bothered BY the matter OF recommends
tion Is evident from remark which ir
said o have bsen dropped by him when
la Dover few days ago.
IL recognize the weight Of an endorse
m mt from the members Of the bar, he
Is credited With having said to a friend.
"but lawyers are not nearly 20 vithlly
interested In the matter OF equity az the
people at large, whose interests are
directly involved. l shall appoint the
man whom belive TO be best fitted "a
administer equity and justice as betwse eu
man and man rather than as between
lawyer and lawyer
No one here doubts the legal ability OF
Edward Rldgely. blind and lntirm though
he be- bat party policy, n nothing else
renders him an unavailable candidate
| His age Is against him. With tha stat'
hanging In the political balance IL Is moi
believed here by any but those whos'
wishes father the thought that The
governor will appoint anyone but 1
person who is la the prime OF life and u
the full exercise OF ali his faculties.
Chancellor Wolcoit announced TO The
governor on Tuesday that he wanted q
correct an impression that some peopl
had that he was taking an active pai
for or against anybody In this contest
He told Mr.. Watson that he would b
satisfied TO abide by any appointment
that he might make.
Should Mr. Nicholson be appointed
the vacancy occasloned by his relin
/ qulshment Of the Office OF attorney
general would have to be filed quite
speedily. for there 10 a case set for lriil
In the Sussex county Court OF Genera
Sessions on November 49, a nd thl
governor viii leave for Atlanta OF
/ November 6
4 Deputy Attorney General Branch II
Giles and Peter l. Cooper, lr both oi
Wilmington, are believed to be th'
leading ssplrants for the Office Of At
torney general In event OF the ermlnl
falling upon Mr.. Nicholson.