Evening journal., 1896-06-30
wnIla Must peelare HIn.slf.

Willia Muet Declare Himself.
What has become OF Congressman
Jonathan 8. Willisi During all of this
factional disturbance which has rAcked.
rent and wrecked the Republican party
OF Delaware, We never hear his name
mentioned. The only Republican repre-
sentative In Congress that there has
been from Delaware for more thsn .
quarter Of q century. has stood aloof Al d
looked on As unooncernedly as though
his own political fortunes were not In.
vOlvsd In the momontous struggle for
ascendancy. He has straddled the Hig-
gins Addioks Issue rs successfully as
Mckinley has straddled the currensy
question and has been ss speeohless as
the silent Man Of Canton. He has no
raised his voice for peace; he has not
raised 1t for wSr He has simply kept
his mouth shut and his hands
of during all of these long, weAry
and eventful months. rs has
not come out for Higgins; be has not de-
clSred for Addicks, but he has spent the
tIms In playing hide -and-seek while
other Republicans we're lining up one side
or the other and doing their best to ad-
vance the interests Of their leaders
Addicks men claim his sympathy I;
Higgins men view him with eistrust
His neutral attitude does not recommend
him to either the regular Republicans or
the Addlcksitss. The times demand Re
publicans OF positive convictions. aud
not men who stand idly by waiting to see
which side comes out of the dght vic
torlous.
Under ordinary circumstances Con-
gresham Willis would be nominated for
second term. Il is a we'll established
custom Of both parties. for It Is during
the second term that a congressman's
best work Is accomplished, the 6rst be
ing consumed Ia learning the ins and
outs OF congressional work Bat the
circumstances Of the present day are ex
traordlnary The lines between Rspub
lieanlsm and AddicksIsm are 80 tightly
drawn that only men Of pronounced
views viii be acceptable as nominees.
For this reason we believe that Congress
man Willis has, by his silence and nou
actlon lost all possible chance OF bsing
nominated by either the Republicans or
Addicksites. Both sides want TO know
their men and to be sure Of their position
on that one supreme question which now
confronts the party. which Is whether or
not Addlcks shall dominate the party
aud represent It In the United States
Senate.
While Addleks was pursuing bis rule
or ruin policy at Dover In the Spring OF
1895. Congressman Willis did not raise
his voice In protest. There were some
who believed that he hoped to be selected
az q compromise man for the position
coveted by Senator Higgins and J.
Edward Addleks Finding that be could
not make It be let the matter drift along
until adjournment.
During all the time that Colonel Du-
Pont WAS making his 6ght for a seal
In the United States Senate. Congress-
man Willis maintained his attitude rs .
non -oombatant.
When Addicks carried things with
such q high hand at bhe recent Stat,
Convention. the statesman from Mllfort
hundred let things drift on until thel
eliminated In a bolt which cas- Ad
dicks without the pale Of the regulsi
Republican party and lefs HIN and his
following to form a party Of his own.
At 81. Louia while Higgins aud Ad
dicks were struggling for supremacy
Congressman Willis was not In svidenc
en- either side. Aud when the smok
cleared away and the contest WAS decide'
itls not a matter OF record that tn
Higgins people received from him
message Of congrAtulation or the Addick
psoPle one of condolences
Congressman Willis must declare him
self now or never. He must come ou
for the regular Republicans or for th
Addicksitss. The neutral ground ha
become tos hot to hold him any longei
He cannot afford to sit back. waiting /
see which party is coming out on top.
Republicans are watching him; Ad
dIcksites are watching him; Democrat
are watching him and the psopIs hRv
their eyes upon him.
The only possible way for him to sonar
himaelf With the regular Republican
would bs to head an anti-Ad6icks del,
CATION from Milford hundred to the res
ulsr Republican State Convention TO
held In Georgstown ON July 10 Shoul
ne fall to do so it will be taken as proc
positive Of his Addicks symp.thles an
relations.
John F. Salisbury may twist sr
eou;rnn "a he rlaeaoa hut fhera Is nm