Evening star., 1896-09-12
THE SINGLE TAKERS
They Will Hold State Convention Next
Week in Delaware.
Their Unique Position in the Politics
OF That State-The Legislature
Their Ambition.

ctethl eIOn0eFce OF Inc Evening star.
WILMINGTON. Del. September II, 1896.
The announcement by the democratic ex-
ecutive committee Of New Castle county
that they propose to exclude from the
primary elections on Saturday next all
those single tax democrats vino refused to
sign a pledge that they will support the
successful nominees of the primaries has
made the single takers bolder and more
defiant than ever
In an interview today Harold Sudell,
manager Of the campaign Of the single
tax party of Delaware, made the following
statement:
You can say in reply to the democratic
chairman that we have not been bafled at
any threat to challenge our voters and
pleoge them on their honor. We decided
Immediately after the gubernatorial nomi-
nation to have nothing to do with demo-
cratic primary elections thereafter. They
not only used every effort to smother us
ana count US out after a fair vote but
they positively refused to give our dele
gates their credentials after a clear ma
1ority had expressed itself. Our New Cas-
tie hundred delegates would never have
been seated, notwithstanding their election
ny majority Of 100. had they not been
favorable to Mr.. Ford for governor. No.
Sir! The single takers are men in Della
vare as elsewhere. We will be quiet on
Saturday and do our talking on Septem-
Playing a Unique Role.
The single takers are playing a UNIQUE
role in the political drama which is now
before the people of Delaware Its unique-
ness makes it difficult part, and naturally
all eyes are riveted on them to see how
they perform their task. They are prac-
ucally novices as politicians. but after sew
enteen months Of interchangeable, persistent
campaigning they are now looming up with
an organization equally as compact, in
comparison. as the organizations of the
other two great parties.
The single takers unQuestionably hold the
balance OF power In Delaware. They stand
between the two great parties Of .he state
ana with them rests the success Of either.
And IT Is because OF their position in this
respect that they form such a unique fac
tor In Delaware politics.
According to the latest official canvass
taken by the Single Tax Society Of Della
state. OF this number about 3pO are re-
publicans. Majorities in Delaware are
very close, sometimes going as low as go
IN state election. Seldom, IL ever. do
that with 400 votes the single takers are
In position to dictate terms to the lead
ers Of the republican and democratic par
ties.
Will Hold n State Convention.
To make their organization complete and
to create name for their party in the cam
paign the single takers Of Delaware will
hold state convention in Dover next
Thursday. The convention will consist of
1a9 delegates, the apportionment being
Fixed SO as to allaw one delegate for every
go voters In the state. New Castle county
Will have seventy-nine delegates; Kent
county, 80, and Sussex county, 50.
The single takers all favor Bryan and
sewall and free silver. and they, will declare
unalterably for them in their convention,
although opposed to the regular demo-
cratic organization and the acts Of the
democratic state convention last month
The single takers will not oppose the elec-
toral ticket named by that convention
The three democratic electors are pledged
TO support Bryan and Sewall and free sill
yer, and the single takers will indorse them
with great satisfaction. On the state ticket
the single takers propose to get in their
telling blow against the democratic dynas-
ty." They are opposed to Ebe w. Tunnel,
the democratic nominee for governor, in the
first place, because they do not believe he
favors free silver, and in the second place
because they believe his nomination was
forced by a coterie Of aristocratic mot
democratic) landlords in the lower coun-
ties, who, they claim, are at the head Of q
from speaking by lodging them in Jail.
VIII Indorse Honecker.
Though the question Of placing a candi-
Oate Ol tuelr own, On d Single TAX
in the field for governor is not yet definitely
settled, 1t has been authoritatively an
nounced that the convention will indorse
John Henry Hoffecker, candidate of the
union republicans, or Addicks faction for
governor. Mr.. Hoffecker, while not a con-
vert to the single tax faith, is not opposed
to 1t, and he has given the single takers
that assurance. Besides, the single takers
are friendly to Mr.. Addjcks; he was the
only leader in either party who signed the
petition invoking Governor Watson's Glenn
ency in the cases of the single takers ar
rested and imprisoned al Dover in July and
August. Levin Irving Handy, the demo-
cratic candidate for Congress, will be in
dorsed by the single takers, because he
favors free silver.
The nomination of a single tax legislative
ticket will not be considered until after all
the democratic county conventions are held
and democratic legislative tickets named.
The legislature is the goal of the single
takers ambition. All they want is a ma
jority of the legislature that they can de-
pend upon to support a single tax measure,
and then they will be happy. Addicks and
his friends want the legislature SO they
can elect the millionaire to the Senate.
Higgins and his friends want it to keep
Addicks out, and the democrats want it
to keep both Addicks and Higgins out.
With this complicated situation the single
takers will have a variety 20 choose from.
put an independent legislative ticket in the
field, the ticket that receives their indorse-
ment will be lucky.