Middletown transcript., 1896-08-01
MIDDLETOwN, DEL, AUG. 1, 1896
THE CANDIDATES.


THE CANDIDATES.
The TRANSCRIPT promised to give
its readers sketches of the Republican
nominees for Governor and Representa-
tive in Congress, and below will be
found brief accounts Of the nominees
of both the Georgetown and Dover
Conventions. The TRANSCRIPT would
not call in question the Republicanism
of any of the candidates and hopes
that Republicans in the State may be
so loyal and patriotic that there shall
be but one ticket in the field before
November Sd.
There is no doubt around the TRAN
SCRIPT Office as to the candidates en-
titled to its support, and the question
is settled without consideration of the
fitness of the nominees for they all
have qualities that under certain cir
cumstances would merit for them the
vote of any Republican, but the
Dover Convention rests upon the for
tunes of one man and that man has
proven himself traitor to his party.
Mr.. Addicks represents no principle,
the Republican Party does. Mr.. Ad-
dicks was thrown out of the National
Convention because of his course in
the DUPONT case before the U. S. Senate
as not being a Republican, and Della
ware Republicans should drop him.
But partisan reason for supporting
Higgins and Houston is found in the
fact that they are the only candidates
who can be elected under the circum-
stances. New Castle county cast 5S
per cent. of the Republican vote in the
State at the last election. Those best
posted say that the Addicks Party, so
called by Mr.. Addicks at Dover on
May 18th, cannot poll more than 12
per cent. of this vote if he can do that.
This defeats his ticket. 1t is not be-
cause the candidates are the men they
are. but because the Republicans of
New Castle county feel that they want
nothing Of Mr.. Addicks. This feeling
is mol confined to the leaders but the
rank and file of the party are of the
same opinion. The party situation
invites the most careful thought of Re-
publicans without reference to present
or past party ties and then it should
have patriotic party action. By united
effort Republicans can succeed. No
Republican should be put up to be de-
feated. Mott especially should not a
man like John g. Higgins be sacrificed,
than whom no man in the State has a
greater number of admiring friends
and no man merits more. Liberal but
never radical in his views, thoroughly
posted as to the needed reforms in the
State, knowing the leading citizens in
every community as we'll as any man
within the State, and especially the
farmers whose voices have been heard
too little in governmental affairs,
genial and thoughtful and always the
most perfect gentleman, an ideal
governor would be
JOHN C. HIGGINS.
John Clark Higgins, the regular Re-
publican Gubernatorial nominee, was
born August 18th, 1888. He was
named after John Clark, his maternal
grandfather, who was Governor of Del
aware from 1917 until 1920, and after
John Higgins, his uncle. Both these
men bore the title of colonel, and Mr..
Aiggins' father used to call him two
colonels and governor. Mr.. Higgins
was graduated from Delaware College
in 1856, and afterwards taught school
for several years at the Franklin School
in st. Georges hundred. In 1860 he
married Elizabeth Reynolds, a daughter
of William. About this time he began
farming on the place where he now
lives. About the year 1870 he was
engaged for one or two years in the
manufacture of stamped tinware at
Delaware City and gave up that basi-
ness when he was concerned in organ
izing and establishing in Wilmington,
the Vulcanized Fibre Co., of which he
was one of the three original promoters.
Afterwards he terminated his active
connection and returned to his farm
where he has since lived.
Shortly after this he became connect
ed with the Grange, and there being
local body at Port Penn, which he
joined, looking upon it as useful far
mers club, and an institution of local
interest and usefulness. But this led
to much wider place for Mr.. Higgins
in that organization. He was early
elected the Statel llecturer and develop
6u luo pUoltlOu 1lOuu q uuClCiy pClJ uuC-
tory one into one of large activity and
usefulness. This in time led to his
election to the Office of master Of the
State Grange, position which he held
for four years. As master he was ex-
officio member of the national body
and took leading position therein in
the councils and interests of the order
in their widely extended relations over
the country. From this position he
resigned two years ago.
He was in the State Legislature in
1891. He is now connected with the
Presbyterian Church at Delaware City,
director of the bank at the same place
and a trustee of Delaware College.
SKETCH OF MIR. HOFFECKER.
John Fl. Hoffecker, the Oldest son of
Joseph and Rachel Hoffecker, was born
September 10, 1927, on the farm which
ho pou, owpc ono and half miIea