Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-30


faction now own the bird. There was
a tough fight, and both sides made the
feathers fly, but after argument and
consideration, Clerks of the Peace
Foard. Dickson and Dorman, who con-
stituted the court, decided that the fac
tion training under the banner of Sem
ator Higgins was entitled to be known
upon the official ballot as the Republi-
device of an eagle with outstretched
wings. Again was Mr.. j. Edward Ad-
dicks knocked out.
The hearing took place in the Levy
Court room. The Addicks faction was
represented by Walter Ii. Hayes, Beniah
Watson, Joseph L. Cahall, j. Frank
A lice and George W. Roberts. The
Higgins forces were represented by
Levi @. Bird, Edward G. Bradford,
Hugh O. Browne, Martin B. Burris,
George A. Elliott and Charles F. Rich
ards of Georgetown.
Mr.. Hayes, for the Addicks faction,
opened the argument. He said that
the Republican State Convention held
in Dover on May 18th was regularly
called by the old State Central Com.
mittee, Of which Gen. James III. Will
son was chairman and Hugh 9. Browne
secretary. That convention, following
the precedents of over 90 years, elected
State Central Committee. Fifty four
delegates bolted from this convention,
leaving l06 delegates, who transacted
its business to the end. The boilers
met without credentials aud elected
delegates to the st. Louis convention,
most of whom declined and their places
were filled by appointment by Gen.
Wilson. The LOG delegates who re-
manned in the regular convention chose
State Central Committee, and that
committee, regularly appointed and
duly authorized to act for the Repub-
lican party Of Delaware. called State
convention at Dover, on July 14th,
which convention nominated John II.
Hotfecker for Governor, Jonathan s.
Willis for Congress, and three Presi-
dental electors. "Thjs, we contend, !"
said Mr.. Hayes, sis the regular ticket
of the Republican party Those who
oppose it are boilers, without an official
organization in the State. They polled
fewer votes at the primaries than did
our side. They do not represent the
Republican party of Delaware. As to
their recognition at st. Louis, we
claim that delegates from other States
have not the right to determine which
is the regular Republican organization
in Delaware. These people have not a
foot to stand upon. F."
Mr.. Bradford followed for the other
side, and it must be admitted that his
argument was decidedly weak. He
said the Higgins Republicans had
county committees in New Castle and
SUSSEX, and were forming one in Kent.
They had State committee and a
State and electoral ticket. He endeay-
ored TO prove that the early State
convention had no right to appoint a
State Central committee when there
was Governor to be nominated ut q
subsequent convention. Not until after
the bolt at the May convention was the
Addicks State committee elected. The
old State committee, in the absence OF
any new committee regularly elected,
held over, and therefore the call issued
by this committee for the convention at
Georgetown was the only regular call,
and that convention the only regular
one. Mr.. Bradford also dwelt upon
the recognition of the Higgins faction
by the national convention. This, he
said, was the judgment of the supreme
Republican tribunal of the country
to the effect that the Addicks State
convention of May 18th did not repre-
sent the Republican party of Delaware.
II it did not, then certainly the other
faction did. "This," Mr.. Bradford
concluded. sis the whole question. -
Joseph H. Cahall gave facts to prove
that the Addicks county committee in
Sussex was the only regular organiza-
tion of the party in that county.
Levi @. Bird followed for the Hig-
gins faction. He held that the decision
of the Republican National Convention,
was final and put an end to the ques-
tion of the regularity of the Addicks
State convention of May 18th. The
men who bolted from that convention,
he said, were the regular representa-
tives of the Republican party.
1--WE claim that We are the Republi-
can party of Delaware, and entitled to
the eagle" continued Mr.. Bird.
"Thank God, we were the Republican
party before Addicks ever put his
foot in the State, and thank God, we
will be that party whom Addicks ie in
his grave. III Addicks was a bankrupt
his party would go to pieces within GO
days. His only claim is that he is the
only man who can put up money enough
to carry the State. Why, this is is a
disgrace to our State and to civiliza-
tion. The Georgetown convention was
composed of the representatives OF the
Republican party in its purity, its
honesty, its integrity and Intelligence
men who have the bravery 10 stand
by and die for the Republican party.
Gentlemen. you have a duty to per-
form. 1t is for you to say whether
man may come into this State and by
his money alone achieve success. When
he has bought up all of the Republi-
cans, he will go into your fold and buy
the Democrats. 1t is a question Of
poll ical purity. OF manhood, of State
pride. You now have a chance to put
the stamp of your disapproval upon it.
IL goes to the integrity of your state.
There is Republican party and an
Addicks party, but il you take the
badge Of the Republican party and give
it to the Addicks party, you recognize
his methods and say to him. 'go ahead
and buy up our State. But il, you do
this. you'll be sorry for it. I"
Beniab Watson had blood in both
eyes when he arose to reply. He SAID
the Higgins faction could not muster
20 followers in Kent county, and it was
about the same in Sussex. Addicks'
followers number nine tenthB of the
voters of the State. Mr..
Watson then quoted from the law, and
that the Addicks faction
was entitled to the name and device.
because it was the first to apply for it
to the clerks of the peace, and was