Evening journal., 1896-03-17
Mr. bradford ana Mr.. Ha.t,nr..

mrs BIhuloru ana mr.. HnatinEa
Edward G, Bradford and Washington
Hastings are both Republicans, Further
than that, they are both leaders. One is
9 lawyer and the other manufacturer
Both are regarded as radical party men.
They have given their opinions regard
ing the composition Of the Constitutional
Convention and are as far apart on this
important question as 1t Is possible for
them to be. Mr.. Bradford believes that
the bipartisan recommendations made
by the Democratic Senate and Republi-
can House should bs carried out in order
that there should be no danger OF the
people refusing to rAtlty the work Of the
convention Further than that, he be-
lleves that an equal division would In
duoe the two parties to select strong and
able men as their delegates and keep out
the pot house politicians.
Mr. Hastings sums up his opinion In
the following manner;
summed up. my opinion is that "a bi.parii-
san convention Is not TO be treated as q
serious proposition; that L is impossible TO
a minority representation, aud thai the only
wise course IN sight is for Oh party 10 nomi-
nate ten delegates In each county. II the
the convention they tmay be depended
on TO do those things for which they
have been working for generation. They are
in earnest and the character of the men 20 be
nominated by them will ensure safe and con-
saryative action III they should be elected. Z
the Democrats should be able to secure con-
troll of the convention we would soon discover
whether or not they have been ia earnest I'm
their advocacy OF reform. The Repuolcan
party has always been the new constitution
party and It cannot afford 70 surrender It's
principles at this time
Here we have representatives Of tie
two classes of Republicans who will
decide the party's course OF action In this
most important matter That there will
be bitter fight between them cannot be
doubted. 1t is becoming more apparent
every day Unfortunately for Mr.. Brad
ford, Senator PlIlIng and others Of the
conservative class, they have neither the
Republican party. the Republican press,
nor the party machine workers at their
back. Washington Hastings and his
friends who are opposed to a bi-partisan
convention possess All these advantages
and hold the key to the situation. With
out tuoll co-OpoIbNlVu oub ruPpVAb tAc
Democrats will be forced to put ten
delegates In the field In each county, and
the 6ght for supremacy in the ConstItu-
tlonAl Convention will be just as bitter
as that for the control OF the General
Assembly and other branches Of govern
ment.
Many persons have wondered at the
attitude Of Che Morning News in this
connection. It has been playing q
"straddle.the.rsil" policy which is fully
explained BY Mr. Hastings's open and
unqualified declaration against an equal
division OF party representation Wat
con R. sperry is In Dresden. Washing
ton Hastings is here. Watson r. s9erry
owns controlling interest ia the Morn.
ing News. Washington Hastings holds
his proxies. Watson R Sperry Is 30
engrossed with the delights Of Cont
mental social life that he has no time or
inclination to dabble In Delaware politics
Washington Hastings is so enerossed
with the delights Of dietstIng the editorial
course OF daily newspaper, and mould
Ing public opinion, that he has little
time for anything else.
The only course we see open for Mr..
Bradford and his friends is TO get q
transfer OF the sperry proxies aud buy
out the editorial end Of the Republican
weeklies.