Middletown transcript., 1897-10-02


partyp on their side. Taere was no onl
else to consult. On the contrary with
| in the Republican party there are /
great many to be consulted. To make
sure that their cOnferrees did not move
faster than the sentiment OF the party
| the Republican State Committee prop
erly limited their powers, but the limi.
tations applied in no way prevented
negotiations. 1t delayed them perhaps
week or two, but that very delay was
| conducive to right action and to recon-
ciliation.
| This difference In authority which
the Addicksites accepted in the begin
ming and used in the end as a pretext
for open rupture, subjected the Repub-
lican conferrees during the entire con-
ference to the jeers and insults and in
situations of such men as Layton,
Hayes, Marshall and Clark. Our repre-
sentatives we're sneeringly referred to
as puppets" by men who at the Dover
Convention in May, 1896, sat as slaves
of J. e. Addicks. Our representatives
were a notably free and independent
body of men, none of whom was ever
accused of wearing any mans collar.
while on the other side there sat at
least four men who are the employesiof
standing candidate for the United
States Senate, taking and spending his
money. A fifth has for years been the
personal property Of this same candid
ate, and the sixth is ready to enter his
masters service and earn his fee at the
slightest invitation. There we're possi-
bly, two free, self-owning representa-
tives of the Union Republican party
upon that committee.
OF the propositions made for har-
mony. after citing the foregoing dis
agreeable facts, it is almost needless to
speak. The whole proceeding of the
Addicks committee was attended with
SO much noise and notoriety that the
conviction is forced home that it was
all play, mere trick to get or gain
factional advantage, an impressive
piece Of stage playing to make an eff
feet upon the people. This conviction
is strengthened by the nature Of the
proposition. The Addicks committee
proposed that convention be held at
once, upon basis Of delegates which |
accorded fifty (50) to each of Sussex,
Kent and New Castle, and only twenty
five (25) to Wilmington, and that to |
the convention thus composed all party |
differences should be submitted. The |
Republican conferrees at once, with
out leaving the room, or indeed with
out leaving their chairs to get their
heads together, declined to accept the
propositions. They saw no need of a
convention and could not be party to
a scheme that was intended as an in
insult to the Republicans Of the city Of
Wilmington. Nevertheless the former
insisted that their proposition be care
fully weighed. They first suggested
that their opponents retire for that pur-
pose, and when the latter declined to
do SO, not deeming it necessary, mo-
tive was offered by DR.. Marshall-and
afterWard carried that the confer
ence adjourn for ten days to give the
people chance to consider their plan
of harmonizing. The Republican con-
ferrees protested against the publica-
tion of the Addicks proposition SO long
as it was still matter Of consideration
by the conferrees. They insisted that
nothing should be given to the press
except upon the mutual agreement Of
the two sides to the conference. Drs.
Layton and Marshall thought different
and their proposition was given to the
press that morning. They wanted pub
lie discussion, they said; they were not
afraid OF the people, and they had no
doubt that public opinion would sus-
tain them.
Such was not their tone on last Mon
day evening when the cenferrees met.
Then they, had fault to find with the
public discussion their project had re-
eeived. They had in spirit Of bra
vado invited criticism, and when that
criticism was given they squirmed and
whined, and finally made it another
pretext for breaking off peace negotia-
tions. Neither had they the courage
or the courtesy to consider in open
meeting the counter proposition which
the Republicans made so Unexpectedly
to them. They received it in silence,
retired in confusion, remained out an
hour and returned with an answer that
undoubtedly had been. prepared q day
or perhaps a week before. Into their
cut and dried reply they injected one
sentence, pronouncing the Republican
an insult to the majority | !
Of the people of the state whatever ,
that may mean. Il
The Republican conferrees made a {
very fair and sensible offer. They Of t
tered in short to unite the factions at !.
once by consolidating the two state
The state committee Of '
5he party was to be increased from
'welve to twenty members, the eight
additional members to be selected by
the Union Republican managers from 4
heir own state committee. The good I
work of harmonizing which is now un- '
ioubtedly going on in the rank and !!
lie of the party, was to be encouraged;
Ind in due time, when candidates were f
% te nominated, convention was to !,
Do held upon the old basis Of apportion- r
nent, which gives the 5000 Republic y
,ans of Wilmington 40 delegates; the \
1000 of this county 38; the $500 Of !,
Kent 40; and the 1900 of Sussex AZ. It :
vas further proposed that If the old i d