Evening star., 1897-01-18
Contest for the Senatorship in Della
ware.
WOLC0r : SALISBURY STRUGGLE
Ex-Attorney General Biggs Men,
toned as Dark Horse.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.


WILMINGTON, Del, January 1s.-The
contest for the next United States senator
is drawing to a close. The democrats of
the legislature will assemble in Dover to-
night to settle the great question. 1t in
wolves a renewal Of the old struggle be-
tween the Wolcott and Salisbury factions
of the democratic party, which made Della
ware famous in the political affairs of the
nation prior to 1855. The leader in the
Salisbury faction is Willard Salisbury, a
young lawyer Of this city, and son of ex-
Chancellor Willard Salisbury, who was
elected to the United States Senate after a
hard fight in 1870. Young Willard inherits
The fighting qualities of his father. His
chief opponent is ex-Chancellor James L.
Wolcott, who was the choice of the demo-
Gratis OF the legislature two years ago.
Besides Wolcott and salisbury there are
several who want the senatorship, namely,
ex-Representative E. L. Martin, General r.
r. kenney, young lawyer of Dover, and
John o. Gray, young Sussex county man,
VINO holds extreme silver views. The fight
seems to be confined to Wolcott and Sauls-
curry. The other candidates will play little
or no part In 1t, unless a combination is
made by either of the leaders to defeat the
other.
Salisbury claims that he will be elected
on the first or second ballot, and that he
will be able to attract the stray votes for
Gray, Kenney and Martin. One thing
everybody comedies to young Salisbury,
and that is the inside track on the New
Castle and Sussex county delegates. In
these counties he walked into the primaries.
whlle Wolcott stepped aside, and built his
fences, and for this reason he Is accorded
the greater part of the delegations Of those
counties.
Wolcott's strength is confined almost en-
the fight until two weeks ago because the
Union republicans were contesting the seats
OF the Kent delegation. The court decided
IN 1aVor OF the Kent democrats. and then
chancellor.
The outlook indicates a close and pro-
tracted fight with a combination as the re-
suit. Inere Is dark horse" in the fight in
tne person of ex-Attorney General John
Blggs of Wilmington, a son of Ex-Governor
benjamin Bggs. and it is not at all un-
likely that he will cut a big figure in the
contest: indeed, many politicians are of
the Dei1ef that Biggs will eventually carry
off the prize. Biggs is a young man and an
able lawyer. He is an anti-Saulsbury demo-
crat,aD while not affiliated with theWolcott
ract.on, he sympathiZes with it in its fight
against salisbury. and for this reason 1t is
possible that in the event of the Wolcott
men forcing a combina ton against SalIIs-
bury they may throw their votes to Bisgs
AT all events the situation is so very much
whether the senatorship will fall to VOL
colt, salisbury. Biggs, Martin or GRAY.
The latter stands little chance for while IT
Is generally supposed that the democrats of
the legislature favor silver. it is not be-
Heved that they can be persuaded to for
sake their factional traditions in order to
satisfy new fancy. Wolcott and -Sauls-
bury are both gold standard men of the
most pronounced type, as are also Biggs
and Martin. Wolcott was open in his an
tagonism to Bryan and the Chicago plat
form, and some of his friends are afraid
that this stand during the campaign caused
him to sacrifice the United States senator
ship. Young salisbury, on the other hand
was passive on the financial question dur
ing the campaign.
Simultaneous with the caucus of, the
democrats the caucus Of the Union repub-
hcans of the rump house will be held to-
night 1t Is said that the Union republicans
have several candidates for senator, but it
Is generally supposed that they will unite
eventually on j. Edward Addicks, who pro-
poses to go to Washington and contest the
seat of the man chosen by the democrats
The Wolcott men are fighting hard to un-
seat j. T. Dickey, a Salisbury man, in the
mousse, In order to prevent him from voting
on q probable caucus for senator tonight
They say that they will not join the caucus
II Dickey is in it. On the other hand, the
SALISBURY men say they will not join the
caucus with Dickey out. A recount of the
vote in a contest of Dickey's seat Is now in
progress, and 1T looks as If Dickey will be
ousted this afternoon.
The fight is the bitterest in the history
of the democratic party of Delaware. VOL
colt and Salisbury are the principal fac
tors, but Gen. r. r. Kenney and Jno. G.
Gray are looming up now with considerable
strength.
Four republican members will not caucus
nor vote for senator, as they claim Dupont
was legally elected. The fifth republican
will probably vote for AdSicks, at both the
regular and "rump' legislature. The lat
ter will meet tonight and name a senator.