New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-25
HARMONY PROSPECTS n DELAWARE.

HARNONY PROSPECTS n DELAWARE.
The negotiations for harmony between tho
rival Republican factions In Delaware, TO
which attention has already been called In these
| columns seem so far 10 have borne little or no
practical fruit The cOnfcrrCcs chosen 10 rep
resent the two wings Of the party mot week
aco M Dover and after discussn.-in the
main with good temper and apparent serious
| ness OF puIDosc-one or two schemes OF rcor
/ ganlzation put forward by the union Repub
lcan leaders. separated without having made
any very appreclnble progress toward an ad
tustment Of existing party differences. Both
committees were willing 10 admit tho necessity
and urgency Of the proposed consolidation but
neither seemed TO show n reasonable disposition
TO meet the other halfway in dcvlslng plans
for the government Of the reunited party. The
future basis Of representation in State convcn-
tons was the rock on which the conference
split and so radically divergent were the thco-
ries OF apportonmcnt advocated by the two
groups of leaders that six or seven hours OF
animated discussion failed 10 develop any ac
ccptallc ground Of compromise. In response.
however to the widespread demand within the
ranks Of both factions for Republican rcor-
ganizatlon the two committees decided 10 con-
tnue the negotiations begun at Dover. and
agreed to enter a second conference, 10 be held
at the State capital next Monday night.
The contentious which still keep the factions
in Delaware apart have their origin in certain
Inequalities Of representation which have long
been imbcdded in the political system Of several
of the smaller and older American States. Under
the former State Constitution political power
had been apportlOIed equally and without re-
gard to population between the three counties
Of Newcastle, Sussex and Kent: and no pro-
vision had been made for increasing or decrcas-
ing each countys representation in the state
Legislature in accordance with It's future prog
ress and growth. In consequence Newcastle
County with more than half the population
OF the State, has for years exercised in its af-
fairs no greater influence or power than either
Kent or Sussex: and even under the new con-
stitution, recently adopted. Newcastle is entl-
tied TO but Il three-scvcnths representation ut
Dover, as against n foursevcnths representa-
ton accorded to the lower half of the State.
The idea Of the Addicks faction Is TO follow
in the new scheme OF party government the
distribution Of delegate power sanctioned I'm the
present constitution. and to allot to tho Repub-
Leans Of Newcastle County - votes In the
rext State Convention. while giving 80 apiece
20 Sussex and Kent. The Regular, Higgins.
wing Of the party. on the contrary, is holding
out for the adoption Of scheme Of representa-
ton based directly on population. or on the
relative number Of Republican votes cast in
each county at each last preceding election. Up
to 1896 the division OF power among the three
counties In Republican conventions had been
an arbitrary one. Newcastle receiving IS votes,
against 81 for its two smaller rivals. But under
either of the plans now suggested by the rcgI-
lars the dominant county would have clear
majority In future State conventions over 30
combined strength OF the other two. As the
Addicks faction carried Kent and Sussex last
year over the regular forces by n total vote
Of 7,04O to IT'S, and the regulars Won IN New
castle by a vote Of 6,2l9 70 $500 1t is appar-
ent that on the new basis OF npportlonment
chosen hinges the whole question OF the future
control OF Republican politics in Delaware
Republican opinion in the State, however,
seems insistcnt on some form of compromise be-
tween the two interests which Shall enable
the party to take up It's career of progress and
victory so rudely and causeessly interrupted n
1896. Political conditions In Delaware have
never been more favorable than they are now
TO the establishment OF Republican control In
all branches OF the State administration, and
only a series Of regrettable mshaps has al
lowed the present almost unchallcnged return
hoped. therefore, that moderate and concil-
tory cOunsels will prevail at Dover next Mon