Middletown transcript., 1898-10-08
POLITICAL HARI-KARI.

POLITICAL HARI-KARI.
According to the daily papers certain
so-called Republicans in New Castle
county propose to commit poliCica
hari-ksri-self destruction by stab in
the vital parts. On tie part of some
OF the Union Republican members of
the executive committee for this county
proposition was made this week to
pledge the legislative candidates Of the
party to caucus action, etc. The mem
b'rs very rightly would not agree, and
the Union Republican County Com
mittee proceeded, according to news
paper reports, to strike at harmony and
the hope Of success on November 9Th
by proposing the following questions
81. Will you as member Of the next
General Assembly of Delaware, if elected,
meet and remain in joint caucus or clu-
Gus composed of the Republican whether
elected as Regular or Union Republican,
members of said General Assembly and
then and there and thereby select any and
all candidates for any Office which is to be
filled by the said General Assembly, and
support by your vote in said General
Assembly all candidates so chosen?
"2 Will you as a member of said Gen
eral Assembly, if elected, meet in joint
caucus or caucuses composed as mentioned
in question No. !, and consider any and all
measures or bills of political nature and
support by your vote in said General
Ass emily, the decision Of such caucus
made as to such measure or measures, bill
or bills2"
The Democratic press claims that
this is movement in the interest of j.
Edward Addicks for the U. s. Senate,
and whether it is or is not that expla-
nation will ba accepted by the voters
and for the nominees to make answer
means defeat-ye3 or no, it matters not
which. Such pledges have never been
required before and no ticket can be
elected for any certain man. The only
refusal in this State to abide caucus
nomination has coMe from the Ad-
dicks adherents and they know they
can trust the nominees named at Re-
publican pr. maries to do the right.
Why then this effJrL to bind men
blindiy?
In the first place there are many men |
who doubt the wisdom Of the party |
caucus. IL usually means the machine
candidate and not the best nomination. |
A choice in open Assembly is un-
doubtedly in the interest of the
peopl !, and resort to King Caucus
should be taken, in the opinion Of
many Of the wise5t statesmen, only to
prevent deadlock. The nominee who |
does not believe iu partisan caucus
should not be submitted 10 the 70
queri s. He has a right to
independent thought and action, ani
so has every candidate whatever his
views on the utility of e caucus.
But the second question Certainly
no man with grain of independence
would submit to be bound by such a
pledge. What diabolical schem
could not be legalized under that
pledge, the majority being in the hands
Of unprincipled manipulators Of the
machinei We trust no nominee will
give such a pledge. Better defeat for
another forty years. Republicans have
had no hand in the iniquitous politica
avs Of the past quarter century in this
State nor do they want to pledge them
Ielves to such possibility now. Mi
low nor ever.
And again the personality of the
legislative candidates is guarantee to
honorable par y action-to doubt them,
o pledge them-tbe first in the history
J The paIty-is personal insult to
'ach and every one. Let them stand
o their personal rights and suffer de.
eat, If they must, like men. We !
ssert this not in opposition to NJ. /
Addicks but beclnse it is the right. =
As q sample Of caucus rule it will be
smembered that few years since ex- !
+ov. John W. Hall and Hon. James Z
Villains found themselves two of the
We Democrats In the State Senate.
he other three divided the offices and :,
oliScal plums among themselves and +;
emahded as party usage that these two sa
Dn0rabls men endorse their caucus :
,heming. Three men thus ruled nine W
10 two Democrats named and the y
'ur Republican Senators. Has any re