The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-02-28
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
Peculiar Results Of the Special
Election for State Senator.
PEACE IN REPUBLICAN, RANKS
SO Says a Prominent Politician Of
This City---The Wound Opened
in the Democratic Party Not
Likely to Heal.

ut is a peculiar situaton,' said /,
prominent and well-known Republican
politician Of this city Yesterday after
noon, "but time changes all things
politics especially
Continuing. he said, "Thc special elec
ton in New Castle county on Monday
last to select State Senator to succeed
the late Robert j. Handy, has had two
important results. First, that of reunit.
ing the Union and Regular factions in
the Republican party, who had been at
odds for the past four years; and. second
in causing a split in the Democratic
ranks, and making a wound that viii
not heal for years to come"
The situation is peculiar, and both the
Republican and Democrat parties are at
present interested in figuring out the re.
suit in the coming November election.
The county at the present time is
represented in the State Senate by Hon.
Samuel Alrich, Brandywine Summit and
Hon. Daniel +. Stewart, Wilmington,
Republicans, and John Pyle, Democrat
also Of this city.
/ In the Assembly the political com.
plexion is entirely changed, that body
containing sly Democrats and only one
Republican, the latter's Representative
being J. 7. Eiason, whilst the former
party have Hon. Woodward W. Cheairs,
Delaware City; Hon. Robert Mccullough,
New Castle; Hon. {. q. Dempsey, Mar
shallton district; Hon. d. X. Donaldson,
Wilmington; Hon. W. B. Mccoy, New
Castle city, and ]. T. Taylor, of the
lower end.
From present indications the prob
abilities are that both Messrs. Alrich
and Stewart will be renominated and
re- elected to the Senate, and that the Re-
publicans will also elect another person
to succeed Mr.. Pyle, Democrat.
The same may be said for the As
sembly and the position presented, is a
reversal OF that Of Two years ago.
Then the Republican party was split
and the factions, Union and Regular
were kniiing each other at every point.
Now the political horizon Of the Re.
publican party has cleared and their
forces united through the recent har-
lnonious meeting, and the unanimous
endorsement and election of Mr.. Stewart
to fill the vacancy caused by the death
OF Hon. X. J. Handy.
Two years ago the forces Of the Dem
oc,ats were united, but now q pro-
nounced split has occurred, and it is
apparent that the bitter feeling cngend-
cred cannot be- healed.
This will naturally result in the
warning elements placing two distinct
tickets in the field, and the consequent
defeat of the Democracy of this county.
The split as stated was over the recent
special election for State Senator and
was caused by the Democratic Exrcu-
tive Committee nominating Thomas j.
Weldin, OF Brandvwine hundred, a pro.
nounccd ''Gold Bug for the ho. o.
The cxpunrnts OF free and unllnited
coinage Of silver took exceptions to this,
held convention and Peter j. IIaughey
placed in The field as their representa-
tive.
Since then all efforts to unite the party
have been unavailing and from now on
the leaders in the factional contest em-
phatically " assert that they will not sup
port any candidates but those placed in
nomination by their own respective con-
vrntions.
Prominent men whose names for the
present are withheld, have been men,
toned for the nominations by the Re-
publicans and warning Democracy.