Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-13


Politics In Delaware Next Year.
From present indications, tho politi-
cal campaign in Delaware next year
is going to be one of the most pictures
que and interesting of the many pic
turesqus and interesting political cam
raigns that this little State has shown
TO the world.
Announcement is made that the
Democratic campaign is to be started
before the close OF the present year,
by visit from William ]. Bryan, who
is to stay here three days and make
speeches in each of the three counties
This, however, will be simply one of
the picturesque features of the cam
paign, not one of the important Ones
No matter what Mr.. Bryan may say or
do during this visit, the Democratic
campaign will not be shaped until after
the meeting of the National Demo
cratic Convention, and its direction
will depend upon the outcome of that
convention. Mr.. Bryan may not be
nominated and the silver question may
be relocated to the rear; or Mr.. Bryan
may be nominated and the disastrous
Chicago platform of 1896 reaffirmed in
It's entirety. Here are the probable
situations that will largely affect the
course of the Democratic campaign in
Delaware, and no political prophet
may assume to predict what the out
come will be.
But the prominent features of the
Republican campaign are already fore
Swallowed. The Union Republicans and
the Regular Republicans will open by
holding separate State conventions and
sending separate delegations to the
Republican National Convention. Which
faction will obtain recognition at the
hands of the national body is the
problem. Surface indications favor the
Regulars, who received the endorse
mont of the st. Louis Convention in
1896, although they were boilers, pure
and simple. But they were for Me-
Rinley, while the others were un-
pledged, and SO Mark Hanna made
sure of getting six solid votes for Nc
kiuleyinstead of an uncertainty, and the
Union Republicans were turned down.
But if Mckinley's name goes before
the next Republican National Conven-
tion without any opposition, so that
his denomination will be a mere for
mality, as now seems probable, the
result may be different, so far as deal
ing with the Delaware contest is con
cerned. 1t may be regarded as policy
TO compromise with the Union Re-
publican delegates, instead of un-
tremendously turning them down, out
of very natural desire to run no
risk of deliberately throwing away
Delaware's three electoral votes at the
election. For it may be that the
election prospects will make the Nc
kinley managers dearly prize every
electoral vote. Therefore, the conyen-
tion may settle the Delaware sauabbIe
by admitting both delegations, giving
TO each delegate half-vote. This
would please the hitherto rejected and
despised Union Republicans, although IL
would disgruntle the Regulars nightly.
Or, the convention may reverse its pre.
Vious action and admit the Union Re-
publican delegation, although this is
hardly probable. But that it will en-
deavor to make q decision that will
tend to bring the Republican factions
together upon the electoral ticket, at
without leaving it to one faction
to compel, by its obstinacy, the other
faction to accept its choice for electors
as was the case in 1S96-capnot be
doubted. The three electoral votes If
Delaware may be too precious to be
trified with in 1900.
But while the Republican factions
may thus be brought together in sun
port OF common electoral ticket by
the action of the national convention.
there seems not the slightest prospect
OF an agreement upon State and local
nominations. This would mean two
distinct Republican tickets in tbo
held, as was the case at the recent
Wilmington city election, which would
open tho way to complete Democratic
triumph, no matter if the Democratic
party should be weakened by dissen.
sions over Bryan and free silver coinaoe
to the extent that it was in 1896
Even with such a handicap the Demo
cratic organization would win reasilv
over divided Republican party
Such are the conditions that seem
likely to prevail in the Delaware politi.
cal campaign next year. They are in.
teresting and picturesque, and afford
the most enhancing field for the OK.
nloration of the student of politics.
Who can venture at this time to ad.
vance a prediction of the outcomeg