Middletown transcript., 1899-02-18


litical deviltry of the present time ORR
ginated. The Democrats put up every
penny they could get together, and
would have spent more had they had
it. The Republicans spent more and
it is reported that Mr.. Addicks sup
piled large sum, and on this he based
his claim to be Senator The leaders
Of the Republican party, desperate
with constant defeat, and with the in
famous assessment and collection laws
entered into the scheme, and when
success crowned their efforts, it became
a question whether the men who had
headed the fight for years, or the new
man who had furnished the money
should receive the spoils. The fight
went on through subsequent elections
till it resulted in two Republican par
ties.-News and Advertiser.
That paper so carefully edited as
The "News and Advertiser" of Milford
should fall into SO glaring political
error as to credit Mr.. Addicks with
assisting the Republican Party in car
rying either Kent or Sussex counties in
the election of 1888 is incredible, only
it does it in the above paragraph from
its issue of February 18th.
There are several errors in the above
paragraph:
1st Error.-Mr. Addicks was un-
known in Delaware politics in 1888 and
was not then known personally in the
State outside Brandywine hundred.
He did not know three men, perhaps
not one, In either Kent or Sussex
counties in Move 1. Der 1883. 1t is rot
known that he voted that year. There
is runor that early in the campaign
of 1888 he sought Senator George Gray
ard offered to become partner i.
senatorial honors with him on certain
conditions. There may or may not be
truth in that rumor; in any event Mr..
Addicks was not known in Delaware
politics until after that election and a
Republican victory had been won.
I'd Error.-There was no fusion
proper on the Kent county Republican
legislative ticket. The Wolcutt, or
Bayard and Gray, faction by forcing
''the unit rule'' in all the hundreds had
named Wolcott legislative candidates.
The Salisbury men to the number Of
500 to 900 refused to vote for the VOL.
cOtt candidates and did vote for the
Republicans. The Salisbury leaders
spent their money to elect Republicans,
the legislative Candidates and few
others. That was the fusion.
Sd Error.-There was no Large sum
Of money put into Sussex county" !"
Some Of the Democrats Of sussex who
favored the election Of Mr.. Wolcott to
succeed Mr.. salisbury in the U. S.
Senate sent their funds from Sussex
county to Kent, first because of the
factional fight in Kent and secondly
because the Sussex ticket with two or
three exceptions was for Salisbury.
The Republicans of Sussex spent be-
tween $1,000 and So, 600 at that elect
ion; the Democrats Of the county spent
about an equal amount. The political
sentiment in Sussex county was favor
able to tie Republicans and the Repub-
lican ticket was elected.
4th Error.-The ''poIitical deviItry
of the present. Tins" does not date from
the election Of 1888. As to bribery it
Is anterior to 1888; as to "Addicksism"
It il subsequent. Mr.. Addicks' con-
tributions to those whom he had made
personal political friends have been
subsequent to the election Of Gen.
Harrison TO the presidency. So far as
the writer knows Mr.. Addicks' politi-
cal contributions have always been Of
the same personal character rather than
recognition of party officials. Four
years ago in the lobby of the Hotel
Richardson, Dover, one Of Mr.. Ad-
ticks ChfEf fiBut6nants, tGPn ami now,
said in the presence Of the writer and q
Union Republican, to Mr.. Higgins
whose term as Senator was about to ex-
pire and the contest Of his successor
was being waged, that it was not until
he. Mr.. Higgins. had been applied to by
letter for money to meet the axes Of
Kent county. preparing for the election
of 1894, amounting to thousands OF
dollars, and had been referred to the
State Committee that the speaker, the
Addicks leader, had turned to Mr.. Ad.
dicks and offered him the leadership in
exchange for the money to pay taxes.
And there are other instances; one in
the Opera Ell .use, Middletown.
Here /; evidence Of 1.-The Infamous
assessment and collection laws" refer
red to by the News aud Advertiser. y
Nothing is too harsh to say of them
but hard words are not profitable
though sadly true.
THE GREAT ERROR.
The great error, however, is that
even the "News and Advertiser" /"
skould credit Mr.. Addicks with aiding
the Republicans in their first victory,
and that then ''it become a question
whether the men who had headed the
fght for years, or the new maa who
had furnished the money should receive
the spoils.n If the News and Adver-
tiser" could fall into so great an error
in belief have not the rank and file Of
Republicans fallen into the same etrorY
If that Is true does it not account in
great measure for the Addicksism Of
Kent and Sussex counties?
In physical weakness from a sick
room, these thoughts are penued not
without much pain. They are written
because We l0va our State and our
party. We acknowledge TO . love Of
party, but our State is first in our az