Evening journal., 1900-06-13
DeIaware's Troubled Politics

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
On a full and free vote the State OF
Delaware is now Republican, but the
success OF the party at the coming cleo
ton is threatened by the efforts OF the
Addicks faction to secure control. Il
is the ambition OF Addicks to become
a United States senator. and In pursu-
ance OF that purpose he and his fol-
lowers persist in a dog-in-the-mange
policy. By united action the Republi-
cans In 1883 obtained a majority on
joint ballot In the General Assembly,
and elected Anthony Higgins to the
United States Senate. The Regular
Republicans charge that I'm 1890 Ad-
dicks contributed large sum OF money
TO the Democrats. to be used in defeat
ing the Republican state ticket. In
1895 the Legislature was composed OF
nineteen Republicans and eleven
Democrats. On the last day OF the ses-
sion fifteen Republicans voted for Col
onel Henry A. Dupont for United
States senator. and four Republicans,
who were supporters OF Addlcks. de-
clined TO vote with the majority. Act
ing Governor Watson. a Democrat.
who had been elected state senator. in
sisted upon participating in the voting,
so that there was n total OF thirty
vOtes.of which Colonel DUPONT received
fifteen. The Democrats and Populists
having a majority in the Senate. Col
onel DUPONT was denied admission by
a vote OF 80 TO 81. But for the recall
citrant action OF the four Addicks men,
Delaware would have had a Republican
successor to Sepator Higgins.
In 1896 there was a snlit in the Re
publican State Convention. and rival
delegations were sent to the National
Convention. That body decided the
contest in favor OF the Higgins or anti
Addieks element. the vote in the COM
mittee OF Credentials being 81 10 II
Mr.. Herkes. Of Kentucky. on the floor
OF the convention. charged that Tho
small apparent majority which Addick.
! had in the Delaware convention was
secured by the use Of money. by bri.
/ berry and purchase of votes at the pri-
mary In the ensuing campaign there
were two Republican tickets in Della
ware. The Regulars. in order to pre-
vent the loss OF the electoral vote OF
the state endorsed the Union Republi-
can OF Addicks electors. who were
elected. although the Democrats car
ried the rest Of their ticket Since then
the division has prevailed. There Is al
l.present vacancy in the United States
Senate from Delaware. caused by the
inability OF the Republican majority in
the Legislature to come TO an agree
ment. The Regulars submitted three
propositions TO the Addicks faction. but
all were rejected. The first was that
the Regulars would furnish the names
Of ten Republicans to the
Union Republicans, from whom thel at
ter could select one. who thereupon
should receive the votes Of all TIE Re
publican members Of the Legislature
The second was that the Addicks peo-
pie should submit ten names 10 the
/ Regulars. The third was that Addicks
should be eliminated from the contest
and all the Republican members as.
sembie in caucus and abide by it's re.
suit
II is clear that Addicks is a STUN.
bling block TO Republican success IN
Delaware. His methods are not appre.
ciated by the conservative Republican.
Of that state Should the Nationa
/ Convention reverse its action OF fou
years ago and accept an Addlclzs dele
cation the party would surely fail Il
elect the state officers and the Legisla
ture. and the electoral vote wOult
probably be lost No political party
should be at the mercy OF the ambition
OF one individual.