Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-07
KENT DEMOCRATS ARE ALIVE
Many Old Party Leaders Are
Coming TO the Front.
PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS ARE FINE
Plan to Avoid Fights for Nomi-
nations.
To Get the Office to Seek the Man, Rather
Than the Man the Office-The Levy Court
situation May Change the Rotation
Ruie for Nominations Tor Sheriff.

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
Dover, June 6--Thera is every indi :
cation that a large number of the lead
ers OF the Kent county Democracy will
take a hand this fall and put new life
in the party. In ar endeayor 10 once
more restore 1t to popular favor. For
several campaigns they have not taken
IN active part, bnt as things have been
going wrong, they realize that some
effective work must be dono in order to
place the party in Its former position Of
power.
At the next November election there
is to be elected, besides the county Off
GERS, five Levy Court Commissioners.
kent county Democrats have reason to
be proud of the present Levy Court,
which has managed the county finances
admirably, in splendid contrast with
the miserable record Of the Levy Courts
OF New Castle and Sussex. OF the five
holding over members. three are Demo
Gratis and two Union Republicans. At
tho coming election the Union Repub-
iicans will probably elect their candi-
dates in East Dover and North Murder.
kill, while the Democrats will win In
the "shoe-string" district, composed Of
rarts Of South Murderkill and Mispil-
lion. 10 hold the majority Of the next
Levy Court they must also win in West
Duck Creek and Mispillion, both Of
which districts were carried at the last
election by the Union Republicans.
There is a strong sentiment among con
sentative Republicans against permit
ting the Levy Court to fall into The
hands of the Union Republicans, for
fear OF the extravaganza and corruption
In county government that marks the
control Of the Sussex Levy Court by
that party. For this reason, the pros
poets Of the new Levy Court continuing
in Democratic control are excellent.
There is also pronounced sentiment
10 favor of changing the rotation
hitherto followed in the Democratic
nomination for sheriff. For several
campaigns past the present system has
oreated considerable trouble. In which
ever hundred the nomination belonged
there was always big tight at the
primaries, which resulted in the sue
cessful aspirant being fatally cut at tho
election. This began In 1894, in the
defeat OF David S. Wilds of Kenton
hundred, and was initiated in 1896 by
the defeat Of William Virden of West
Dover. AT the last election the Demo-
Sihtto DouhHbb tur su6IIu WB0L 0UWn
with the rest of the ticket This year
Milford hundred, according to the rule
of rotation, is entitled to the nomina-
tiop, and already there are dozen cam
didates in the field, with every prospect
of bitter fight If the wishes of q
large number of good Democrats are
taken into consideration, the nomina-
tion will be gwen to some other hun
dred, and thus relieve the ticket Of the
threatened fractional fight in Milford
hundred. n
1t has been generally suggested BY
prominent Democrats who have the in
terest OF the party at heart, and who
are not Democrats for revenue or office,
that the leading party men of the diff
ferent hundreds meet some time before
the primaries and discuss the adyisa-
bility OF the Office seeking the man,
rather than the man seeking the office,
and thus endeavor to persuade men
who are above reproach, and in whom
the people have absolute confidence, to
allow their names to be used MS can
didates for the various Offices to be
filed. Said q well known Democrat
yesterday: "If the views of the con.
eervative men Of the party are carried
out, then Kent county Democrats will
again occupy the front rank In the
State, and neither the money nor tie
nefarious work of Union Republican
henchInen can turn the affairs Of the
county oTer as spoils for that corrupt
party -