The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-13
CONTEST FOR
RECOGNITION.
Regular Republicans Are
Headed by Colonel
Henry A. Dupont.


the National Committee to-day, the
rival delegations for admission to
the Convention, from Delaware will
be conspicuously in evidence.
The regular Republican dele
gates are headed by Colonel Henry
A. DUPONT, who has for years been
a conspicuous figure in Delaware,
although only a few years promi-
nent in Delaware politics. Colonel
DUPONT is a native Delawarean
and member of the distinguished
family which has for years manu-
factured gunpowder on the Brandy
wine, and which has more than
once gone to the rescue of the Unit
ed States Government when it need
ed powder. The Colonel is son
OF the late General Henry DUPONT,
who, during the Civil War. was ad-
iutant-general in this State, and
who probably did more than any
other man to give Delaware the
record of having a larger propor-
ton Of men according to population
in the Union army than any other
State. In this war Henry A. Du-
Pont entered the struggle with a
battery equipped by himself and
his father, and although his title
was captain, he was soon breveted
colonel for conspicuous service.
The Colonel is a member of the big
powder firm, and he is also the
president of the Wilmington and
Northern Railroad Company which
is a branch of the Philadelphia
and Reading. 1t was in 1896 that
the Colonel first entered politics in
earnest. He was the choice of the
Republicans in the Legislature tor
Senator, but four members insisted
upon voting tor J. Edward Addicks
to the close of the session. There
was question as to whether Will
liam T. Watson. then the acting
Governor had the right to vote in
the Joint Assembly as he had done,
and contest was made before the
Senate on the ground that the Col
onel had received majority OF the
votes. He has since been proml-
nent influential Republican.
The other delegate from Kent
county is former Congressman
Jonathan S. Willis, who is the pre-
sent supervisor OF the census IN
Delaware. Mr.. Willis has for years
been one of the best-known men in
this State. Originally he was a
minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Oh urch, and he still breaches oc-
casonally. He won a brilliant
reputation as minister and speak,
er, and then retired to his farm
near Milford. He entered politics,
finally being elected to Congress
few years ago. In the lower house
he made an excellent reco rd. but
during his term the split in the
Republican party occurred, and.
though he was nominated again by
the Union Republicans. he failed to
secure the regular nomination and
was defeated by l.. Irving Handy.
For time Mr.. Willis was counted
with the Uri,n Republicans, but he
recently denounced them in a series
of scathing letters and resumed
his old place with the regulars.
He was appointed supervisor OF the
census. a position for which he is
eminently fitted, Mr.. Willis is one
OF the best speakers this State ever
produced.
In Sussex county the two dele
gates are equally well known. II.
p. Cannon, of Bridgeville, comes of
and old Delaware familJ J which has
been identified with Republlcanism
since the party came into existence.
Mr.. Cannon is the proprietor of
large canning factory at Bridge
vile, employing a small army of
people and shipping millions
of cans of goods each year. The
father of Mr.. Cannon was the war
Governor OF Delaware and the first
Republican Governor Delaware
ever had. and there has been but
one other. Mr.. Cannon has been
identified with Republican politics
since his youth. A few years ago
he was the Republican candidate
for Congress, but was defeated. the
Democrats carrying the entire
State that year. Mr.. Cannon re-
Gently returned from the General
Conference OF the NJ Z. Church. to
which he was Il delegate from the
laymen.
Charles +. Richards, promi-
nent lawyer of Georgetown, is the
other delegate from Sussex county.
He was a member OF the convention
which framed the new Constitution
OF Delaware and was mentioned
both for State Judge and for United
States Judge when those positions
were vacant.
At the head OF the delegation Of
the Union Republican party which
is contesting for seats in the Ma
tional Convention is ]. Edward Ad-
dicks. president Of the Bay State
Gas Company. The history OF Mr..
Addicks in Delaware politics is
we'll known. He has built up the
Union Republican party and has
been its moving spirit. He lives at
Claymont but his principal strength
has been in Kent county. Mr.. Ad-
dicks has been a candidate for
Senator at numerous times and at
the last general assembly session
he came near being elected, but
the regulars would not vote for
him.
The other delegate from New
Castle county is William b. Clerk.
Mr.. Clerk is we'll known morocco
manufacturer and in the last city
election was the Union Republican
candidate for maVor but was of