Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-01-11

CaStI6 county, regularly calieu, was
held III this city for the purpose of
amending the party rules. The Demo-
cratic Earty in this county has had
written rules for over forty years, and
tho rules have always contained plain
provisions for their amendment. In
accordance with these provisions, GER
tain changes we're made by the conven-
tion of February 3D., 1898, and the rules
as then amended are the legal rules of
the party today.
Among the changes effected by this
convention was one providing for rota-
tion in several nominations. The
rule, as thus changed, reads as follows:
Rule 8. The candidates for State
Senator shall be taken from the diff
ferent hundreds, or parts of hundreds,
comprising the respective Senatorial
districts outside of Wilmington, in
rotation, and the order of rotation shall
be that the hundred that last had
Senator shall be the last districr in that
hundred TO again have Senator. The
candidates for Levy Court Commits
sioner shall be taken from the different
hundreds comprising the Levy Court
districts, outside Of Wilmington, in
rotation, and the order of rotation shall
be that the hundred that last had
Levy Court Commissioner shall be the
last hundred in that district to again
have a Levy Court Commissioner.
This rule was adopted by good ma
jority in the convention, and finds
favor with Democrats generally all over
the county. The main exceptions are
Levy Court Commissioners White ard
Scott, of the Fourth and Fifth dis
tricts, and Speaker Charles III. Salmons
OF the State Senate, who represents the
Sixth Senatorial district, all of whom
want to be renominated.
With respect to Speaker Salmons,
many Democrats would be pleased il
he could be renominated, as he proved
himself a strong and popular candidate
at the last election. overcoming large
Republican odds, and has record of
good service during the last session of
the Legislature. But this favorable
feeling in his behalf does not go to the
extent of warranting a change in the
rules, which would be productive of
much evil. His district is composed of
Pencader and ST. Georges hundreds,
and his home is so located that by
simply moving ACROSS to the other side
Of the public road he would be resi-
dent of St. Georges hundred, and there
fore eligible to denomination. 1t has
been suggested that he do this, and he
may seek this way out of the difficulty.
But the proposition to change the
rules SO as to permit the denomination
OF the Levy Court Commissioners is
rejected by sound Democratic senti.
ment all over the county. 1t is ad-
mitted-because it is fact--that the
present Levy Court is milestone
around the neck of tho Democratic
party, and that the party will be
seriously bampered in the coming cam,
paign, even should the Republicans
continue divided, with the incubus Of
the present Levy Court clinging to it.
Plenty of leading Democrats will
admit the truth Of this assertion, pub
licly as we'll as privately. The in
competence and extravaganza of thu
Levy Court. is too great load t.
be borne, and the Republicans will fine
themselves in the same dilemma as thu
Democrats il they renominate the tw,
Republican members. The Levy Cour
is a close personal corporation, withou
regard to the political incliEations o
its members.
In addition TO the trouble that wouls
embarrass the Democratic party b,
such an endorsement of the Levy Cour
as the proposed change of the rule
would be, it is held that it woul,
be childish to attempt to change til
rules before they have had practiea
trial. 1t was believed at the time tina
the rule TO prohibit denomination
would work benefcially, and many sti
hold to this view. The suggestion t
abolish it before there is an oppcrtunit
to see how it will work is regarded a
mere folly.
The Legislature, two years age
enacted a law designed to prohibit th
reelection of members of the Lev
Court, but ii is somewhat ambiguou
in its expressions, and there is dout
as to its proper construction, althoue
none as to its intent. The preser
Democratic rules, however, make
operative so far as two Democrat
members Of the Levy Court are CO,
cerned, and the Democratic voters
the other Democratic district can NAL
it operative with respect to the men
Der from that district when he appli
for denomination. The Republics
voters also have it in their power
refuse a RECONCILIATION to the two r
publican members. SO that the emit
court may be changed at the ne
election.
Such a change in the personnel
the Levy Court is what the taxraye
Of New Castle county desire, and d
mere suggestion that the Democrat
rules be SO changed that til
desire may be thwarted is an insul
The rules we're deliberately enacted, I
deliberate purpose, and that purpo
is as good today as it was on Februa
Sd, 1898.
Let the Democratic party rules ct
as they are.
More hard fighting is reported fire.
Luzon. with five American soldit
killed and several woundad Fvf3a,,