Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-13
WILMINGTON, THURSDAY DEC. 10.
An appointment Roundly Condemned.
We do not reoall-at least during the

We do not recall--at least during the
past quarter Of a century-an appoint
ment to public office that received the
severe and general condemnation that
has followed the announcement of Gov
srnor elect HUM that he proposed to
appoint DR.. Caleb R. Layton to the
office of Secretary Of State. Only the
organs Of the Addiclrs Republican
party have good word to say about it.
All the other newspapers of the State
have condemned the selection unspar-
ingly.
Among the papers that have thus
protested against such an offensive ap-
pointment are papers that have been
advocating the principles and support
ing the candidates of the Republican
party for years. Democratic criticism
might be attributed to partisan motives,
but the attitude Of these Republican
papers shows that they look upon the
next governor q selection of Secretary
Of State as an act inimical to the public
interests and an offence to the real Re-
publican sentiment of Delaware.
This Republican sentiment, which
finds itself so insulted by the political
preferment of DR.. Layton, is ably
voiced by the Sussex Republican of
Georgetown, which says:
DR.. Layton is bright, energetic and
yoluble, sometimes volatile, but any
fitness or qualification that he may
have for any Office is completely over
Swallowed by the fact that he has seen
fit to sink his own individuality to be.
come the subservient tool Of Addicks.
He is q director of the Bay Slate Gas
Co., which is SO organized and con,
Quoted that it is absolutely dominated
by Addicks. So energetic has he beer
10 furthering every wish of Addicks
that be is looked upon by all as thu
personal representative OF Addioks ant
mis- every declaration is accepted as tina
of Addioks. Such close RELATIONSHIP
precludes the possibility Of his selec
tion for this Office being considered
other than as the representative Of Ad
dicks and it il impossible that Mr.
Hum can so far deceive himself as h
consider it in any other light IL sucl
is the case it at once brands the COVER
nor-elect an Addicks man and prevent
him from using the prestige Of his higl
office for the benefit Of the party by es
tablishing more amenable under
standing between the warning faction
thereof. Because it follows as a matte
of course, that the sp-oalled Regula
Republicans will feel agRrieved an
will naturally believe that their conf
dence has been misplaced and that the
were deceived when they accepted an
voted for Mr.. Hum as Republica
free from the control and dominatio
of Addicks. MIR. Hum for bis ow
sake and that Of the party which hf
interest, cannot afford to assume til
odium of such an appointment.
Fortunately, the goyernor-elect hi
not gone SO far in this matter that /
may not retrace his steps. While /
has specified his choice, he will ha,
no legal power to make the appoin
ment until after his Inauguration in
the Office of governor. He now knows
il he is capable of comprehendir
public sentiment-th the appoin
meut Of DR.. Layton would prove obno
ious to three.fourths of the people
the State. Will he care to thus weak
his administration from the outset2
Governor HUM has nothing
gain, and everything to lose, by ma
ing himself, as governor, merely
agent Of Addichsism. He has it in /
power to make successful and cred
able administration. Will he do tn
or will he make himself personal
odious and his administration obno
ious by lowering his high Office to t
level Of mere tail to the Addic
political kiteg