Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-18

Should the Democratic candidates
interested Ia having the rule Of rota-
tion In Office abrogated secure special
county convention, they will find a
good deal OF opposition to their PROPOSE
tion. As was stated las. week, State
Senator Charles II. Salmon and Levy
Court Commissioners Henry NJ. White
and William A. Scott are the men de
sirous of succeeding themselves, and
the rule requiring rotation stands in
their way.
Tho method OF amendments is pro-
vided for in Rule 10 of the rules
adopted February Sd, 1888, which is as
follows:
"These rules shall govern the Demo-
cratic patty in the several hundreds,
and shall not be altered, suspended or
apieuded, except in the following man
ner: Upon the suggestion, in writing,
of any alterations or amendments,
signed by at least 100 Democrats in
good standing, and presented to the
county executive committee, the said
committee shall order a county conven-
tion to be held before the first day Of
September, next ensuing, to take such
suggestions, alterations or amendments
into consideration.
"The action Of such convention in the
premises shall te final. Such conven-
tion shall be composed Of four delegates
from each legislative district of Will
mington and i've delegates from each
Of the other hundreds, to be elected as
herein before prescribed by rule J..
Thus far no request hes come to the
county committee to call special con-
ventiop. That an attempt tu alter the
rules in the interests of few will meet
vigorous opposition may be seen in
most OF the statements which follows
Patrick Neary, chairman of the Demo-
cratic County Executive Committee,
had no hesitation in expressing his op-
position to the movement to alter the
pan of rotation. I'm the first place, -
be said, II am opposed to the change.
| believe the rule as adopted Is good
rule 10 the interest of the Democratic
party. 1t Wns discussed in the COM
mittee on rules at the convention
thoroughly discussed-and adopted by
very large majority of that committee.
1t came into the convention and was
adopted by large majority Of the con-
vention. Therefore, for the interest of
any candidate or candidates, am very
strongly oEdcsed to a change.
THE present movement seems to be
in the interest of some individuals !;
that is, individual politics, and am
opposed to it."
Golen Ferguson, register in chancery,
who is member OF the county CONT
mittee, said: "If we are going to
change the rules every year, there is no
use Of adopting any. flavor the rota.
tion system. l think it is right and l
voted for IT. .
T. Bayard Heisel, q member of the
county committee, gave this statement:
Il am opposed to any change in the
rulos. AS general principle, party
rules ought tc be permanent and not
changed frequently or for light reasons,
or to accommodate only one or two
men.
Thomas ReaIdon, also a member of
the county committee, said \ II think
it is fair Just az 1T is. 1t is rotation in
office and it gives every man q chance.
It, was down in Turner Hall J; these
rules were gone over and tho majority
agreed and united on this thing.
thought then it was right, and think
still 1t is right, and oppose changing it. -
Former Congressman L. living Handy
said: Rotation in office is sound
Democratic principle, time. honored ir
the party, dear to the Democratic
heart ever since the days of Andrew
Jackson. The party rules as they now
stand on that point are salutary and
wholesome. happened to be men,
ber OF the convention which adopted
them, and chairman of the committee
on rules which framed them. ap-
proved Of them then, and / approve OF
them now. They may run counter now
and then to the ambitions of individual
aspirants, but they are for the good OF
the whole party"
Willard Salisbury preferred not to
express any opinion on the subject.
According to rule /, this being a
year of general election, new county
committee must be elected. An elec-
tion will he held on the last Saturday
in May. In the rural districts, each
hundred will select one committeeman
in this city, each ward will elect a
representative. and tho 12 men thus
elected shall, on the following Tuesday,
name three members of the county
committed.