Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-23
ADDICKS BACKING FISHER
Union Republicans Deserted Conrad
and Supported the Nominee.
FLOPPED At ELEVENTH HOUR
Some Peculiar Incidents of the
Campaign.
CANDIDATES EVIDENTLY IN THE DARK


IT has been learned that large
portion Of the Addieks faction Of the
Republican party turned in at the
eleventh hour last Saturday for George
M. Fisher, the candidate for mayor
who was nominated, and his nomi-
nation was due to the help he received
from the Addioksites. just why they
espoused his cause, when both Daniel
Ross and City Solicitor Conrad were
belived to have strong Union Republi
can leanings, is not known, but enough
has been LEANED to strengthen the
belief that the AddiclSs element re-
garded Mr.. Fisher as their candidate
from the first and that it was the in
tention of the Addicks leaders all
along to support him. For some mys-
terious reason, this intention, on the
part of some of the leaders at least
Yves kept In the background until
about the time the polls had opened
on Saturday.
Prior to Saturday it was generally
believed that the chief workers in the
Addicks party were back of the candl-
dacy of Mr.. Conrad. but for some
reason Mr.. Ross was allowed to believe
that he hadAthe support of the majority
of the Union Republicans. His people
were of this opinion, it is said, until
Saturday afternoon, when it became
apparent that the Union Republicans
had deserted both hum and MIR. Conrad
without warning and had gone almost
in body to Mr.. Fisher.
1t is known that Mr.. Ross was
liberal in his campaign and Us result
he had large coterie Of workers, both
among the white and colored men, and
1t Is runored that quite number who
we're supposed to be working in his
behalf TUNED In at the last minute for
Fisher and swung whatever strength
they had to Mr.. Fisher. In fact. it is
said chat shortly before the polls opened
pm Saturday word was sent along the
line in the Union Republican camp to
drop both Of the others and turn in for
Fisher. Whether this order came from
the top OF the heap is not known, but it
10 known that the gasman took great
interest In the nonination and it is
said that he is perfectly satisfied with
the nomination of Mr.. Fisher. Some
VI his lieutenants admit that Fisher
vas their man from the start, and 1t is
veil known that they would not do
anything offensive to their boss.
This being the case. Fisher being
recognized as the Addioks candidate
from the first, it is very strange that
such did not become known until nomi-
nation day. 1t is positively known
that both Conrad and Ross workers
were led to believe that their oandi
dates were to receive large portion OF
the Union Republican vote, and they
were dismayed when they realized on
Saturday afternoon what was going on.
The superstition is that the AddIcks
people who were back Of Fisher, know.
ing they could control the rank AND
file and simply had to say the word,
permitted the voters in the party tt
mako their own selections in advance
OF, those who were in on the secre
vera not to let the cat out Of the bag
1t is believed to have been prearrangeC
to turn in for Fisher at the last minute
1t was learned today that an inklins
of the break cropped out on Friday. Ii
fact, Mr.. Fisher was told on that da,
that large contingent OF Union Re
publicans who had been working 70
Conrad were going to turn in for him
but up to date the public IL in tn
dark as to why this move was made
1t is rum0red that some of the leader
began to fear they could not hold thei
men and were compelled to serve uotic
upon them before nomination day
Those who received this notice, how
ever, must have kept very quite, a
nothing became known of it, except {
two or three outsiders, until the mex
day.
No matter what the plan was, tn
Addicks followers succeeded in carryin
their point If they had paraded Mi
Fisher Before the nomination as
Union Republican he would have bee
cut numerically but they were shrew
enough not to do this, and it did M
develop until nomination day that til
Addioks people wers friendly towar
Mr.. Fisher.
The break actually occurred on Sa
urday, when neither Mr.. Conrad M
Mr.. Ross had an opportunity to ste
the tide which was carrying votes fro
them by the wholesale.
Mr.. Fisher u.s., therefore, regarded
the Union Republican candidate and
is an open secret that the workers
that party are exerting themselves
secure his election. This has reach,
the ears of Regular Republicans, mar
Of whom, it is said, now feel that til,
have been taken into camp by the A,
dickites.
When Mr.. Fisher was spoken to abo
the matter Thurday he said he had new
expressed himself as to fractional ma
tiers. He said he knew that some Uni,
Republican workers had left the 90
rad ranks and gone to his support, b
ne alleged that he was not concern
in the arrangements for the flop a,
knew nothing about it until told 1t W
TO come.