Evening journal., 1901-04-19
As Tn THE COLLECTOR

In the columns OF the New York
Tribune we find the following special
dispatch from Washington, which will
be Of peculiar interest to Delawareans
at this time;
1t can be asserted on the highest au-
thority that there Is no truth in the
persistent reports that sweeping
changes are soon TO be made in the
Federal offices in Delaware. The presi-
dent has not countenanced any scheme
having for its object the turning out OF
office OF one set OF factionists to make
room for another. and the incumbents
OF Federal offices in Delaware stand
exactly on the same plane as Federal
officers in other States. That is, no
designations have been or will be asked,
and no appointments will be made un-
I'll vacancies occur by the expiration OF
commissions. A Acaseinpoint is that OF
the collector OF the port of Wilmington.
Although this Is one of the best offices
in the State, IL is now held by a Demo-
crat. DR.. w. IL. Cooper. When his term
expires the president will probably Sc
leCt ex-CongTessman J. S. Willis TO
succeed him. Mr. Willis is thorouehly
representative Of Delaware Republican
ism, made a creditable record in Con-
gress, and is about as free of faction
ism as any Republican of prominence
In the State. Whether the president
will make this appointment before ne
leaves Washington for his Western
trip is point not yet decided, though
that Mr.. Willis will get the office there
is scarcely any doubt. Mr.. Willis served
only one term in Congress, and was a
member OF the Fifty-fourth House.
While he has always been active In
politics, he has never been an office
seeker and since his retirement from
Congress he has been living en- his
fruit farm. near Milford. 1t IS Thought
that his appointment will do much to
heal the breach in the party in Della
ware. and that Il may lead TO the solu-
tion Of the senatorial problem.
Because OF the stubborn deadlock In
the Legislature at Dover last Winter
Delaware Is now wholly unrepresented
IN the Senate at Washington. AL
though the Legislature was safely Re
publican on joint ballot, the bitterness
between the Addicks and DUPONT fac
lions was so intense that the election
OF senators was shown to be impossi
bic. Governor Hum would have found
an excuse TO summon the Legislature
in extra session II he had been con
vinced that the senatorial deadlock
could be broken. and thus two Republi-
cans could have been sent to the Sen
ate. but he has been deferred from
this course by the threats cf the fac
tion leaders TO continue the fight along
the old lines IL Is thought that the
appointment Of Mr.. Willis 20 succeed
Dr. Cooper as collector OF the port OF
Wilmington will considerably Gotten
the asperities OF factionalism in the
State. and that then Governor Hunn
can summon the Legislature to Dover
IN full confidence that the senatorial
deadlock will be broken.
We never have believed that Presi.
dent Mckinley would give the Office o.
collector 10 Colonel ID. p. Barnard OF
any other creature OF Addicks who ha.
been engaged in wrecking the Repub
lican party. and the foregoing dispatch
indicates that the claims Of the Ad
dicksites made heretofore with respec
TO the patronage were wholly un
founded.
Speaking Of an extra session, It ma.
be said with perfect truth that II Ad
dicks will retire from the field the Leg
islature win experience no difficult
whatever in electing two Republica
United States senators. But while n
persists in his ''Me or nobody" polic
there can be no election. for he Ia
enough subseryient members at II
beck and call to block IL