Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-11-27

Both mt Primaries and Elections.
The Morning News Of November 10th
printed long statement by ex-senator
Anthony Higgins, in reply to some of
the statements contained in j. Edward
Addicks' New York World interview.
In referring to the appointment Of
William Michael Byrne as United
States district attorney by President
Roosevelt, Mr.. Byrne having been the
Addicks candidate for Congress, Mr..
Higgins says:
with all respect for President
Roosevelt, | think he has made grave
mistake and that it will become more
grave unless he retraoes his steps. The
argument upon which his advisors
have urged the President to act--that
Addicks has secured a majority of the
voters in the ratio of 13 to Twill not
bear examination. A majority OBJ
tanned by purchase carried with it no
respect. If business misfortunes were
70 strip Addicks of his money, he
would not remain longer factor in
our politics for a single instant. Apart
from his money he carries no weight.
With it he has inflicted upon tine
State evils the end of which no one
can see.
While bribery has, unhappily, pre-.
vailed in this State for many years, it
was in but modified degree. Es-
pecially is it true that it had not
touched the negroes. Their vote was
cast for the Republican party from
their gratitude and fidelity and was
against the Democratic white mans
party, always their foo. The purity of
their vote was a grave reproach to
the best support of their white neigh
bors. The negro vote is now thoroughly
and hopelessly debauched.
~ The huge sums of money poured
Hsinall constituencies have caused
1tne wave OF corruption to rise higher
and higher, and reach superior class
Of men heretofore deemed unapproacha-
BILE by money. IL IS on this ground
alone that Mr.. Addioks bases his claim
that through a reform movement he
had reclaimed Delaware.
Mr.. Higgins declares that the ap-
pointment could be looked upon in a
different light had it been based upon
President Roosevelt's personal friend
ship for Mr.. Byrne or on the ground
that the Union Republicans were en-
titled to some recognition. He en-
phatically disclaims any attempt to
disparage Mr.. Byrne's fitness for the
office. He speaks in flattering terms
of the district attorney, and declares
that there can be no question but that
he is fitted for the place from the legal
viewpoint Continuing he declares:
The appointment was made strictly
upon Addicks' personal recommenda-
tion, and because the President had
determined to recognize Addicks as
worthy of recommendation for Federal
offices. In this the President has lost
sight Of the personal factor. In all OF
his career he has stood for the higher
ideals This he has carried out hitherto
in all his acts, and no one has preached
his gospel more assiduously or sin
cerely. No man can strike hands with
Addicks and not suffer blight. That
has been the experience of his associates
in business, and those who having any.
thing to lose have ventured to give him
their public approval.
President Roosevelt cannot main.
tain the lofty position he holds in the
confidence and admiration of the
American people and remain in the
embrace Of Mr.. 'Addicks. Should BY
any unhappy incident Addicks be
elected to the United States Senate, as
result of President Roosevelt's favor,
his career in the Senate would prove q
living reprosoh to the President. The
man SO devoid of moral sense does moi
see straight. The higher the position
be occupies the more conspicuous will
be the derelictions which inevitably
mark his conduct.
1.-THE serious Republicans of Della
ware feel that they cannot build their
party on him as rock of foundation,
: and whether the President continue in
this course or withdraw, they will con.
tinue to fight their good fight and tC
keep their faith.
In an extensive review of Delaware:
political history, Mr.. Higgins takei
exception to Mr.. Addicks' plea that he
has worked consistently for the benefit
of the State He says:
Mr.. Addicks' movement was not a
popular reform movement, as he al
leges, but simply and solely on hi,
part, only to make himself United
States Senator. Mr.. Addicks harps or
his old theme when he says: In lS9.
the Legislature elected Mr.. Higgins t.
the United States Senate by inaiorit,
of one vote. 1t was due to my persona
influence that State Senator Moor,
cast the vote.
IF, as he says, and truthfully, hi
attention was first called to the politic
of this State by the Republicans carry
ing the Legislature in 1888, and il
therefore, he had taken no part il
bringing about that result, and kney
none of the men concerned in il. O
any of the members elected to tn
Legislature by it, how could he hay
influenced Senator Moore's vote b
any means that would be ackno gledee
or confessed, let alone avowed by an
man not morally oblivious. -
Mr.. Higgins declares that he neve
believed Mr.. Addicks' explanation q
the Moore incident. In speaking q
{ his personal relations with Mr.. Ad
dicks he says:
1t is true that MIR. Addicks oalle
on me shortly after my election to tn
NASenate and proffered Ibis assistance i
Yhe politics of this State. But he mad
% mention whatever of the charter b
proposed applying for to the Legisls
lure and still less did give him an
promise of aiding him in his project
pn the lapse of time Mr.. Addickl
Imemory has become confused. Nor di
he meet with me and accuse me I
treachery about it. There WAS n
breach, for there was no promise an
no such second meeting. -
He stigmatizes Mr. Addicks' col
tentlon that Delaware was made X,
publican through his fAddioks') effor
hs "absurd" and declares that ii
structural weakness of the Democrat
party was responsible for the chang
He contrasts the election of 1sS
when the Republicans elected their fir
Legislature and United states Sem
tor, and the election of 1890. Referrir
TO tine struggle OF 1890 he says:
In that campaign Mr.. Addick
part was to contribute, according