Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-10-23
The Poiyacal outlook IN Delaware.
Nov Tat the registration books are


come Of the election with basis of
fact to build npon. The election takes
piace on Tuesday, the 4th Of November,
two weeks from today.
Il must be admitted that so far as the
usual accessories of q political cam
paign are concerned--publ meetings,
bonds Of music ard popular OF hasiasn
this campaign has been one Of re-
markable apathy. And yet tho good
registration, as compared with that OF
two years ago, which was coaductei
nnder the heat. and excitement OF a
campaign for tho Presidency, shows
shat the citizens have given tho election
due attention, and have made up their
minds to participate in it with their
votes.
Heretofore the Republicans have
calmly assumed that they were going
to carry Delaware this year, simply
because they had done SO in every cam
paign for the last eight years, but the
large registration of last Saturday
caused change in their confidence.
It is undeniable that on Saturday last,
and also on the September day of
registration, the Democrats were largely
ahead OF the Republicans; during the
three registration days Of August they
( were largely behind. Whether the
Democrats, in the work of the last
two registration days, covered this gap
entirely is a matter that only a count
of the votes will determine; but it is
certain that the results have dissipated
the serene confidence of victory at one
time entertained by the Republican
managers, and has impaired TO the
Democrats feeling of extreme hope
fnlness.
Delaware became Republican State
at the election of 1894, when a wave of
sentiment adverse to the Democratic
party swept over the country, because
many Democrats mistakenly attributed
the yexatious business panic OF the
previous year to the election of Presi-
dent Cleveland, instead of to vicious
Republican legislation, as it really
was. In that year the Republican
majority in Delaware was about ], 400.
Next came the national campaign OF
1896, which made things evcn worse.
For Democrats in large numbers then
for the first time in their lives, voted
the Republican ticket, and they re-
peated this at the election of two years
ago, when Mr.. Bryan was again the
candidate Of the Democratic party for
aln t,1t
rality for the Mckinley electors was
3,es1, the vote being as follows Nc,
Kinley, %, 539; Bryan, IS, S58.
At the same time John HUM was
! elected governor, defeating Peter ].
Ford by vote of %, 4aiY to IS, sos, The
totals, it will be noticed, differing
little from the totals for President.
Hunn's plurality was 3,613. but an
examination of the figures shows that
2,849 OF it came from New Castle
county alone. Kent gave HUM a
plurality Of 1G3 and Sussex Of COL.
This isy'a significant fact, as the in
Huenees adverse to the Democratic
party, which induced Democrats TO
rSfuse to support Bryan, were far more
pronounced and potent in Wilmington
and New Castle than in any other part
of the State. And the corrupt use of
money by Union Republicans was far
greater there than elsewhere.
Now, it is fact that the disturbing
influences Of the past two national
campaigns do not affect the Democratic
party of delaware this year. Is it not,
therefore, reasonable to assume that
many OF the Democrats who left the
party in 1886 and 1900 are with 1t again
this year2
Certainly the registration figures may
reasonably be construed into iustifi-
: cation of this assumption.
And if this reasoning is practical.
the change will surely mako the result
in the State doubtful, and may even
be sufficient to elect the Democratic
ticket.
1t is practically conceded that this
Democrats will carry Kent county thi.
year, and that the Republican rnajorit,
in Sussex, il any at all, will be YER,
small. This would leave the result L
be determined by the vote Of Ney
Castle county. That Republican plu
rality Of over $500 two years ago look
very formidable, but it may have bee
entirely wiped out by the large Demo
cratic gains Of the last two days G
registration. Certainly there will h
no Republican plurality of anythin
like $500 this year.
But the most absorbing interest {
, the election is that wnich auplies I
4 the probable complexion of the Legi.
lature to be chosen next month. III
present body consists of % Republican
Unions and Regulars-and g Dem,
orats. Tho Republican margin is M
very large, and the Democrats Al
hopeful that they can reverse it. III
reason for this hope is the good figh
ing chance afforded in number
districts that the Republicans carrie
by very small margins.
-Four years ago State Senator NJ,
Farlin, Republican, who is candida
for reelection, WAS successful in Ii
Fifth Senatorial district Of New Cast
sonny ~ pLuFdllty OF dH Az u
same time the Democrats Of the di
trict had an unpleasant fight in the
ranks, and were also largely atfeott
by Single Tax candidate who r
ceived sG votes, There is undoubted
q good chance for eIecting the Dem
cratic candidate for State Senator
that district this year.
Two years ago, representative Hitcht