Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-06-12


The following plain and practical
statement with respect to the Demo-
cratic campaign in Delaware this year
is made by the Newark Ledger
Senatorial candidates arc looking
over the prospective Legislative tim
her, and are willing to name men who
would make excellent candidates. True
enough. But at this time there must
be unpledged men on the. Legislative
branch OF the ticket. "AddiGks or |
nobody'' has split the Republican |
party, and it has drifted so far that |
reconciliation looks to be impossible. |
So in the Democratic party there will |
be no Salisbury men, or any pledged
men, but mon who have backbone, and
will to do right, despite the pressure
that may be brought to bear upon
them.
1t would be foolish to put Kenney
men or Salisbury men on the ticket
These gentlemen may have following,
but this following does not constitute
the whole Democratic party. The voter
cares very little, if anything, for the
pledged candidates.
He may he all right, and he may go
s'all wrong The people want men
elected to the Legislature, not puppets.
Men who can prove themselves men
when the times arrives. Mr.. So-and
So or Nobody belongs to some other
party; not to the Democratic party.
Therefore, every man has the right to
support mon of his choice, but he must
rise above his choice when the occasion
demands and cast his ballot for some
one who will honor the State in the
United States Senate.
There is not Democratic politician
in the State, even those who are
already committed in the matter of the
senatorships and actively working for
their favorites, who will dispute the
truth of this contention, if he but
brings forth his inner consciousness.
The position herein taken is sound and
sensible.
1t is not reasonable to expect that
the unanimous and enthusiastic support
of all the voters of the party can be Sc
cured for legislative candidates who are
known to be absolutely committed to
this man or that man for United States
Senator. But, given candidates who
are unpledged to any man or men,
torial fight will be fought out after the
election and not before, and the entire
body of Democratic voters will rally tc
the support of those SO nominated.
Under existing circumstances it woulc
be hard imagine more striking in
stance of political folly than for thu
Democratic party to be committed tt
two certain aspirants to the Senate il
this campaign, TO the exclusion of an.
other Democrats who might aspire t.
tho positions. Thus bound, the part
would be weighted and depressed, in
stead of being free-footed, active an
enthusiastic
There are more than two men in Della
ware who are fitted for these positions
and to exclude them from the rae
would be to largely deprive the part
Of the influence and cordial support {
their friends. To leave the field fire
and open would invite every element I
the party to the support of the entil
ticket
The logic of the situation seems
plain that it is strange that even IL
eager aspirants do not see it. For,
they force themselves upon tho par
ny l6RtSldblNS iOilihhbIOHS ia bltll u
terest, and thus weaken the party
the election, they will be but inyitiI
certain defeat and thus making an a
solute waste Of all their expenditure
time and labor.
We recall, in this connection, d
policy of once powerful Democrat
politician of New Castle county-not
powerful nowin the days when t
party was in control 1t was to 10
after the nominations only, accept
the election as a matter of cours
s'Oh, we'll nominate him. was /
invariable reply when even his frien
would come to him in alarmed prot,
at the character of some of the non
nations he sought to enforce; 81
others have to vote for him at the oil
tion.'' But they did not always do
This is no time for resurrection
these destructive and undemocra
tactics. Good nominations for all plac
and particularly unpledged nominate
for the Legislature, are the great
adjuncts to Democratic success,