Evening journal., 1903-06-02
SOME RE AsoNs WY.

our m all this mo rning:
Editor of the Evening Journal.
You seem to be opposed to the cleo
ton o.. DIR. Fran Il as Mayor of VIII
mingto n. Why should he not aspire
to this office? Is a man to be shut out
just because he doesn't happen to
think a you do? Suppose Mr.. Addicks
wants to see him ele cted, is that any
reason why other peo pie should oppose
him2
A Lincoln Republican.
We do not want to wound the SEN
sibilities of orr co respondent by emu
merating the reasons why DR.. Frantz
should be defe ated. so we will spend a
moment in getting together the argu-
ments which seem most favorable to
his candidacy. Dr. Frantz sought the
nomination for the office at time
when it was expected that there would
be common primaries. Everybody con-
hdently anticipated harmony. He ex-
pected to win at these primaries, and
that would have meant his election.
But DR.. Frantz did not have the as
surance to announce his candidacy
without first ascertaining whether it
would be acceptable, so he took a trip
to Claymont and laid his hopes and
aspirations before Addicks and came
home endorsedl This shows the kind
OF a mayor he would make. He would
not appoint member OF the Street
and Sewer Commission or of the Water
Board upon his own responsibility, but
would consult Addicks and after he
had gotten his decision, act upon 1t.
But the Claymont statesman took Il
into his head one day to deny the Re-
publicans OF Wilmington common pri-
maries. A candidate OF a nature less
gentle would have been grieved and
shown his resentment, but DR.. Frantz
lid not do this. on the contrary he
seized the occasion to declare his
true blue" AddiclSsism. That shows q
spirit OF forgiveness and humility
which deserves some sort OF a reward
we are not prepared at this moment
to say what.
Another reason that viii be con-
elusive 70 certain persons is that John
Edward Addicks wants him elected.
Had this not been the case his election
commissioners might have taken diff
ferent course with reference to the
filing Of the Stewart ticket. When
out Of pure friendship for another,
officials evade the law. they should
certainly be rewarded by seeing the
man they have juggled the law to aid,
elected.
There is another argument that is
quite common: "AddiclSs has bought
II, and he ought to have IT," This
means that any candidate he may
name should be elected in partial pay
ment Of past favors. But this argu-
ment has little force; in politics men
are not moved so much by past favors
as by future assurance. A dollar in
the hand is worth dozen that have
been spent Therefore we wish it were
possible to assure the voters that every
man who leaves the polls will go home
So richer. but unfortunately the courts
these days appoint receivers on the
l slightest provocation, and it's hard
r scratching to turn up worms for all
j the hungry mouths.
our correspondent can doubtless find
other excuses as good as these for sup
. porting DIR. Frantz, but we are certain
e that he can find none better. He signs
h himself Lincoln Republican, which
E. has an imposing sound. From
o Lincoln to Addicks suggests forty years
0, OF evolution. Where it will ultimatel!
d lead is problematical, but It is pos
e sible that it may find its end in q
e place where the gratuities OF the Clay
ID mont man never enter.
N The people who participated In thl