Middletown transcript., 1904-06-11
THE DEMocRAr1c CONVENTION

THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
1t has been a mystery to US
why Democrats Of Delaware per-
nit themselves to be so boss-rid-
den without revolt, while the Re-
publicans have been noted for
their independence of thought
and action. The convention OF
last Tuesday, and the manner OF
selection Of the delegates thereto
has partially solved the problem.
What a person is accustomed to,
he accepts as the proper course.
When the D ocrats of st.
Georges Hundred met to select
their Hundred and County Com
mitteemen and Delegates 10 the
State Convention, the Chairman
of the meeting (named by the
bosses) was chosen, he named "a
committee of five, which COM
mittee brought in the names OF
the persons chosen for the sew
eral places, and while the COM
mittee was divided, standing to
2, the other Democrats present
were not permitted to have any
voice in the matter. Similarly,
at Dover, in the Kent County
caucus, ex Senator Kenney
named the Chairman, and that
official with the active aid of Mr..
Kenney run the caucus. In the
convention itself. while it was
decisively shown that the friends
of Judge Gray were largely in
the majority, there is not one of
the delegates who is a sincere
friend Of the Judge. Yet the
party at large accepts the situa-
ton and the Gray men are jubi-
liant over the result. Thus the
rule Of the bosses, beginning at
the primary is continued through
all the processes leading up to
the final naming of candidates.
In many respects, the conven-
ton itself reminded us of the
the Republican Convention of
1896 when the split party follow
ed. There was the rain storm,
the crowd of heelers and whoop-
ers, the same attempt on the part
of the two lower counties to shut
New Castle County out of the
fight. In the one case, it resulted
in the bolt of the independent
Republicans, and the prolonged
fight against Addickism and
bossism. In the other, thanks
to Mr.. Handy, the Gray men
won out. Had the test vote, how
ever, shown the Gray men to be
in a minority, there would have
been no bolt. All would have
fallen in with the majority and
the forces that have been in con-
troll for the past eight years
would have continued.
AS a matter of fact, the whole
matter was a fight for control.
Even Judge Gray's most ardent
supporter does not believe that
his chances for the presidential
nomination, are bright. But,
the magic Of his name, the pos
sibility Of presidential nominee
(however remote) with its attend
ant chances Of unlimited cam
paign funds, the desire of the
party for a reorganization, all
were used in the effort on the
part of what has been styled the
Railroad Ring to wrest control
of the party from those who have
in the past years born the burden
of the strife, while the "reform-
ers" have sulked in their tents.
Success has crowned their eff.
forts, and in the present condi-
ton of the party, the surface
will show acquesence. But the
danger remains, and it is dan.
ger not alone of the Democratic
party, but of the state, that the
free silver followers Of Kenney
in Kent and Sussex may lay
down. In that event, nothing
can stop the election Of J. Edward
Addicks to the United States
Senate, as he would carry those
two counties solidly. Together
they have 30 votes in the joint
convention and q are needed
to elect.
THE COLORADO TROUBLE