Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-22
THO COMMENTATOR.


the meeting of the Union Republican State
Committee gave an interview in which he
states that no member of the General
Assembly can be elected from Kent or
Sussex unless he is an Addicks man first,
last and all the time His boast may or
may not prove to have foundation, but
logically lac is entitled to the support of
the dominant party in the two lower
counties The voters there accepted his
leadership when that was frankly based
upon distribution of Doodle. His motives,
principles and policies were never ques-
toned; there was no act but that received
a defence from the masses; and since he
mas not changed "A whit, and since success
has followed his banner in the two lower
counties, he is entitled to expect the full
support OF the party he created, at the
next election.
Certain Of his lieutenants, however, are
now willing to admit privately that Ad-
dicks Is a man they can no longer recog-
nize, and hint at the necessity Of selecting
for the party leader a man who is held
M higher esteem socially Their views
regarding Mr. Addicls have apparently
undergone a change since Senator Alice
broke from his allegiance aud let it be
understood that Addicks had forfeited
the Presidential favor and, besides was
a financial wreck. Now the Union Re
publicans will hardly admit that they
have followed Addiclls for the sole pur-
pose OF bleeding him, and as for his in
tegnty, socially and in business, that has
been understood for years; therefore, Mr.
Addicks has right 10 count on the sup
port he has always received unless in-
I InuH g..
proclaim hatly that corruption money is
the chief quality in leadership.
Mr.. Addicls says that at the proper
time he viii control the Union Republi-
can committee, as the members are all
under obligations to him. IL probably
depends upon the nature Of these obli-
| cations. If they are of such a nature
| that they call for the cash, then un-
/ doubtedly he can control the committee.
/ but n they are mere matters of honor
/ he will find how lasting is the gratitude
/ that is purchased at the cost of dishonor.
But there is a class of voters in Kent and
/ Sussex that It is we'll for all parties Ia
notice. There are thousands who never
touched a dollar OF corruption money and
who have yet acted with the majority
/ party They were aware that much
money was being used, but justified II
on the ground that il was necessary ia
beat the Democrats. These men are now
almost solidly behind Addiczs. and were
he to call for their support he would get
/ it. They reason very plausibly that il
Addicks was good enough in the past he
is good enough now.
What kind Of answer are the Regular
Republicans going to make TO the Unior
proposal OF harmony Four years age
under similar circumstances they might
have answered somewhat as follows
"Owing to the political practices of you
party, your corrupt leadership, the ex
tent of bribery at elections practiced bl
you and your utter disregard of funda
mental Republican principles, we refust
TO affiliate with you and VIC dcspise YOU
vaunted majority obtained by corruption
But will they say that now Not much
And who is responsible for their inabilit,
TO say it.?
Now assuming that the reply is to b,
non-acceptance and IL is to be convincing
let ms deal in further surmises. Suppos
that in effect il is a demand that th
Union Republicans as a preliminary {,
harmony shall live up to their past agree
ments, will not this lead up 20 SOM
awkward questions What agreement
An agreement to elect a New Castle Regl
lar Senator Who made that agreement
What was the consideration Ought al
agreement when there was a corrupt con
sideration be carried out ? 10 appears
that the Regular Republican leaders b,
their conduct IN the last campaign hav
put il beyond their power TO make al
honest reply to Union Republican over
tures.
If the great Methodist church of thi
State lives up to the resolutions adopte,
at the recent conference there will be al
upheaval. a housecleaning and genera
publication of our politics. And IN
church does not have to mix in polite
TO do IL. If the clergy unitedly will de
mand of the laity that they refrain from
corrupt practices at elections and do thei
duty as citizens TO maintain pure elections
bribery will disappear Not only the con
ference itself. but the presiding bishop
expressed profound horror for a system
under which the voters in masses ar
bought at the polls. Some party deiende
hns said that the condition is not as ba,
as it has been painted. but these preacher
even though they do not delve int
politics, know that il is much wors
than IL has ever been represented. WI
know that whole communities have mad
their pastors understand that an attacl
on political corruption would be un
popular and would not be tolerated. ant
In n measure one can understand th
dilemma of the preacher He does no
want to stir up strife. to ALLEVIATE a par
of his congregation and TO engage in con
troversy. But now the clergy have thei
duties outlined by an authoritative body
and to refuse to obey would be insubordi
nation.
As time passes one may wonder whethe
those Democratic leaders who were s
overioyed at making an alliance wit
Councilman Postles vet feel that thei
course was wise. The result has bee
to divide responsibility for our locs
government TO ioist upon the people a
absolutely incompetent clerk to the cit
treasurer and to make negative all pre-
iessions of antagonism to negroes in office
It seems q pretty stiff price to pay for
bit of revenge. We wonder whether MI
Handy and other anti-negro orators wi
open up the old line of oratory in th
next campaign. But with the incom
potency OF young Postles proved and aC
mitted. the Democratic councilmen m
occupying 40 present an indeicnsible pc
sition, for II is no longer a question c
politics but of paying out of the publ
treasury money TO a clerk who does n
work and who is incapable of doing il
, Surely this is not shrewd bid for powe
So DIR. Caleb Rodney Layton is to hav
his reMard It IS nsserfed ihat he is I