Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-04
greeIal Dl.ralch b EverE E,enIns.

Special pispaich To Every Evening
Dover, June 4-Iho story printed in
Saturdays Every Evening. containing
the not improbable report that before
Governor Lea called the special session
Of the Legislature for the purpose of
hlling the Senatorial vacancy. tho sigma
lures Oh number Of Union Republican
members had been obtained 90 written
pledges that they would vote for Col
Henry A. du Poni for Senator. created
something of a political sensation here.
For one thing. Il effectually squelchcd
certain plans for tho election of someone
other than Col du pont or j Edward
Addicks 20 the vacant Senatorship, as
Stunning that the story is true and that the
members who so pledged themselves by
their signatures will stand by their signed
agreement.
VIII they keep these pledges This
question Is asked more frequently than
the question: Is il true that they signed
them
Il is considered highly probable that
Governor Lea did not enter upon the
special session project with his eyes shut.
10 is known that before he gave serious
consideration to the matter he was in
sstent that there should be assurances
of an election of q Senator, and also. that
the Senator SO elected should not be Ad-
dicks Now, how was he 20 receive these
assurances Why, by positive pledges
from a sufficient number of members
that they would agree to abide by q de-
cision of a caucus Of the two Republican
factions, supplemented by promises Of
a sufficient number Of votes for Col.
du Pont 10 insure his nomination by the
caucus. And here is whero the pledges
came in
After the experience of the campaign
oi 1904, when they were swindled out of
S53 600 given for vote-buying in Kent
and Sussex counties with the express
understanding that Col. du Pont should
be elected senator, Il was not 90 be sup
posed that the Regular Republicans
would permit themselves to be buncocd
a second time And so the presumably
sure expediont of securing signatures TO
pledges was resorted 10. What the pro-
ceeding cost can only be estimated but
IL is certain that no small sum OF money
was involved in the various transactions.
Now, as to the keeping Of the pledges.
The reasonable presumption is that there
will be no attempt on the part Of those
who signed them to evade the carrying
out of the bargain, But Addicks Re
puhlicans are slippery fellows, and Ad-
dicks may become desperate. IT the
story about the signed pledges is true
then Addicks has been badly buncoed,
for IL is evident that he did not 60 into
the special session and joint caucus
scheme without the belief that he would
get back a sufficient number Of his
original following 10 insure his nomina-
tion. II enough of his members have
been seduced from their allegiance TO
him TO make the nomination of Col
du pont a sure thing at next Mondays
caucus. then look out for a row. For If
Addiclss has been swindled, il is believed
he will not hesitate to retaliate In the
most effective manner, and that would
be by breaking the promise to abide by
the result of the caucus, and then good
by to all prospects OF Col. du Points
election to the Senate. There would be
another deadlock, and there would be
no telling how It might end.
So. II the du Pont managers have
secured the pledges Of support from Ad-
dicks Republicans, the move may do
them more harm than good. If they
have not secured these pledges, Col
du Pont may still be nominated, although
In that event Addicks would have the
better chance But il Addicks men
really have been bought away from him,
and he ascertains the fact and makes a
row. It will mean either no Senator or
some compromise selection. In the
latter event Harry A. Richardson OF
Dover would stand the best chance OF
carrying off the prize.