Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-31

nislIlLANEo0s RIooRD



How tho President VIII Appear.
So long as the President may control the
vote Of Senator, he evidently does not
care in what light his political associations
may present him 70 the country Just
now the all-dosirable thing is to hold the
votes Of Senators in sufficient numbers 10
insure the passage by the Senate Of all
measures in which bis administration has
a positive and important interest. And
in the political associations he is thus
forming, the President is giving iorceful
illustration Of the truth Of the homey old
adage "Polities makes strange bed
fellows"
Last week Gov. Stokes and Senator
Dryden Of New Jersey had long inter
view with the President in reference 10 the
condition Of Republican politics in that
State Recently there has been a mighty
revolt Of the people against the Republic
can ring which holds New Jersey in It's
grasp-a ring well-nigh as corrupt as the
old Republican ring OF Pennsylvania. At
the elections Of last November the ring
was Overwhelmingly beaten in Essex
county by the election Of Everett Colby
20 the State Senate, was downed in Jersey
City by Mayor Pagan, and in Camden
county, while the ring was successful, its
old-timo majority was cut down to such
small margin as to threaten il with defeat
at tho next contest.
Tho great success Of Colby has made
him a leader Of the reform sentiment in
the State and the ring leaders are making
desperate efforts TO eountemct the effects
OF his popularity and his reform campaign.
Naturally the first thing was to secure the
aid of the national administration, so that
Federal officials might be,depended upon to
throw their personal and official influence
against the reform elements SO Gov.
Stokes and Senator Dryden fastened to
lay the situation before President Roose-
welt, and his secure his aid and co-opera-
ton in defeating the reform element Of
New Jersey Republicanism and aiding the
old ring management to retain control.
OF course the President assured the gov
enor and the Senator that he was with
them, and that Rciomers Colby and
Pagan should have no sympathy or sup
port from the White House in their efforts
20 bring better local government to the
people of New Jersey. For thereby he
secures a solid vote in the Senate even
though it be a vote Of senator who was
touched by the scandal of the recent in
suranco investigation in New York City
for whatever measures he may desire TO
force through.
In his close political alliance with Sena-
tor Alice Of Delaware President Roose-
welt has placed himself in an even more
unpleasant position. In New jersey,
through his alliance with Senator Dryden,
he is simply lined up against elements
which seek to obtain better government
for the people. This is bad enough. in all
conscience; but in Delaware he is lined up
with the forces Of political corruption, and
against those Republican elements which
for year have yalhntly held out against
a sale Of the senatorships through the
vilest dehauchey of elections that any
community ever witnessed.
Il is plainly evident, therefore, that the
battle against bribery and corruption in
Delaware, now going ON so grnndly, is not
70 be reinforced by the sympathy and in.
dorsement Of the President Of the United
States. No sane citizen of this State be
lieves for an instant that senator Alice
would attach his signature to the anti
bribery pledge now in circulation
pledge that any honest citizen is proud 70
sign. And should some enthusiastic
friend Of reform present that anti-bribery
petition 10 President Roosevelt, and ask
him simply to indorse a movement having
such a grand object in view, none car
doubt that he would refuse to even read il
More than that, he is giving the open sup
port Of bis administration 10 a man who
would not only refuse to sign the anti
bribery petition, but who expects to profit
politically by the very crimes against an
honest ballot which the anti-bnber,
movement aims 10 prevent
Against refom in New Jersey; in iavo
Of election debauchery and open vote
buying in Delaware Such is the position
in which President Roosevelt has place.
himself through his senatorial alliance.
in these two States.