Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-15
The Delaware Senatorship.

For a decade the WnOle country has
watched with more or less interest the
senatorial tangle down in little Della
ware. The attempts of Edward ]. Ad-
dicks to capture the senatorship from
that state for a long time have never
been successful but he has had the
satisfaction Of preventing anybody
else from being elected. Now, how
ever. he has suffered final and crush
ing defeat by Col. Henry A. Dupont.
The Republicans of Delaware have
won a victory to be proud Of, and they
have made it certain that their state
will be worthily represented in the
upper branch of Congress. 1t Is
series Of deadlocks which began when
Addicks entered the field in 1895 mas
ended at last, and that Delaware VIII
have the full representation in the
Senate to which it is entitled under
the constitution.
Colonel Dupont comes from one OF
a family which has been identineo
with the powder manufacturing in
dustry at Wilmington for over cen
fury. Colonel Dupont is IS years OF
age. a graduate of West Poine, and
vas a brave officer i'm the Civil War.
He served i'm the army until 1874, and
for nearlX 30 years has been president
of the Wilmington G. Northern Rail-
road Co. Although a loyal Republican
and popular with all factions of the
party he has held few public offices.
political affiliations. respect Colonel
Dupont and have absolute faith that
he will represent them worthily in the
Senate.
Col. Dupont has been fighting Ad-
dicks and seeking seat in the United
States Senate since 1895. Several
times he could have been elected had
he been willing to accept Addicks as
colleague. but comprimise of this
kind was always rejected. The sensa-
tional deadiocks began when ]. Ed
ward Addicks entered the field in 1893.
In a stormy session of the Legislature
which WAS Republican. III ballots
were taken for Senator. Addicks held
out four members for himself and
blocked an election. Col. Dupont
election hinged on whether William I.
Watson. Democrat. who succeeded
Governor Marvi. Republican, who
died i'm office. was eligible to act as
president of the Senate and governor
at the same time. But for Watson's
presence Col. Dupon's followers were
one short of the necessary majority.
watson's eligibility as assemblyman
was attacked and when Dupont went
to Washington to claim his seat the
Senate decided against him.
In 1897 the Democrats who controll-
ed the Legislature. temporarily solved
the problem by sending Richard K
Republicans were again in control
when Senator Gray's term expired III
1899. but became involved in another
bitter war over the senatorship and a
deadlock ensued. For two years Ken
ny was the States only Senator. Again
In control i'm 1908 the Union Repubi-
cans voted for Addicks for the long
term and Addicks for the short term
The regulars voted for different Re-
publicans. The Legislature adjourned
after as futile ballots had been taken
From 1903 to 1905 Delaware had M
senator. Then came session whe'
the Republicans again elected ma
jority of the Legislature. "Addicks o
nobody" was the Union Republican
slogan. Thirty five ballots were takel
. without result. Addicks then agreed
to a plan to allow each faction to nom
mate a senator and to bring about al
election. State Senator J. Frank Alle
was nominated by the Union Republi
cans and DR.. l.. Heisler Ball. forme
member of Congress. by the regulars
Both were elected. When Senate
Balls term expired. in 1905. Their
came a renewal of the battle. Tn
Republicans had the Legislature bu
there was deadlock for 81 ballots
Seven of Addicks' followers deserte'
him during the session and allie'
themselves with r. Coleman Dupon
and Col. Henry A. Dupont, but tn
Legislature adjourned without hllinI
the vacancy. In. August of last yea
Alice. Addicks' lieutenant. repudiate'
his old chief. who. he declared. coul
never be elected to the Senate. Mean
time several active Republican leader
agitated the subject of a special ses
sion This has just been held wit
the result that Colonel Dupont is elect