Evening journal., 1907-12-18
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
rAlRrY.EIeHTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

THiRTY-EieHTH ARTICLE
In the spring early summer Of 1882 at about the
time 70. holding the primary elections for delegates to
the State Convection to nominate candidates for Cover
nor and Roriesentatve in Congress be voted for at
the State election IN the fa that year internal
affairs OF the Republican party state were
complicated unsatisfactory well
be imagined Differences OF opinon-almost wholly with
reference -essentals-and factiona strife
suit instead OF becoming more composed and alayed,
appeared TO le steadily increasing intensity ana par
tisan, and sometimes personal hostility Plan and pro-
pose and susgess as party leaders might to naugurate
SOME method by which even approximate party unity
might be achieN ed, t seemed utterly impossible
compsh thai exceedingly desirable end The party was
divided by distinct and well defined lines into two
sentialy hostile campsi and neither side appeared
be willing to give way or retreat from lis position one
inch will not be suspected Of saying this in fault
finding disposition when il is remembered that
closely allied with one of the factions ana was credited
justly perhaps-with being quite obstinate and pig
headed eny of my fellow disturbers of the peace
The acknou iedped leader of the combination of which
1 was member Anthony Higgins; who. 1t was
claimed by his friends, the leader Of the party
in the state conspicuous ability ndus-
try and devotion party interests affairs together
with the pronounced distinction being the most feared
AID the worst hated Republican in the state by the
Democracy constitute leadership, then he the leader
OF the whole partyl Nathaniel B. smithers was the
recognized leader OF the other sub division of the
party, but perhaps account OF his age
and experience his value I'm counsel and the high esti
nation In which he held by ALL than for any great
activity in party work.
We oe the Higgins faction'-sometmes known as
mington-where most Of political misdemeanors
porpetrated-wh ramhcations ana alliances In Sussex
county The "other fellows" usually designated by
"the Dover Junta" held their high carnvas in Dover,
with strong outposts and allies In Wilmington and rural
New Castle county. And so we all lined up battle
array primary elections for delegates the State
with every prospect of being promptly and
enectually defeated by the Democrats at the forth
coming general election I'm the fal-at customary
Tho contest in Wilmington was an unusually warm
one; and it more less all over the state
elected delegate from my district and had
to fight for il had never been obliged to do before,
/ but did not attend the convention
After the delegates election and the day before the
meeting the convention the late Levi c. Bird always
my valued personal friend but how other almost
always the opposite side from ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
he the wrong side suppose-called at my place
of business and invited TO accompany him to meet
ing of few friends Merrltts hotel I'm this city for
little conference or did and there learned,
not the time, much my disgust, that fac
ton had been defeated in the delegates and
that our enemies would control the convention by a
plurality least forty votesi learned moreover,
mat our enemies aforesaid al meeting the night
Dover resolved extend the olive branch Of
peace and nominate pronounced member Of each
faction for Governor and Representative in Congress re-
spectivey that Albert Curry Of Sussex and myself
selected the candidates for those offices And
those rers she enemy" then and there by the author
port in the convention the next day for the latter
place ticket with the assurance of certainty OF
nomination they had he and would undoubtedly
control the venton-which fact l knew only 100 Wen.
I promptly gratefully declined the honor for various
reasons p ippl Of which that business would
not permit le to go to congress -Wlch p9 the way
did believe there much danger ofnor even
permit Of my engaging so actively In the campaign as the
candidacy would involve and demand flhaiy however
did to select hve friends of my faction to meet
themof whom there were hvein the afternoon ana to
the should be submitted the question Tor decision ana
by decision would abide. thought that under
the situation fully but didn't The conference de-
termined that the arrangement Tor harmony IN tne
PARTY at the caucus the night before should hold
and that I should accept the prohered nomination III
that interest and did; and the day. In the con-
venton Albert Curry was nominated for Governor and
Representative in Congress unanimously and by ac
olamation--end everything was lovey!"