Evening journal., 1907-01-11
Friday, January, II, 1907.
STEERING THE PARTY SHIP.

STEERING THE PARTY SHIP.
TN THE present senatorial struggle, now on in
earnest, there is, we believe, involved the
future success Of the Republican party in Della
ware
A few months ago, happily for us all the two
widely separated roads upon which marched and
moved the two warning factions of the Republi-
can party came together at the State Convention
which unified the factions and at which the Re
publican party was reorganized. That splendid
achievement was brought about by the leaders
of the Union Republican faction, and had it not
been for their efforts the party would still be
split, Colonel Henry A. dupont would not be in
the Senate and in all probability we would Ahave
gone down to defeat at the last election. For
years the Regular Republican leaders failed in
every effort they made to unite the factions. The
Union faction increased in strength until it ac-
tually dominated in Kent and Sussex over both
the Regular faction and the Democrats, and in
this county had the balance Of power.
A little over year ago President Roosevelt
appealed to Senator Alice to use his efforts to end
the factiona war in Delaware, and obedient to
the wishes Of the President and for the future
good and success Of the party, Senator Alice de-
clared against a continuation of the fractional fight
in favor of a united Republican party. That was
the beginning of the end of the fractional struggle.
Following that move were the various steps that
led to and resulted in Republican harmony. For
doing that which the Regular leaders had unsuc-
cessfully strven for years to accomplish, Senator
Alice, Caleb R. Layton and DR.. George w. Mar
shall, who were the backbone of the Union fac
ton, incurred the bitter hatred and anmosity
r. T. ID
licans who did not want the factions to unite
And, strange as it may seem, the Regulars did
not appreciate the valuable efforts of the Union
leaders but as soon as the party came together
they began at once to work with Addcks and his
dissatisfied followers to fight and punish Alice,
Layton and Marshall and their friends These
are the plain unvarnshed facts, which cannot be
disputed.
If it is fact that the Union leaders referred
to were strong enough to build up the powerful
Union organization in Kent and SUSSEX and then
strong enough to dissolve it and make possible
the election Of Senator dupont, the reorganiza-
ton OF the party and the attendant brilliant vic
tory at the polls at the last election we ask the
question: is it wise is it prudent, is it politics, to
say nothing of the fairness Of the proposition, for
the party leaders or the party in this county to
bitterly antagonize them and ruthlessly trample
under foot the right they claim for the people Of
Kent and Sussex and their representatives in the
Legislature to have an effective voice in the Sc
lection Of Kent or Sussex man for Senatorf
There is at stake in this senatorial contest a
principle. the ignoring OF which may be followed
by dire results to the party. When Senator du-
Pont was elected last June it was understood that
the next Senator would be conceded to Kent and
Sussex, which meant and means, if it meant or
means anything that Kent and Sussex would be
given the right to name the next Senator. We
say with the Morning News, whose sound edi-
torial will be found in another column, that the
party leaders and the party should keep faith
in the senatorial matter To not do that means
in all probability, ancthgT long, bitter fractional
fight, with New Castle on one side and Kent and
Sussex on the other 1t would mark the begin
ming OF another terrible fight between the coun
ties, and the party leaders of New Castle and
the party leaders of Kent and Sussex. That such
rupture would be disastrous to the party every
body can foresee
1t is SO easy to steer the party clear Of tn,
dreadful rocks and shoals. Both opposing ele
ments in Kent and Sussex claim superior strength
in conference Of the Kent and Sussex mem
bers. Our advice is with that Of the Morning
News-let this matter, so far as New Castle j:
koneerpeds be rslerrsd 70 the Kent and Sussex