Evening journal., 1907-11-20
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
THlRTlETH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

that portion it which is not included in the magic
circle.
Whether this general condemnation is deserved or
Is not indeed really beneficial depends large measure
not enirey upon the character Of the ring and the
nulVldual characters OF the persons composing and
also upon the purposes and aims which they have IN
vle" IN an associations OF men and women, whether
the church, the club the political party there are
aiWays a Few members and frequently a very few who
by reason OF their ACTIVITY their intercst and ntstas
Tor the cause, their superior intelligence and judg-
ment all OF these reasons together are accorded
and naturally and logically assume nositons Of leder
ship and command If these qualifications and fitness
are properly used the objects sought TO be at
ained are high and lnsolash and for ne benea ana
we-being OF the whole, then the ring clique"
iacuon or whatever you choose call it. only
good benencen but n Is essential and neoessar
Tor the perpetuation and the organization
and the undertaking. IT, on the other hand these
positions leadership ana responsibitv fail INTO The
hands OF greedy self seeking unduly ambitious and un-
scrupuious personsas they sometimes do I'm politics
parakes OF and absorbs the qualities and characters-
and ultimately destrietve Of tie association and
nusancei calling for speedy abatement; remedy
49, sooner or later, vigorously applied.
In the early days Of the Republican organization in
this city during every campaign there was always
ring apd sometimes two three and always managed
10 belong TO some one OF them; in telling about them
am talking about
recall the municipal campaign Of 1874 for the eloc-
ton OF mayor and members OF the city Council. /
happened to be the chairman Of the Republican CITY
Executive Committee at the time and several Of my
political and personal friends associated with me
IN the work Of that committee the management of
in an inside coterie of politicians such as / have de-
scribed namely little ring want to digress here
Tor moment to say that rings extremely per-
nicious In politics If you don't them too small
Make them large enough that everybody can get in
OUT and then the danger their being smashed bv tho
pressure of the body of the party outside
VIII not be nearly so great
The strength Of the Republican party in this city,
augmented as it by the accession the negro
in 1870 was almost supreme In the uptown" wards
was absolutely notably in the Seventh ward where
nVed Then and live nowi and word from the
aging city committee, and especially from the clique"
that managed the committee, quite sufficient to
nominate any man whom they chose select, for any
s W ine nominations were openly hed ana by ballot
OF all the members of the party masse, and net by
aent in other cities; and these usually elections
ana reflected the genuine wish of the party expressed
at the polls The only trouble in regard method
OF selecting candidates that ever saw was that COM
paratvey so large proportion of the members
party JAILED to exercise their rights i'm this respects
giving their that the "dlsreputabe politicians
would have their way anyhow and there was no use
nations II Is needless that this estimabc class
OF our Fellow czens-and thoy almost Universally
suchwere usually dissatisfied with the selections
by the other fellows sometimes grievousy ais
appointed; and it served them right
regard it as the solemn and paramount duty of
every American citizen be politician That is TO
say to take part i'm and be part OF the government
Of his country 1t Us not only his duty but his
tmable heritage; and any man who s too Indifferent
or too negligent lazy perform this duty and
with political organization alone his vote
will be at all effective for anythng-s unworthy his
some other country where they will provide government
for him, and plenty Of H.
But have wandered from the story was telling of
our municipal election of "a into moralizing let
turn to it,
II came to my knowledge that a large number Of the
Republican voters and considerable payers of the
members of the Cit5 Council from that ward OF gem
teman whom they had fixed upon the proper man
ior the place and some of them asked me- chairman
of the city Committee. to bring his nomination about
was not particularly favorable their choice for while
he was man Of estimabe character and high stand
ing In the community had never at that time known
Of his being interested in politics in anything
had right 10 have their choice am Office of that
kind regarded and recognized, their wish IN the
would accomplish it il l could. l knew and they knew
that there was only in which 81 could be
committee and pass the word" this tried to do
and failed! The that received to my propo-
gentleman whom i named 10 them should run at the
nomination election Just as others going do
preference or partiality for over another i'm
the matter would be highly improper dsreputable
should offer me and expect 20 accept that sort of
nonsense and told them but took good naturedy
next meeting At that meeting found that my friends
s adhered to their righteous judgment persevercd
membership of the committee and gave notice that
should outside the Republican party that par
another Republican If could get him. independent
Republican candidates for members of the City Council
to take part in the forthcoming Republican nomina-
ton did this, and with the assistance the Demo-
Gratis in the ward. who withdrew their candidate for
Council. succeeded in electing our man by a major
fly of five votes' His running mate" l sorry to
say. defeated.
This action came pretty costing my political
life; as the Eighth ward, in which my place Of busi-
ness then located elected Democratic
man. who, with Independent Republican
the seventh ward (who usually voted with Democrats
In the CounciD gave 20 that party practically the
troll OF that body. or course this disaster was duly
charged up TO account; but entirely innocent
OF Il as did not influence try 10 influence single
vote IN that ward against the Republican nominees
the contrary what little did in the Eighth ward that
year IN their favor.
However, succeeded in out-lvine my political dis
grace and disnheritance and back good an,
regular standing I'm the party by easy stages and slow
degrees and great industry; until last received
back into fun membership in the fold and baptized
the faith.
M