Evening journal., 1907-10-16
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
TwENrIETH ARTIcLE.
By Washington Hastings


those parties sub-divded there always
in this State another political organization which, while
it without "a local habitation or a horno.9 so
the public informed while it active part
publicly i'm political campaigns held public meetings
and employed orators TO instruct voters regard
its principles. its platform objects ndulged
such expensive luxurics parade brass bands
thought to be necessary by the other political
organizations yet was. nevertheless and always
been, is now, a potent influential and power
ful in the politics Of Delaware II never anil
aed with either Of the other political parties
the proceedings or platforms, principles promulgated
by their conventions. publicly supported the
dates Of either OF them though It in the politics Of
state, County ana City up TO the bride bits and in
it all the timei But both Of those parties
found Il absolutely necessary to carefully consider
and reckon with this potential powerful, and wealthy
element in public unless thoy wished their
candidates knifed the polls; and both Of them did
IT, and TO Their ability tried to get sup
port While it is undoubtedly true that Of them
gathered fruit the result Of their in this
direction than the other did yet both equally guilty
n doing their best obtain that fruit. If guilt there
in the matter-on which question / at the
moment expressing opinion. This political organ
ization "party"-for that is what 1t ishas never
permanent recognized place Of abode meeting
far anybody knows except those directly interested
i'm its affairs So il became known TO the public or at
any those active the management OF the
other parties, by the various titles of "rhe Whisky
Men" "The Beer Men, etc, Just pleased;
and II these designations not considered
respectful that party nobody blame but itself,
because II might have adopted some name by which IL
could be known just other parties do If had chosen
TO do This party been said has always been
actively though very silently engaged in politics. and it
is engaged now;-ths latter statement do be-
lieve will be called upon to prove-and it will be- doubt
less until the nth of next month Also It has undoub
edy learned by this tme that it is confronted in that
public duty it doubtless regards It, by few other
people; some Of whom IL has never met quite so pro-
nouncedly and emphatcaly the battlefield of law
malSing-because that IS just what at-before;
namely the women Of tho state! And let me say right
here that III those deprived of their
right to vote right which inherently belongs TO them,
but which is unfairly withheld from them the settlement of
this vital question Of license" license" the
only proper and right settlement Of it, would be
plainly and convinclngly apparent that the advocates
license high license" or regulated" and
strced license or license to sell rum in any way shape
or manner would give up and retire in good order
as possible from the nghtl
It has not been my purpose in these papers assan
attack any individual; and think that have
done that | shall do hereafter. But any
public question or institution as it appears to me- have
intended TO speak plainly that / may possible
be understood and intend and hereafter to pur
the course.
II is claimed behalf OF what known 'quor
interest that many who engaged in the manufac-
and sale intoxicating liquors respectable men
and good citizens IT, the the argu-
ment If you please l willing grant it for the
sake OF truth with respect Of them, because
/ have known who were, aside from their
patton reputable and respectable against whom
other occupations not word would be said; but de-
clare that in my opinion, the business liquor SELL
ing Is and degrading one; that its
Is that hucksters, hawks peddles and vends
and shame. heart ache humiliation hunger
and cold In the homes OF hundreds helpless unhappy
women and children right here in Wilmington
II grown and mature who is idiot, wishes
to drink whisky let himl will not try stop him I
couldn't do II II did but do say that the business
of placing the temptation 10 drink IT, under the
Of the half-grown boys and young of this State
and transforming them from bright happy hopeful
youths into low, degraded, miserable unhappy
ards as many young men are constantly being trans
formed is business which is essentially crime against
humanity and ought to be driven out and aboshed
and believe that it will be on the nth Of November
nexti
Forty nfty years ago the drinking habit In this
community probably prevalent relatively pop
ulauon it is today; but it did prevail nearly
80 great an extent among the young and among poor
men as Il does to-day; It was more confined TO elderly
men and those OF the so-ealled, better class Of
society.
GeRtemen kept their private stock in their homes;
and the decanter the sideboard and the bottle
on the dinner table were much more common than they
are now-and II some OF them finished up the dinner
under the table occasionally IL not thought matter
OF much moment But there wore saloons" those
modern sded ana ghtterng palaces or vice, In those
days 20 attract and entice the young unwary as
there are to-day; and the poor man, going home after
ms day OF ton with ms dinner pan IN MS hand was not
tempted into them daily to run up bill for drink. to
oe pald az the end OF the week out OF his hard-earned
wages which should have TO the support and
fort Of his wife and children.
In active business OF forty-two years, in
wheh employed men-at times as many as two hum
dred and hfty-l much Of this and what
greatest curse or the working man to-day, a far
creator than the union, because the
union has many redeeming features and the saloon
In all of my business life I never discharged man
LOT eetuhg drunk, although the provocaton often
great | pitied him too much frequently reduced
In position where he had 20 work for a time az lower
vases but never discharged him. and am GLAD
OF i'll
Often, in talking 60 such delnquents and lecturine
them as I always did they have said 70 me that II
they could only get home without passing rum MILL
as they put IT, they would drink but when passing
they got smell OF the Internal stun they simply had
70 have it, as one Of them told me- intelligent
honest slillfu and faithful man, thai when he "go
that SMELL he would walk hell on a rotor
plank" a drink I-
Now think Of men engaged in that kind OF a bust
ness presuming take active and potential part II
the ordering and management of public anarsl An,
think OF good substantial worthy citizens IN over,
other respect being Indifferent to il and unconcerned
Some may think that this is not politics" thinl
II Is. but If II isn't it is other things" and so i.
within my plan and scope"